Top careers in software design and development
Massey’s Graduate Diploma in Information Sciences will give you the skills needed to make you a sought-after employee, both in New Zealand, and internationally.
The Graduate Diploma in Information Sciences (GradDipInfSc) is intended mainly for graduates in an unrelated area who are seeking to retrain or upskill in the information sciences. Many of the students are studying via distance (online study) because they are working full time.
Massey is one of the few universities in New Zealand where your information sciences qualification covers all five disciplines of computer science, data science, information technology, information systems and software engineering. Many graduates have found it really useful to complete the Graduate Diploma “with no endorsement”. This means that you can select the courses you are most interested in from across the range of subjects. You are strongly encouraged to select “no endorsement”.
You’ll learn a broad spectrum of skills from business management through to software development. So you’ll emerge from your studies at Massey with a well-rounded understanding of the whole industry. You’ll gain the applied skills that you’ll need to become an excellent ICT professional.
IT employers are constantly seeking skilled staff. High demand areas include software development, software testing, business analysis, network security, project management and data/database.
You will gain skills in:
There is huge demand for people with information sciences skills.
Information Sciences graduates continue to find employment even during global recessions when graduates in other fields struggled.
Today there are more employment opportunities in information communication technology (ICT) than any other sector in New Zealand. The same often applies internationally.
Don’t take it from us - take a look at the SEEK website – large numbers of ICT jobs in New Zealand are advertised at any time on this website.
Successful completion of the Graduate Diploma (and a suitable GPA) enables you to 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.
To enter the Graduate Diploma in Information Sciences you will have been awarded or qualified for a university degree or equivalent qualification.
You will need to provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
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 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 Graduate Diploma including:
Endorsement courses including at least 60 credits at 300 level
Electives from the schedule
From the Schedule
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.
| No more than 15 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 158383 | Information Technology Project | 15 |
| 159333 | Programming Project | 15 |
| 159356 | Software Engineering Capstone Project | 15 |
| 161220 | Data Analysis | 15 |
| 161221 | Applied Linear Models | 15 |
| 161250 | Data Analysis for Biologists | 15 |
You may enrol in this qualification with or without a specialisation.
If you wish to study a mix of courses, you can select any courses listed in Schedule A: Endorsements or Schedule B: Electives, providing you meet each individual course’s prerequisite requirements. You will find Schedules A and B in the regulations for this programme.
This is a guide. You are advised to check the regulations for the latest course information.
The GradDipInfSc requires 120 credits. This usually consists of eight courses where five of the courses are at 300-level and three of the courses are at 200-level.
The GradDipInfSc can be completed in one year as a full-time student or over several years as a part-time student. Part-time study is recommended as it gives you time to acquire the pre-requisites and is a good idea if you are working. Most courses are available via distance (online study).
The GradDipInfSc requires you to enrol in 200-level and 300-level courses. You need to make sure you have the correct pre-requisites for the courses you are interested in. Due to the fact that you already have a degree, some of the pre-requisites can be waived. Some general guidelines are:
If you are aiming for a career in software development you will need to take some computer science courses. In order to enrol in 200-level Computer Science courses you need to complete 159.101 or 159.171. These courses are NOT part of your Graduate Diploma (because they are 100-level).
You are strongly advised to discuss your study plans prior to course selection. Contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
There are maximum time limits to complete some undergraduate and all postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the programme if you wish to continue your studies.
If you complete this programme within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with Distinction.
Look for further information under ‘Student Progression’ in the regulations for this programme.
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.
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 | |||||
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. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may 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.