Level 7

Major in networking, software and web development or data analytics

Study for a degree in digital and information technology (IT)

Get training in key information technology (IT) skills and graduate with a degree in high demand by the industry worldwide.
Overview

Programme highlights

Get training in key information technology (IT) skills and graduate with a degree in high demand by the industry worldwide.

This degree meets the high accreditation standards of the Institute of IT Professionals (IITP), who also endorse it as being of the calibre that provides “the best pathway to industry in New Zealand and abroad.”

You’ll be able to make a practical link between the latest digital technologies and today’s business environment ensuring that you’re well equipped to take your place in this exciting and constantly changing industry. This degree will provide you with the skills to analyse, design, develop, implement and maintain information systems across a variety of industries and business types.

As well as a strong grounding in analytical, technical and theoretical concepts this degree also uses hands-on practical methods and teaches important people skills like communication and management skills. At the culmination of this programme you’ll be able to do a real-world project where you can apply your skills in the workplace.

Choose from three majors

You can enhance your future career or personal goals by complementing the core ICT programme with elective courses from one of the following majors:

To find out more about what internships entail for both our learners and host organisations, click here.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Applicants must meet the following criteria for admission into the programme:

OR 

  • If the applicant has at least 60 NZQA recognised credits at Level 5 or higher

OR

  • If the applicant can provide evidence of equivalence through practical, professional or educational experience e.g. three-five years’ full time work experience [relevant to ICT] they can apply for entry. Evidence of literacy and numeracy will be required. MIT literacy and numeracy assessments are available

AND

Have English language competence to undertake this programme which is taught and assessed in English. Any applicant whose first language is not English may be required to provide evidence of an overall IELTS (Academic) band score of 6.0 (with no score below 5.5) or equivalent.

For  the  minimum  English  language  requirements  refer  to  the  following NZQA  Rule  18  at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/assets/About-us/Our-role/Rules/Prog-App-Accred-Rules-2015.pdf

Special & discretionary admission

Any ākonga who is 20 years of age or older and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme is eligible for Special Admission. Te Pūkenga works with the ākonga to ensure they are prepared for their intended programme. Any ākonga who is not yet 20 years of age and has not reached the general admission requirements for their intended programme may be eligible for Discretionary Admission. In assessing whether to grant Discretionary Admission, the delegated authority focuses on the applicant’s level of preparedness for their intended programme.

Need IELTS?

Book your British Council IELTS test with us.

You will complete your test in one day, plus get free online tuition to help you succeed. We offer paper-based or computer-delivered IELTS. Choose computer-delivered IELTS and get your results in 3-5 days.

Give yourself credit with Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Did you know you can use the knowledge and experience you already have to your advantage?

Your previous work experience and on-the-job skills, volunteering, professional development, and other providers’ qualifications can be recognised as prior learning, matched against credits in our courses, and put towards your qualification – potentially saving you money and possibly helping you to complete your qualification faster Learn more.

Programme structure

Programme structure

You will need to complete eight compulsory courses, one business elective course, plus the courses from your chosen major (360 credits):
Compulsory courses

Level 5

501.502 IT and Team Communication (15 credits)

Increased understanding of IT organisational and work contexts of communication, by investigating communication processes and activities in contemporary workplaces, while working in and facilitating a diverse team, and completing and reporting on a project.

502.521 Fundamentals of Software Development (15 credits)

Understand the fundamentals of problem solving and software programming. You will be expected to learn how to propose solutions to simple programming problems and code them using Python.

561.590 Business Information Systems (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to apply and practice fundamental concepts of information systems and interaction design to support organisational processes and systems and to troubleshoot and resolve common system problems.

564.532 Introduction to Databases (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to develop the skills and knowledge of data modelling techniques, usability criteria and data management user interface, and to implement a transaction management database system for a simple business operation.

Level 6

561.645 Professional Practice in IT (15 credits)

To be provided with the skills and knowledge expected of an IT Professional and have the opportunity to develop attributes appropriate for working in the IT industry.

Prerequisite: 501.502 IT and Team Communication and two level 6 BDT courses, or equivalent.

563.683 Change and Project Management in IT (15 credits)

Work in a diverse project team to achieve project outcomes based on an IT client project brief, and critically self-reflect on their personal and team performance.

