- Where you can study
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Auckland campusDistance and online
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International students
International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.
- Open to international students on campus in New Zealand, or studying online outside New Zealand
Specialise in Information Systems for your Bachelor of Information Sciences at Massey
If you are interested in IT but prefer working with people and establishing client requirements then the Bachelor of Information Science (Information Systems) is the right choice for you.
Information systems are everywhere
All around us, information systems are increasingly connected and automated. More and more data is being created daily (‘Big Data’). This changes the way that businesses and organisations process and apply information about their products. It also affects how they interact with services and customers. Such systems are not only about technology. Their success depends on their designers having an understanding of computer software and they also need to understand the social, human and organisational contexts of these systems.
Understand technology and its users
When you study information systems you will learn the essential soft skills of working with the users of IT systems. You’ll learn to understand their needs and how systems can be designed to meet them. You will understand the impact of ICT and how information systems are part of the strategy of any organisation. You will learn about computer systems from the perspective of the system developer as well as the manager, the administrator and the entrepreneur.
Our Information Systems major will combine your interest in organisations and entrepreneurship with an understanding of how information systems drive the contemporary enterprise. This is in contrast to computer science and information technology that stress the underlying technologies.
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).
A Bachelor of Information Sciences in Information Systems is a good fit if you:
- want a career in today’s technology driven enterprises
- would like to find out more about business and systems analysis
- want to develop skills in IT project management.
Planning information
Planning information
This is a guide. You are advised to check the Courses for this Programme section and the regulations for this programme on this page for the latest information on courses.
Your first year
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:
- 159101 Technical Programming 1
- Statistics course: 161111 Applied Statistics or 297101 Statistical Data Science
- 247112 Science and Sustainability for ICT (or 247113)
- 158100 Information Technology Principles
- 158120 Web-based IT Fundamentals
See ‘Courses you can enrol in’ for the required courses at 200-level and 300-level.
Minors
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.
A Bachelor of Information Sciences (Information Systems) with a minor
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.
An information systems minor (for students who are studying a different degree)
If you are not studying towards a Bachelor of Information Sciences (Information Systems) and wish to complete a minor in information systems see the regulations for the requirements of this minor.
Computer requirements
You will need:
- Computer (laptop or desktop) (Mac or Windows)
- Recent version of operating systems
- Chromebooks are not suitable
Official regulations
To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations for this qualification.
You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.
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 Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.
Courses you can enrol in
Courses you can enrol in
Course planning key
- Prerequisites
- Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
- Corequisites
- Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
- Restrictions
- Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.
Core courses for the Bachelor of Information Sciences
As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.
Bachelor of Information Sciences core courses
Information Systems courses
200-level courses
Course code: 157216 Management, Analytics and Decision Making 15 credits
Introduction to techniques and issues involved in using data to support organisational decision making.
View full course detailsCourse code: 157240 Social Media Networks for Business 15 credits
Students will be introduced to using social media for business success and will examine current issues in the rapidly developing area of social media using a socio-technical approach.
View full course detailsCourse code: 157241 Technology Trends for Organisations 15 credits
A comprehensive study of major technology trends and organisational contexts within which information systems are developed and used from user, manager, organisational and societal perspectives.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158235 Networks, Security and Privacy 15 credits
A study of the basic principles of digital communications, Internet technologies, communications software, local area network design, client-server system design, middleware and available wide-area network services from the viewpoint of a software engineer/designer developing networked information systems.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158244 Software Quality Assurance and Testing 15 credits
A discussion of testing concepts and techniques that can be applied to all software projects. This course explores a selection of topics relevant to the design and implementation of test plans in software including web-based applications. The course also looks at activity design to ensure that the project conforms to stakeholder expectations. This course will be of assistance to students who would like to become a Certified Tester through International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISQTB) foundation level exams.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158258 Web Development 15 credits
An introduction to web-based application development. Students will gain practical experience in the use of modern techniques relevant to the design and development of web-based systems.
View full course details300-level courses
Course code: 157340 Organisational Knowledge Management 15 credits
An examination of the role of information systems in creating business value in a knowledge economy.
View full course detailsCourse code: 157350 Technology Governance and Risk Management 15 credits
Designing and managing technology-based solutions for realising organisational strategy.
View full course detailsCourse code: 157394 Managing Technology Projects and Programmes 15 credits
Agile project management and design thinking as methodologies for implementing technology projects and programmes.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158337 Database Development 15 credits
A study of enterprise data models, including how data storage and retrieval methods have changed over time. Modern techniques for handling relational and non-relational data and their implications in transactional and analytical processing are evaluated. Students will gain practical skills in designing, creating and querying databases using database management systems.
View full course detailsCourse code: 158359 User Experience Design 15 credits
The course will move from conceptual analysis to the design, prototyping and implementation and evaluation of user interfaces. It will emphasise development processes that result in interfaces that provide a superior user experience. Examples of real-life interfaces, from sources such as desktop, multimedia, web, novel, and mobile technologies will be used. There will be a significant practical work component.
View full course detailsEntry requirements
Entry requirements
Admission to Massey
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
Specific requirements
There are no specific entry requirements for this programme, outside of university admission regulations.
English language requirements
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
English language skills
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.
Fees and scholarships
Fees and scholarships
2026 tuition fees
- Domestic students: $8,785
- International students: $41,010
Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The estimates do not include the Student Services Fee. This fee is $1,164 for on-campus students and $948 for distance students for full-time study (120 credits). For more information about this fee and other fees you may need to pay, see non-tuition fees.
There may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
Course fees
You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.
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, including how much could be covered and your eligibility on the Inland Revenue website.
Scholarship and award opportunities
- Massey University Undergraduate First Year Scholarship – School Leavers
- McEwan Pacific Student Scholarship
Fees disclaimer
This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.
Careers and job opportunities
Careers and job opportunities
Knowing the potential of information systems and having the ability to put this knowledge to work results in a successful personal career, organisations that reach their goals and a high quality of life. The Information Systems major is well-suited to those interested in a career in management or administration in a technical environment.
Some examples of professional careers that follow on from this major include:
- business and systems analysts
- user support specialists
- database administrators
- software testing
- software quality assurance
- project managers
- independent consultants
There are a huge number of job opportunities in this area worldwide. Check out the SEEK website for the many ICT careers available in New Zealand at any given time.
International students
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.
What our students say
“The information systems major had the right mix of technical and business knowledge I needed to excel in what I wanted to do.”
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