Information Technology - 8543
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
Contact: www.cse.unsw.edu.au
Campus: Sydney
Career: Postgraduate
Typical Duration: 2 Years 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 96
Award(s):
Master of Information Technology (Specialisation)
View program information for previous years
Program Description
The Master of Information Technology is a 2-year program intended for:
- students with no or minimal prior computing background who wish to obtain a qualification in this discipline; or
- students with a bachelor degree in computer science or computer engineering who want to obtain a broader understanding of computing; or
- students with a bachelor degree in computer science or computer engineering who wish to specialise in some particular areas of the discipline
Advanced standing of up to 1 year is possible for students with an appropriate qualification.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The aim of this program is to provide students with a broad-based IT education, and more specialised knowledge in up to two areas, enabling them to work in a range of positions in the IT industry.
At the end of the program, students will have attained the following Program Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the program, students will have attained the following Program Learning Outcomes:
- Knowledge of the latest developments of IT technology and current practicces in software design, implementation and maintenance.
- Knowledge of the critical aspects of IT technology, in particular in relation to security, robustness and reliability.
- Ability to evaluate new methods and techniques and not adopt them before having given careful consideration to, in particular, their robustness, their scalability and their effectiveness.
- Ability to work in groups and lead projects, understand user requirements and bring projects to successful completion thanks to the coordinated efforts of different teams.
- Ability to identify future trends and create tomorrow's technology, and determination to bring positive changes to society.
- Ability to critically analyse the variety of potential solutions to a given problem and assess the trade-offs involved, so as to decide which one is most suitable.
- Ability to identify and master the technology needed for the successful completion of a project. Ability to identify from the research literature what can be put into practical use.
- Ability to have a multi-disciplinary approach and borrow and adapt the methods and techniques used in one area to solve problems in another area.
- Ability to identify which known problems are closest to the problem under investigation, and creatively adapt solutions to the former in order to solve the latter.
Program Structure
Entry Requirements
Enrolment in this program requires one of the following:
Enrolment in this program requires one of the following:
- a three year undergraduate degree equivalent to a standard Australian bachelor degree in a discipline containing mathematics up to year two level, and an average mark of 70 overall.
- completion of the 5543 UNSW Graduate Diploma in Information Technology, and an average mark of 70 overall or no fails.
- completion of the 7543 UNSW Graduate Certificate in Computing, and an average mark of 70 overall.
Note:
A discipline containing "mathematics up to year two level" would mean that applicants need to have an appropriate background in several of the following areas:
A discipline containing "mathematics up to year two level" would mean that applicants need to have an appropriate background in several of the following areas:
- Discrete Maths
- Linear Algebra
- Engineering Maths
- Calculus
- Statistics
- Probability
- Actuarial Maths
- Numerical Methods
- Vector Algebra
Program Requirements
Students must complete either one or two of the following streams:
Students must complete either one or two of the following streams:
- COMPAS - Artificial Intelligence
- COMPBS - Bioinformatics
- COMPCS - Information Technology
- COMPDS - Database Systems
- COMPES - e-Commerce Systems
- COMPGS - Geospatial
- COMPIS - Internetworking
- COMPSS - Data Science and Engineering
COMPCS is the default stream for the program and will be selected if no other stream is nominated.
Regardless of which stream is chosen, students must complete the following:
Regardless of which stream is chosen, students must complete the following:
- 96 UOC overall
- 10 more COMP4 or higher (level 0, 1, 2 or 3) elective courses
One of:
- COMP9596 Research Project (12 UOC)
- COMP9900 Info Tech Project (6 UOC)
- COMP9945 Research Project (18 UOC)
Advanced Disciplinary Knowledge (ADK) requirement:
- at least 6 of the above courses must come from the CSE ADK course list
Up to 2 of the non-ADK elective courses can be replaced by level-4 or higher non-CSE courses.
It is possible for students to complete the program without using any non-CSE electives, provided they are not in the Bioinformatics stream.
Students enrolled in the Bioinformatics stream, who have no advanced standing, and who are required to complete MATH5846 as a co-requisite for MATH5856 will use all of their elective options in meeting the requirements for this stream.
Students enrolled in the Bioinformatics stream who do have advanced standing should seek advice from the CSE Student Office regarding the use of their elective options prior to enrolment.
Project Option
Students are permitted to substitute 12-18uoc in their final semester with a project of equal value provided they meet the following criteria:
It is possible for students to complete the program without using any non-CSE electives, provided they are not in the Bioinformatics stream.
Students enrolled in the Bioinformatics stream, who have no advanced standing, and who are required to complete MATH5846 as a co-requisite for MATH5856 will use all of their elective options in meeting the requirements for this stream.
Students enrolled in the Bioinformatics stream who do have advanced standing should seek advice from the CSE Student Office regarding the use of their elective options prior to enrolment.
Project Option
Students are permitted to substitute 12-18uoc in their final semester with a project of equal value provided they meet the following criteria:
- completed (or have advanced standing in) 72uoc; and
- obtained agreement from a CSE academic supervisor; and
- maintained a distinction level performance in the program.
The two courses
- COMP9596 Research Project (12 UOC)
- COMP9945 Research Project (18 UOC)
count towards the requirement of completing Advanced Disciplinary Knowledge courses with exposure to research.
If a research project is taken, then the COMP9900 Information Technology Project is waived.
Advanced Standing
Advanced standing is possible in up to 50% of the program.
Students can seek advanced standing in the following courses only:
If a research project is taken, then the COMP9900 Information Technology Project is waived.
Advanced Standing
Advanced standing is possible in up to 50% of the program.
Students can seek advanced standing in the following courses only:
- COMP9020 Foundations of Comp. Science (6 UOC)
- COMP9021 Principles of Programming (6 UOC)
- COMP9024 Data Structures & Algorithms (6 UOC)
- COMP9032 Microprocessors & Interfacing (6 UOC)
- COMP9311 Database Systems (6 UOC)
- COMP9331 Computer Networks&Applications (6 UOC)
- COMP9414 Artificial Intelligence (6 UOC)
- GSOE9820 Project Management (6 UOC)
Students wishing to apply for Advanced standing should consult the CSE Postgraduate Advanced Standing, Exemption, Substitution website.
Academic Rules
Academic Standing Rules - Postgraduate Students
Please contact the School of CSE for advice or clarification of the Academic Rules relating to this award.
Please contact the School of CSE for advice or clarification of the Academic Rules relating to this award.
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: UNSW Fee Website.
Further Information
Related Program(s)
5543 Information Technology
7543 Computing
Area(s) of Specialisation
Contents
Study Levels
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