Level 7

562.791 BDT Industry Project (45 credits)

The opportunity to design, implement and evaluate a project for a client by integrating the theory learnt in underpinning courses and applying this practically in an industry environment.

Prerequisite: Level 7 courses in selected major.

563.783 Management of ICT (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to learn and apply appropriate frameworks, architectures, tools and techniques for analysing business and ICT infrastructure to prepare ICT strategies, policies, protocols and action plans; to align business processes with information systems processes; to prepare an ICT risk management plan; and to understand the influence of ICT innovations in organisational management;

Prerequisite: 561.590 Business Information Systems; and 563.683 Change and Project Management in IT.

Business elective course

Level 5 or level 6

Complete one level 5 or level 6 business course from the Bachelor of Applied Management (Level 7).

Courses related to your chosen major

Networking

Level 5

565.586 Computer Architecture (15 credits)

Demonstrate an understanding of the architecture of a computer system and configure an operating system and local area network to meet organisational requirements

565.587 Computer Networks (15 credits)

Gain an understanding of computer networks, associated services and technologies and apply operational knowledge to configure a computer network to meet typical organisational requirements

565.588 IT Support and Services (15 credits)

Configure and administer systems and applications and understand service management theory to meet typical organisational IT support and service requirements.

565.589 Fundamentals of Computer Systems Administration (15 credits)

Demonstrate an operational knowledge of a network operating system and perform basic administration tasks to meet organisational requirements

Level 6

565.689 Advanced Server Services (15 credits)

Demonstrate an understanding of the data storage options and implement a server-based infrastructure with advanced features and data storage to support organizational requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture

565.690 Network Infrastructure (15 credits)

Implement and administer a network infrastructure with associated services and protocols to meet organisational requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture.

565.691 Directory Services (15 credits)

Plan, implement and manage a directory service with the protocols, supporting services, and replication mechanisms to meet organisational requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture.

Plus, select four courses from:

561.647 Information Security (15 credits)

Demonstrate an understanding of the information security principles, analyse the requirements and implement security measures to meet organizational requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture.

562.616 Automated System Deployment (15 credits)

Plan, implement and troubleshoot an automated system and application software deployment to support efficient organisational operations
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture.

562.617 Messaging and Services (15 credits)

Implement and administer a messaging and collaboration service in a network infrastructure and apply service management processes to comply with organisational requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture.

565.692 Software Defined Networking (15 credits)

Demonstrate an understanding of software defined networking (SDN) and implement an SDN to meet organisational requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture.

565.693 Wireless Networks (15 credits)

Plan, implement and troubleshoot a wireless network to meet organisational requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture.

Level 7

565.783 Hot Topic In Networking (15 credits)

Identify a contemporary topic in networking, research its possible challenges and design a solution to meet an organisation’s requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.690 Network Infrastructure; 565.691 Directory Services.

565.784 Cloud Computing (15 credits)

Research and apply key cloud computing concepts to meet business requirements and implement a resilient cloud infrastructure for an organisation.
Prerequisite: 565.690 Network Infrastructure; 565.691 Directory Services.

Data analytics

Level 5

502.522 Object Oriented Programming (15 credits)

Understand and code software programs using object-oriented principles. By the end of this course you will be expected to code object-oriented software solutions in Java.
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Software Development Co requisite System Analysis and Design

502.523 System Analysis and Design (15 credits)

Analyse and design software solutions using object oriented paradigm. You will be expected to model and present software systems using UML.
Co-requisite Object Oriented Programming

502.524 Fundamentals of Business Intelligence (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to understand business values of data, how values can be generated, basics of decision and knowledge systems, fundamentals of business intelligence, simple aggregation and visualisation of data, development of simple business intelligence reports, and to conduct simple sensitivity analysis for decision support.
Prerequisite: 564.532 Introduction to Databases

502.525 Front End Web Development (15 credits)

Build beautiful and responsive websites. You are expected to understand the fundamentals of how the web works and gain a working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Level 6

563.684 Big Data Analysis (15 credits)

This course is designed to understand essential attributes, contemporary issues, opportunities, risks and challenges of big data; to explain the concepts and techniques of data integration, cleansing, processing and analysing; to design and implement a data warehouse; to understand the modelling requirement, approaches and complexities of data mining; and to create decision models and produce reports and business intelligence to support complex decision scenarios.
Prerequisite: 564.532 Introduction to Databases; 502.524 Fundamentals of Business Intelligence.

