Graduate Diploma in Computing

Overview

The University of Sydney offers targeted postgraduate programs in IT to meet the demand of the IT industry.

For students who already have an IT background, there is the articulated program of the Graduate Certificate in Information Technology, the Graduate Diploma in Information Technology, and the degree of Master of Information Technology. These programs provide a core of knowledge in information technology, supplemented by a broad range of areas of options within areas of Computer Networks and the Internet, E-Business, Multimedia, Database Management and Administration, Software Engineering, Business Information Systems, and Computer Science. For IT graduates, they provide an excellent opportunity for in-depth study of specialist areas, possibly leading to research, or a retraining opportunity for IT graduates wishing to extend the breadth of their expertise.

The University also recognises that there are many graduates from disciplines other than IT who seek a career change, either by moving into the IT industry or by enhancing their existing career with IT qualifications. The Graduate Diploma in Computing is specifically designed for graduates without an IT degree. The Graduate Diploma in Computing provides a selection of postgraduate computing units of study that provide a grounding in basic IT topics. For many students this provides the required amount of IT skills to enhance their existing career. For students seeking further IT study, the Graduate Diploma in Computing prepares students for admission to the Master of Information Technology.

The combination of the Graduate Diploma in Computing followed by the Master of Information Technology provides an effective conversion program into the field of IT for graduates without an IT degree.

Course expectations

Upon completion of the Graduate Diploma in Computing, graduates will possess a practical and theoretical background in some of the basic aspects of Information Technology. Graduates who satisfactorily complete the Graduate Diploma will also be eligible for admission to the Master of Information Technology and the Master of Information Technology Management. Satisfactory completion of the Graduate Diploma in Computing for purposes of entry into the Master of Information Technology and the Master of Information Technology Management require that a candidate has not failed more than 12 credit points of units of study in the Graduate Diploma in Computing.

Admission requirements

Applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Computing should hold a Bachelor’s degree in a discipline other than IT. The Graduate Diploma assumes significant numeracy skills such as those found in a Science or Engineering degree. Applicants holding a Bachelor’s degree in other areas who have completed relevant subjects with a mathematical foundation will also be eligible. Alternatively, applicants holding a Bachelor's degree in any discipline and who have worked in Information Technology for more than 5 years are eligible. All applicants must have completed their Bachelor's with credit average results or better.

Course requirements

• A total of 48 credit points must be completed from the listed Computing units of study;
• 18 units of study must be completed before COMP5114 Digital Media Fundamentals can be taken;
• 18 credit points must be completed before COMP5028 Object Oriented Analysis and Design can be taken;
• 18 credit points must be completed before COMP5116 Internet Protocols can be taken;
• COMP5214 Software Development in Java and COMP5212 Software Construction cannot be taken in the same semester;
• COMP5212 Software Construction cannot be taken until at least 12 credit points of study, including COMP5214 Software Development in Java, have been completed.

Accreditation

The Graduate Diploma in Computing is recognised as an industry relevant award and it is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) as a Associate level program in information technology.

Credit for previous study

Credit for previous study will not be granted in the Graduate Diploma in Computing. Units of study completed in the Graduate Diploma in Computing cannot be counted as units of study completed within any other postgraduate IT courses including the Graduate Certificate of Information Technology, Graduate Diploma of Information Technology, Master of Information Technology, Graduate Certificate of Information Technology Management, Graduate Diploma of Information Technology Management, or Master of Information Technology Management.