Overview
Top careers in software design and development
Exciting challenges and careers are available in software development, business analysis, project management. 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.
Level
- Undergraduate, NZQF Level 7
Credits
- 360
Duration
- 3 year(s) full-time. Available part-time.
Flexible and unique study options
Massey is the only university in New Zealand to offer five ITC-related majors in the same degree. This allows you to mix and match courses to suit your strengths and interests. Enjoy smaller classes with individual attention from lecturers. Experience the first-year courses and still be able to change your major at the start of the second year. Include a double major or a minor (in any subject) or New Zealand’s only minor in Games Programming.
Generous cross credit system
Massey transfers credits from a wide range of previous study. If you have a previous diploma in any area of ITC, it is highly likely that you will be awarded credits towards your BInfSc.
Applied and technical knowledge
Massey teaches students the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the software industry. Topics include:
- mobile applications
- graphics and games programming
- networks and security
- web development and internet programming
- artificial intelligence.
- machine learning and data wrangling.
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.
Join the real world of software development
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. Students are also involved in creating websites and applications for charities and voluntary organisations.
Specialisations
Majors, subjects or endorsements
Minors
For more information on minors see the Courses and planning tab.
Business
Computer Science
Data Science
Games Programming
Information Systems
Information Technology
Careers and further study
Careers
There is huge demand for people with information sciences skills.
Massey Bachelor of 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.
Employers often require graduates to sit practical tests in addition to interviews. The Massey emphasis on applied knowledge and skills enables Massey graduates to perform well in these tests.
Careers for Information Sciences graduates:
- software develope
- software architect
- software engineer
- analyst-programmer
- systems programmer
- systems analyst
- business analyst
- software tester
- user requirements engineer
- database developer or administrator
- networks and systems administrator
- project manager
- data scientist
- web developer.
Further study
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).
International students
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.
Entry requirements
University admission
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Programme admission
Required
There are no specific entry requirements for this programme, outside of university admission regulations.
If you have excellent achievements in NCEA and prior programming experience (through the successful completion of courses and participation in competitions like STAR, NCSS or the ACM SPPC) you will be considered for direct entry into second-year computer science courses. You may also be eligible to participate in software development projects.
English language requirements
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
Prior learning, credit and exemptions
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
- review the Recognition of Prior Learning regulations
- contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
If you do not have the entry requirements
English language and foundation courses
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
- English Language Proficiency
- Foundation Certificate in Academic English
- Foundation Certificate in Advanced Academic English
- Full Foundation - Certificate in Foundation Studies
Summer School
If you need to do a course before you start your programme, there may be options for you in Summer School.
Courses and planning
Credit summary
360 credits
210-255 credits (at least)
From the Schedule to the Degree including:
Core courses
- Data Science: 135 credits
- Software Engineering: 165 credits
- All other majors: 120 credits
105-150 credits (major-dependant)
Elective courses
Ensure that overall, you also have:
- Not more than 165 credits at 100 level
- At least 75 credits at 300 level
Attend field trips, workshops, tutorials and laboratories as required.
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
Courses for this programme
Schedule A: Core courses
| 30 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 158345 | Professionalism in the Information Sciences | 15 |
| 247112 | Science and Sustainability for ICT | 15 |
| At least 15 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 159100 | Introduction to Programming | 15 |
| 159101 | Technical Programming 1 | 15 |
| 159171 | Computational Thinking and Programming 1 | 15 |
| At least 15 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 161111 | Applied Statistics | 15 |
| 161122 | Statistics | 15 |
For the majors in Computer Science or Data Science, or for the joint major in Software Engineering
| 15 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 159102 | Technical Programming 2 | 15 |
| 159172 | Computational Thinking and Programming 2 | 15 |
For the majors in Computer Science or Data Science, or for the joint major in Software Engineering
| 15 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 160101 | Calculus | 15 |
| 160102 | Algebra | 15 |
| 160105 | Methods of Mathematics | 15 |
For the majors in Information Systems or Information Technology
| At least 30 credits from | ||
|---|---|---|
| 157151 | Living and Working with Technology | 15 |
| 158100 | Introductory Concepts for Information Technology | 15 |
| 158120 | Fundamental Information Technologies | 15 |
Schedule B: Specialisations
Majors
Please refer to individual specialisation page for a list of courses for your specialisation.Minors
Please refer to individual specialisation page for a list of courses for your specialisation.Majors and minors
About specialisations
You must select a major. Don’t worry about possibly selecting the wrong major because you can still change your major at the start of the second year. Select two majors if you would like a double major.
Note that Software Engineering may not be part of a double major.
About minors
Completing a minor is optional. A minor must be in a different subject from your major and must not share any courses with your major.
If you study towards a Bachelor of Information Sciences, you may choose a minor from any University undergraduate degree that has recognised minors. If the minor is from another degree the regulations of that programme will apply.