563.685 Business Statistics for Decision Modelling (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to understand, construct and apply statistical models to assist business decision-making and problem-solving; and to demonstrate an understanding of forecasting strategies, detecting trends and making predictions from regression analysis and simulation of time series data;

563.686 Data Analytics and Intelligence (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to explain how businesses can use big data analytics to drive business growth and discover how data analytics will change the way organisations make products, market services and engage with customers; and to analyse big data sets using visualisation techniques to create decision scenarios.  
Prerequisite: 502.524 Fundamentals of Business Intelligence.

Plus, select four courses from:

561.646 Information and Communication Technologies (15 credits)

Develop and apply skills and capabilities in technology areas, for example Web, Multimedia, relevant to communication areas such as news, advocacy, advertising, education, entertainment.
Prerequisite: 502.525 Front End Web Development.

561.647 Information Security (15 credits)

Demonstrate an understanding of the information security principles, analyse the requirements and implement security measures to meet organizational requirements.
Prerequisite: 565.587 Computer Networks; 565.586 Computer Architecture.

562.613 Applied Data Structures (15 credits)

The aim of this course is to introduce well-known data structures and to show their applications in software development. You will be expected to identify proper data structure(s) for a given problem(s) and develop software solution(s) that employs the data structure(s).
Prerequisite: 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming; 502.634 User Experience and User Interface Design.

562.614 Applied Software Testing (15 credits)

Understand the fundamentals of software verification and validation, and software testing. You will be expected to apply different test generation techniques and implement automated tests using a unit testing framework.
Prerequisite 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming.

562.615 Cloud Computing for Software Developers (15 credits)

Understand the fundamentals of cloud computing, its benefits and challenges as a software developer. You will be expected to design and implement a SaaS solution.
Prerequisite: 564.532 Introduction to Databases; 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming.

564.683 Database Application Development (15 credits)

To design and develop a transaction management database applications using C#, WPF, and Entity Framework, and present and manipulate data stored in a relational database, and to process data and generate reports.  
Prerequisite: 564.532 Introduction to Databases.

Level 7

563.784 Advanced Data Analytics (15 credits)

This course focuses on designing, developing and implementing an advanced business intelligence system from a big data set using a data analytic tool. You will how to translate a business problem into the design of a data analysis strategy; to develop an advanced business intelligence solution that performs data manipulations using a variety of models in a selected big data analytic environment, and to critically examine and interpret the model outputs and test the performance of models;
Prerequisite: 563.686 Data Analytics and Intelligence.

563.785 Hot Topic in Data Analytics (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to apply the concepts, techniques, tools and models of big data and data analytics to create a useful solution for a given business problem in a selected industry.

Software and web development

Level 5

502.522 Object Oriented Programming (15 credits)

Understand and code software programs using object-oriented principles. By the end of this course you will be expected to code object-oriented software solutions in Java.
Prerequisite: Fundamentals of Software Development Co requisite System Analysis and Design

502.523 System Analysis and Design (15 credits)

Analyse and design software solutions using object-oriented paradigm. Model and present software systems using UML.
Co-requisite Object Oriented Programming

502.524 Fundamentals of Business Intelligence (15 credits)

The purpose of this course is to understand business values of data, how values can be generated, basics of decision and knowledge systems, fundamentals of business intelligence, simple aggregation and visualisation of data, development of simple business intelligence reports, and to conduct simple sensitivity analysis for decision support.
Prerequisite: 564.532 Introduction to Databases

502.525 Front End Web Development (15 credits)

Build beautiful and responsive websites. You are expected to understand the fundamentals of how the web works and gain a working knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Level 6

502.632 Full Stack Web Development (15 credits)

Build server-side web applications using ASP.NET MVC framework that use powerful relational databases to store data and interact with public APIs.
Prerequisite: 502.525 Front End Web Design; 564.532 Introduction to Databases; 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming.

502.633 Software Engineering (15 credits)

Help you to develop skills that will enable you to construct software of high quality – software that is reliable, and that is reasonably easy to understand, modify and maintain. Learn about software architecture patterns and styles.
Prerequisite: 502.523 System Analysis and Design.

