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LocationIntakeStudy breaks
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Auckland International Campus5 February 202424 June 2024 - 19 July 2024
8 April 2024 - 19 April 2024
23 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
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Auckland International Campus5 February 202424 June 2024 - 19 July 2024
8 April 2024 - 19 April 2024
23 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
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Auckland International Campus22 April 202423 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
24 June 2024 - 19 July 2024
9 December 2024 - 7 February 2025
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Auckland International Campus22 April 202423 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
24 June 2024 - 19 July 2024
9 December 2024 - 7 February 2025
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Auckland International Campus22 July 20249 December 2024 - 7 February 2025
23 September 2024 - 4 October 2024
14 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
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Auckland International Campus7 October 202414 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
9 December 2024 - 7 February 2025
30 June 2025 - 25 July 2025
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Dunedin26 February 20241 July 2024 - 19 July 2024
15 April 2024 - 26 April 2024
30 September 2024 - 11 October 2024
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Dunedin22 July 202430 September 2024 - 11 October 2024
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Auckland International Campus10 February 202530 June 2025 - 25 July 2025
14 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
29 September 2025 - 10 October 2025
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Auckland International Campus10 February 202530 June 2025 - 25 July 2025
14 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
29 September 2025 - 10 October 2025
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Auckland International Campus28 April 202529 September 2025 - 10 October 2025
30 June 2025 - 25 July 2025
15 December 2025 - 6 February 2026
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Auckland International Campus28 July 202515 December 2025 - 6 February 2026
29 September 2025 - 10 October 2025
13 April 2026 - 24 April 2026
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Auckland International Campus13 October 202513 April 2026 - 24 April 2026
15 December 2025 - 6 February 2026
29 June 2026 - 24 July 2026
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Dunedin17 February 202523 June 2025 - 11 July 2025
14 April 2025 - 25 April 2025
22 September 2025 - 3 October 2025
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Dunedin14 July 202517 November 2025 - 13 February 2026
22 September 2025 - 3 October 2025
13 April 2026 - 24 April 2026
Study breaks content
Got a degree and want to develop your computing skills? Are you an IT graduate who is seeking to grow your knowledge in specialist areas?
Look no further! Study IT in this flexible programme - the perfect way to add computing skills to your CV while engaged in full-time employment.
With the rapid rise of technology, computer skills are now fundamental life skills and an IT qualification will greatly increase your career prospects, both here and overseas. There are currently far more IT jobs than there are graduates and employers are desperate for individuals with a good understanding of the industry.
Why study IT at Otago Polytechnic?
Practical skills
Tailored to meet your requirements, create a customised path of hands-on study that focuses on your desired outcome.
Have fun
Study in a creative, innovative and supportive environment. With small class sizes, you'll receive plenty of one-on-one attention from your experienced lecturers.
Get work ready
Our graduates jump into a range of jobs in the industry as we teach you want employers want! Consider a career as a Programmer, Software Developer, Systems Administrator or Computing Services Manager, amongst many others.
You will study
To successfully achieve this programme, you'll need to complete 120 credits at Level 5 or above with a minimum 75 credits at Level 7. Studio 6 is a compulsory course for everyone.
The flexibility of the programme design means there will inevitably be a range of customised pathways. You'll discuss your tailored pathway with the Programme Leader during your enrolment process. You may be required to undertake specific courses as pre-requisites to other courses in this qualification.
Level 5 courses
Course name | Credits | What will I learn? |
Programming 1 |
15 |
Learn about concepts of program design and programming fundamentals. |
Programming 2 |
15 |
Build event-driven, GUI (Graphical User Interface) applications using pre-built controls. Be introduced to the theoretical issues involved in Object-Oriented analysis, design and programming, and the principles of correct design and implementation for applications of this type. |
Fundamentals of Web Development |
15 |
Use basic technologies for the development of web-based functionality. Learn components of web pages and client/server web communication. Develop simple web-based applications using industry relevant client/server-side programming languages. Use industry-relevant tools and workflows to develop web-based applications. |
Introduction to Networks |
15 |
Learn about fundamental networking concepts and technologies, by covering the basics of network theory and the skills needed to implement a simple network. |
Devices and Platforms |
15 |
Learn to use a range of devices, platforms and concepts utilised within the Information Technology industry. |
Maths for IT |
15 |
Learn about the mathematical concepts and methods that underpin and are directly applicable to the theory of information systems. This course is primarily sited within the field of discrete mathematics. |
Year One Special Topic |
15
|
Pursue an individual course that will focus in-depth on a particular aspect of IT. |
Studio 1 |
15
|
Learn the fundamentals of professionalism in a technical environment. |
Studio 2 |
15 |
Be introduced to user-centric and technical project planning techniques to create solutions to simple IT problems. |
Unspecified credits |
15 |
This course is intended to act as a repository for "unspecified credits" where you can undertake courses from outside the BIT. |
Level 6 courses
Course name | Credits | What will I learn? |
Databases 2 |
15 |
Learn the fundamentals of relational database theory and how to design, build and use a database on a modern database management system. |
Switching, Routing and Wireless Essentials |
15 |
Learn how to describe the architecture, components, and operations of routers and switches in a small network and to configure a router and a switch for basic functionality. |
Operating Systems Concepts |
15 |
Learn about the major components of operating systems and the basic organisation of computer systems. |
Embedded Systems |
15 |
Be introduced to the core principles of computer hardware and architecture and become acquainted with a range of embedded application contexts. |
Automation and Robotics |
15 |
Use microprocessors and sensors to build mobile, context-aware robots. Learn to programme classic robotic behaviours and add wireless communication to explore basic swarm algorithms. |
Year Two Special Topic |
15
|
Carry out semi-independent exploration into a specific IT topic. |
Studio 3 |
15
|
Use an industry-relevant project management approach to produce simple, functional group outputs. |
Studio 4 |
15 |
Produce a professional, high-quality group project, following industry-relevant quality assurance and ethical practices. |
Introductory Application Development (Dev3) |
15 |
Learn the concepts of application development, including algorithms, data structures and design patterns required to use a simple, industry-relevant development framework. |
Intermediate Application Development (Dev4) |
15 |
Extend the concepts of application development, including algorithms, data structures and design patterns required to use complex, industry-relevant frameworks or libraries. |
Operations Engineering 1 |
15 |
Gain the knowledge and hands-on skills to perform systems administration tasks securely within different computing platforms, using the command line interface. |
Unspecified credits
|
15 |
This course is intended to act as a repository for "unspecified credits" where you can undertake courses from outside the BIT. |
Level 7 courses
Course name | Credits | What will I learn? |
Studio 5 |
15
|
Apply technical skills within complex Information Technology projects. Extend professional behaviour through group work, professional development activities and external engagement. |
Studio 6 |
15
|
Extend your skills within a complex IT project.