Bachelor of Information Sciences minors
Most BInfSc majors are available as minors (the exception is Software Engineering). The following are also available as minor-only topics. See the BInfSc regulations for requirements.
Business
Gain a broad introduction to a range of core business skills.
Games programming
Massey is the only university where you can take courses that focus on the programming of computer games. You will gain the technical skills sought after by the industry including working with game engines.
Business
Computer Science
Data Science
Games Programming
Information Systems
Information Technology
Planning your programme
Planning overview
First year for a full-time student usually consists of 8 courses. Take electives** to get the total number of courses to 8. 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:
- 158.100 Introductory Concepts for Information Technology
- 158.120 Fundamental Information Technologies
- 247.112 Science and Sustainability for ICT (or 247.113)
- A Statistics course (161.111 Applied Statistics or 161.122 Statistics)
- 159.101 Technical Programming I
- A second programming course (159.102 or 159.172 is required for Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering).* Or you could take an elective.**
- A Mathematics course – (160.105 or 160.102 or 160.101 is required for Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering).* Or you could take an elective.**
- 157.151 or an elective course from any subject.**
* Ensure that you have selected the correct courses for your major: Computer Science, Data Science and Software Engineering require [159.101], [159.102 or 159.172] and a maths course. Information Technology and Information Systems may require 157.151 Living and Working with Technology, and do not require the second programming course or the maths course.
** Elective courses: Any course from any subject (including the courses listed above). Some elective courses may be available in Summer School. If you are interested in taking a minor subject there may be required 100-level courses for that minor.
In the second year, you must take at least four 200-level courses for each major. In the third year, you must take at least four 300-level courses for the major and also take 158.345. Double majors or minors will require additional courses.
Typical pattern for the Bachelor of Information Sciences
Core coursesThese courses are a compulsory part of your qualification.
Major coursesChoose from a selection of courses appropriate for your specialisation.
Elective coursesFollow your interests. Your qualification may have selection guidelines for elective courses.
| Year one |
|---|
| 247.112 Science and Sustainability for ICT |
| 159.101 Technical Programming I or 159.171 Computational Thinking and Programming I |
| 161.111 Applied Statistics or 161.122 Statistics |
| 159.102 Technical Programming II or 159.172 Computational Thinking and Programming II or Elective |
| 160.101 Calculus or 160.102 Algebra or 160.105 Methods of Mathematics or Elective |
| 158.100 Concepts for Information Technology or Elective |
| 158.120 Fundamental Information Technologies or Elective |
| 157.151 Living and Working with Technology or Elective |
| Year two |
|---|
| 200-level major course |
| 200-level major course |
| 200-level major course |
| 200-level major course |
| Elective or 200-level major course |
| Elective or 200-level major course |
| Elective |
| Elective |
| Year three |
|---|
| 158.345 Professionalism in the Information Sciences |
| 300-level major course |
| 300-level major course |
| 300-level major capstone course or Elective (depending on major) |
| Elective or 300-level major course |
| Elective or 300-level major course |
| Elective |
| Elective |
Courses are each worth 15 credits.
Computer Science, Information Systems and Information Technology majors are 120 credits.
Data Science major is 135 credits.
Software Engineering major is 165 credits.
Fees and scholarships
Fees and finance
Fees, student loans and free fees scheme
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.
Already know which courses you're going to choose?
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme
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.
- Student loans (StudyLink)
- Fees Free
- Student homepage login
A good fit if you:
- think logically and analytically
- are interested in learning technical and applied skills
- look forward to a challenging and rewarding career in the software industry.
Accreditations and rankings
The Bachelor of Information Sciences is one of the few computing degrees in New Zealand to be accredited by the IT industry through IITP. Majors in computer science, information technology and software engineering are all endorsed by the Institute. Accreditation ensures that courses are relevant to the industry.
Key information for students
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Regulations
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.
Undergraduate programmes
Applying and enrolling
Applying for the programme
Check you are ready
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.
Choose your programme and click on Apply now
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.
Receive and accept an Admission Offer of Place
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.
Enrolling in courses
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:
- prerequisites (courses you have to do before the one you are enrolling in)
- corequisites (courses you have to do at the same time as the one you are enrolling in)
- restrictions (courses that you cannot enrol in if you are completing or have completed another identified similar course)
- location – for instance some distance-based courses still have an on-campus element, so double check that the way the course is taught is suitable for your situation.
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.
What are courses and credits?
What are courses and credits?
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.
- See the ‘Courses for this programme’ section for the list of courses.
- Courses search
Understanding course numbers
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:
- sub-degree courses are '0' (i.e. xxx.0xx)
- undergraduate study begins at 100-level, (i.e. xxx.1xx)
- as you progress through 200- and 300-level courses this number changes to 2 and 3 respectively. The higher the number that starts the second three digits, the higher the level of study.
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
About electives
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.
Workload and time management
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
Returning students
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.
Scholarships and awards
Scholarships related to this programme
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.