502.634 User Experience and User Interface Design (15 credits)

Understand the importance of user centric design and implement software user interfaces that promote aesthetics, usability, and ease of use. The course concentrates on Android user interface development.
Prerequisite: 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming; 502.523 System Analysis and Design .

Plus, select four courses from:

561.646 Information and Communication Technologies (15 credits)

Develop and apply skills and capabilities in technology areas, for example Web, Multimedia, relevant to communication areas such as news, advocacy, advertising, education, entertainment.
Prerequisite: 502.525 Front End Web Development.

562.613 Applied Data Structures (15 credits)

The aim of this course is to introduce well-known data structures and to show their applications in software development. You will be able to identify proper data structure(s) for a given problem(s) and develop software solution(s) that employs the data structure(s).
Prerequisite: 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming; 502.634 User Experience and User Interface Design.

562.614 Applied Software Testing (15 credits)

Understand the fundamentals of software verification and validation, and software testing. You will be expected to apply different test generation techniques and implement automated tests using a unit testing framework.
Prerequisite 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming.

562.615 Cloud Computing for Software Developers (15 credits)

Understand the fundamentals of cloud computing, its benefits and challenges as a software developer. You will be expected to design and implement a SaaS solution.
Prerequisite: 564.532 Introduction to Databases; 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming.

564.683 Database Application Development (15 credits)

Design and develop a transaction management database applications using C#, WPF, and Entity Framework, and present and manipulate data stored in a relational database, and to process data and generate reports.  
Prerequisite: 564.532 Introduction to Databases.

Level 7

502.714 Hot Topic in Software (15 credits)

Prepare you to identify a contemporary problem and implement a software solution to meet a client’s needs.
Prerequisite: None.

502.715 Mobile Application Development (15 credits)

Develop native applications for iOS mobile/tablet platforms. You will be expected to implement a complete iOS mobile application that interact with a variety of local and remote data sources, and uses a variety of hardware/software services provided by the device.
Prerequisite: 564.532 Introduction to Databases; 502.522 Object-Oriented Programming; 502.634 User Experience and User Interface Design.

Please note that not all digital technologies and business courses are offered every quarter.

Do you want to study a single course, without enrolling into the full programme?

Courses within some of our programmes may be offered as an individual Certificate of Proficiency (COP). Programme entry requirements and course fees apply. For more information, please speak to our friendly Ask Me! team.

Careers and pathways

Further training or study

Career opportunities

The Bachelor of Digital Technologies prepares graduates for employment in the field of information and communication technologies.

Opportunities for employment depend on the major studied and include:

  • IT manager, web developer
  • Programmer
  • Software developer
  • Software architect
  • Systems analyst
  • Business analyst
  • Network/software support specialist
  • Multimedia developer
  • User experience designer
  • Network/database administrator
  • Business and data analytics professional
  • IT project manager (incorporating business analytics and intelligence).

For potential salaries visit careers.govt.nz.

Find more online study options with Open Polytechnic

Now that we're part of Te Pūkenga, we also have access to a wider range of options from throughout the network. Follow the link in the banner below to explore Open Polytechnic’s online study options.

Free study for the first year of your Level 3 or above qualification may be available under the government’s fees-free study scheme. Visit feesfree.govt.nz for eligibility criteria and more information. Students must be eligible to study as a domestic student. All free study is subject to funding confirmation. Proof of residency status required. Entry criteria, and some costs, may also apply. Eligibility for student allowances or student loans may vary. Contact StudyLink for more information.

Information is correct as at 29 November 2023. Programme fees are based on a full-time student and may vary depending on your final selection of courses that make up your programme. To provide you with an indication of costs, the approximate fees quoted in this publication are based on the indicative 2024 fee structure. The indicative programme fees for 2024 do not include the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF). The CSSF is an additional levy to your 2024 programme or course fees. Further information about the CSSF can be found here www.manukau.ac.nz/cssf. Programmes stated as eligible for free study in 2024 are based on the 2023 fee structure and subject to funding confirmation for 2024. All fees are in New Zealand Dollars. You will be advised of the current fees at the time of enrolment. All courses and programmes will proceed subject to numbers and academic approval. Manukau Institute of Technology is part of Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. Te Pūkenga is accredited under the provisions of the Education and Training Act 2020. International students must study in class and will not be able to enrol for online study options.