|
Developing Flexible IT Courses |
15
|
Prepares students for the training role that is often performed by information technology professionals. |
Databases 3
|
15
|
Gain the skills and understanding necessary to design and implement enterprise databases and to administer database management systems. Use a range of tools and platforms for developing large databases and explore current areas of research in database implementation, use and management. |
Advanced Algorithms
|
15
|
Use a wide variety of advanced algorithms and tools to develop efficient solutions to complex computational problems. |
Operations Engineering 2
|
15
|
Look at, and practice the configuration, management and troubleshooting of systems within an enterprise network including aspects of both applications and operating system components. |
Administering a Virtual Infrastructure
|
15
|
An in-depth knowledge and techniques used to efficiently implement, optimise and troubleshoot a virtual infrastructure. |
Mobile Application Development |
15
|
Explore the design and implementation of applications for mobile devices. |
Advanced Networking
|
15
|
Provides students with an understanding of how to evaluate and apply advanced networking protocols, services and concepts to the design, deployment and maintenance of medium to large scale networks. |
Year Three Special Topic
|
15
|
Carry out an independent exploration into a specific IT topic. |
UX Engineering
|
15
|
Build on your front-end development skills to design and build screens with inclusive, flexible and sound user experience. |
Security
|
15 |
Gain the theoretical knowledge and technical skills in the field of information security. Learn to identify security threats and vulnerabilities, then mitigate them by implementing robust, industry-accepted solutions. |
AI and Data Science
|
15
|
Choose and deploy the appropriate machine intelligence tool to solve problems that demand a cognitive component. For example: computer vision, natural language processing, recommendation systems, data analytics, anomaly detection, conversational agents (ie chatbots), machine translation, autonomous navigation, robotic control etc. |
Advanced Application Development Concepts |
15
|
Build and deploy optimised and efficient applications using a range of advanced industry tools and frameworks. |
Quality Assurance and Software Testing |
15
|
Lay the foundation for a potential craeer in the information technology field as a software tester. Understand the fundamental principles and processes of software testing. |
Enterprise Networking, Security and Automation |
15
|
Understand and apply knowledge of architectures and considerations related to designing, securing, operating and trouble shooting enterprise scale networks. |
Game Development |
15
|
Apply game programming techniques and tools to develop an effective game. |
Internet of Things and Cloud Computing |
15
|
Investigate and analyse the applicability of an IoT solution for a real-world problem and develop an IoT application involving cloud computing. |
Business Analysis and Intelligence |
15
|
Apply the theories, methods and tools for analysing business processes, and propose solutions for a variety of organisational problems. |
Unspecified credits
|
15 |
This course is intended to act as a repository for "unspecified credits" where you can undertake courses from outside the BIT. |
Your workload
While the Graduate Diploma programme is the equivalent of one year of full time study, course pre-requisites and schedules may necessitate a longer period of part-time study. Therefore, you have the opportunity to complete this qualification over two or three years, according to your personal path of study.
Further study options
Increase your career prospects with postgraduate study in Information Technology in New Zealand.
Entry requirements
- You must have an undergraduate qualification in computing or a related discipline OR degree-equivalent practical, professional or scholarly experience.
- If English is not your first language, you must provide:
- New Zealand University Entrance OR
- Overall Academic IELTS 6.0 with no individual band score lower than 5.5 (achieved in one test completed in the last two years), OR
- Acceptable alternative evidence of the required IELTS (see here for NZQA proficiency table and here for list of recognised proficiency tests).
If you need to improve your English Language skills, we offer a wide range of English programmes.
Recognition of prior learning
If you have extensive knowledge and skills due to practical experience in this area, enquire about our recognition of prior learning process at Capable NZ. You may have already gained credits towards this qualification.
Additional costs
There are no additional costs associated with this programme.
Student loans/allowances
Student loans and allowances are for domestic students only. For information about student loans and allowances please visit the Studylink website. It is important to apply for your student loan/allowance at the same time as you apply for this programme, due to the length of time Studylink take to process. Loan/allowance applications can be cancelled at any time if you decide to withdraw your programme application or if it is unsuccessful.
Intakes:
Course | Description | Dates |
25-AIC-01 | Auckland International Campus | 10 Feb 2025 |
25-DUN-FY | Dunedin | 17 Feb 2025 |
25-AIC-02 | Auckland International Campus | 28 Apr 2025 |
25-AIC-03 | Auckland International Campus | 28 Jul 2025 |
25-AIC-04 | Auckland International Campus | 13 Oct 2025 |