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Challenging careers in software development
Massey provides you with the technical skills and knowledge to take your place in the fastest growing industry in the world. Link with industry while you study to get a head start in software development.
Massey’s Bachelor of Information Sciences (Computer Science) will give you the applied skills and knowledge to become a sought-after ICT professional, able to take on a wide variety of roles in the software industry.
Massey teaches students the applied skills and knowledge needed to succeed. Massey is the only university in New Zealand specialising in the C and C++ programming languages that are highly sought after by employers. You’ll also learn Java, Python, SQL and other languages. Every computer science course includes practical assignments.
Massey has close ties with the innovative and rapidly expanding software companies based in North Auckland. These companies offer opportunities for internships, industry projects, holiday work and possible employment offers. You’ll also be involved in creating websites and applications for charities and voluntary organisations.
The Computer Science major focuses on hardware, software, algorithms and programming. You will learn how computer systems work and how to create efficient algorithms to solve challenging problems. You will learn several programming languages and gain the skills and experience to confidently start a career in software development. Topics on offer include:
Computer Science graduates can take up challenging and rewarding roles across a wide range of organisations, ranging from government departments through research facilities to private enterprise.
There are a huge number of job opportunities in this area worldwide. Look at the SEEK website to see the strong and ongoing demand for ICT professionals in New Zealand. High demand areas include software development and programming, business analysis, project management and software testing. Graduates with a Computer Science major are well equipped to move into careers such as:
Once you graduate you can move on to advanced study in the Postgraduate Diploma in Information Sciences (one year of 120 credits in taught courses) or the Master of Information Sciences (180 credits including 120 credits of taught courses and a major professional project).
New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.
Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.
As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
There are no specific entry requirements for this programme, outside of university admission regulations.
Previous programming experience is not required.
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
If you are unsure whether you have the right background/subjects to study this programme, our tool will help you to figure out what you might need to do before starting your qualification.
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
From the Schedule to the Degree including:
Core courses
Major courses
Elective courses from the Schedule
Elective courses
Ensure that overall, you also have:
Attend block courses, contact workshops, field trips, studios, workshops, tutorials and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
| 60 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 158256 | Web Application Design | 15 |
| 159201 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 15 |
| 159202 | Declarative Programming | 15 |
| 159234 | Object-Oriented Programming | 15 |
| 159236 | Embedded Programming | 15 |
| 159251 | Software Engineering Design and Construction | 15 |
| 159271 | Computational Thinking for Problem Solving | 15 |
| 159272 | Programming Paradigms | 15 |
| 60 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 159336 | Mobile Application Development | 15 |
| 159339 | Internet Programming | 15 |
| 159341 | Programming Languages, Algorithms and Concurrency | 15 |
| 159342 | Operating Systems and Networks | 15 |
| 159352 | Advanced Web Development | 15 |
| 159355 | Concurrent Systems | 15 |
| 159360 | Programming for Computer Graphics | 15 |
| 161312 | Statistical Machine Learning | 15 |
This is a guide only.
First year for a full-time student usually consists of eight courses. Take electives (or courses from other majors) to get the total number of courses to eight. Make sure you include courses that are prerequisites for the next level of courses you wish to study.
You can change your major up until the start of your second year and it is a good idea to keep your options open by taking courses such that you are ready to move on to several different majors. In the first year of study, you should take the following courses:
You are advised to check the Bachelor of Information Sciences page and the Courses for this specialisation section on this page for the latest information on courses, including required courses at 200-level and 300-level.
Completing a minor is optional. Minors increase the breadth of your degree. They give you extra knowledge, attributes and capabilities.
A minor must be in a different subject from your major.
You may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another undergraduate degree, the regulations of that programme will apply.
If you are not studying towards a Bachelor of Information Sciences (Computer Science) and wish to complete a minor in Computer Science see the regulations for the requirements of this minor.
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
“
My degree taught me the foundations of programming and how to be able to pick up any language/area efficiently.
” Nicole Wilcox
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Electives are courses that are not compulsory. Certain guidelines are usually provided on courses you may take. Elective courses contribute to the programme, but not to your major or specialisation.
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. You can go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
There is a webpage with information on changes that took place in 2020, which may affect you if you are a current BSc student.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may be no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.