Defence Cyber and Space

Bachelor of Computer Science

  • Domestic
  • International
  • Duration

    3 years full-time or part-time equiv.
  • Start Dates

    February and July
  • Location

    North Terrace Campus

About Degree

Program the future

Ready to take your place in the technology revolution?

Our Bachelor of Computer Science features artificial intelligence and machine learning courses not available anywhere else in South Australia. It’s taught by world-class researchers and teachers within a faculty ranked 40 in the world for computer science and engineering*.

What will you do?

Depending on your chosen major, you will:

  • explore self-driving cars, robotic vision, machine learning and image recognition
  • learn how to protect networks, data and software systems from attack and unlawful access
  • apply cutting-edge data analysis techniques—such as machine and deep learning—to large sets of data
  • design, make and study large-scale distributed software systems, including parallel, mobile and cloud-based environments.

Majors are available in:

  • Artificial intelligence 
  • Computer science
  • Cybersecurity 
  • Data science 
  • Distributed systems and networking. 

You can also choose a flexible program with a little bit of everything, from gaming and graphics to computer vision and software engineering.

Where could it take you?

No matter how technology transforms the jobs market, computer science skills will be crucial. You could design robots or collective virtual reality spaces. You might work at Google as a software engineer. Perhaps you’ll legally break into systems as a white hat hacker to test their security.

This program is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS) .


Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
This degree gives you the opportunity to be part of our new The Academy by Deloitte You’ll be part of a supportive student cohort that learns from one another and industry leaders. Formal and informal experiences will allow you to build relationships within the Deloitte network.


Entry Requirements

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions information for this program.I am a:

  • Domestic
  • International

    Domestic applicants

    Admissions information

    SATAC Code314111
    2022 CSP ATAR65
    2022 CSP IB24
    Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR80
    Guaranteed Entry Score - IB29
    DefermentYes - 2 year
    IntakeFebruary and July*
    *Students commencing in July may have a slightly limited selection of courses.
    PrerequisitesSACE Stage 2: Mathematical Methods. IB: Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (HL) or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL) MathTrackX is an online bridging program available as a recognised alternative to Mathematical Methods.
    Selection Criteria
    Recent Secondary EducationApplicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors). Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
    Higher Education StudyYou must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of APSB, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
    Vocational Education and Training (VET) studyYou must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
    Work and life experienceTo be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2023. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2023 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2022 or 2021), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2021). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
    Other Entry Pathways


    2022 Admissions Data for school leavers
    ATAR
    (raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors)
    Lowest ATAR to receive an offer53.1
    Median ATAR to receive an offer80.15
    Highest ATAR to receive an offer98.95
    Selection Rank
    (ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
    Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer65
    Median Selection Rank to receive an offer86.5
    Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer99.95
    Minimum eligibility score65
    Additional criteria consideredSelection rank only
    Student Profile
    Applicant backgroundSemester one/Full year intake 2022
    Number of studentsPercentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    4519.2%
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) studyN/AN/A
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    <5N/A
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    8034.2%
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/AN/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    83.4%
    International students10143.2%
    All students234100.0%


    International applicants

    CRICOS023413M
    IntakeFebruary and July. *Students commencing in July may have a slightly limited selection of courses.
    Australian Year 12SACE Stage 2: Mathematical Methods. IB: Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (HL) or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL) MathTrackX is an online bridging program available as a recognised alternative to Mathematical Methods.
    International QualificationsMathematics
    Selection Criteria
    English Language Requirements

    Australian Year 12Successful completion of an Australian year 12 qualification with a minimum pass in an accepted English language subject
    English Tests accepted by the University of APSB
    IELTSOverall 6.5Reading 6Listening 6Speaking 6Writing 6





    TOEFLOverall 79Reading 13Listening 13Speaking 18Writing 21





    PearsonOverall 58Reading 50Listening 50Speaking 50Writing 50





    C1 AdvancedOverall 176Reading 169Listening 169Speaking 169Writing 169





    Qualifications that meet minimum English requirementsA range of alternative qualifications may meet the University’s minimum English requirements
    Academic Entry Requirements

    Detailed information on international qualifications assessment

    Secondary School QualificationsAustralia – Selection Rank (International)70
    International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma24
    Canada – OSSD Ontario Secondary School Diploma65%
    Canada – British Columbia Certificate of Graduation65%
    Canada – Alberta High School Diploma74%
    China – Gaokao60%
    Germany – Abitur3.70
    GCE A Levels7
    Hong Kong – HKDSE17
    India – ISC & CBSE65%
    India - Indian State Board Examinations75%
    Indonesia – SMA380%
    Kenya – Certificate of Secondary EducationB+
    Kuwait – General School Secondary Certificate70%
    Malaysia – STPM or Matrikulasi2.67
    Malaysia – UEC25
    South Korea – CSAT and High School Diploma300
    Sri Lanka – GCE A Levels8
    Taiwan – GSAT and High School Diploma64%
    Thailand – Certificate of Secondary Education3.2
    USA – SAT1100
    USA – Advanced Placement (AP)6
    Vietnam – Upper Secondary School8.00
    The University of APSB College Foundation Program70%
    Eynesbury Foundation Program339
    ANU College Foundation Studies59%
    Monash College Foundation Year MUFY64%
    Trinity College Foundation Studies Program (The University of Melbourne)70%
    UNSW Foundation Year6.40
    UQ College Foundation Studies Program4.00
    Taylors College – The University of Sydney Foundation Program (USFP)6.50
    UWA College Foundation Program (WAUFP)54%
    Non–Go8 Foundation Score70%
    Other QualificationsStudents who don't meet the academic requirements or who have other qualifications from the South Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, Philippines or Taiwan may be eligible to apply for a Pre-University Pathway to prepare for or gain entry into the University's undergraduate academic programs. For additional information see Pathway Programs
    How to Apply
    Application information for international students
    Important application deadlines for international students

    Student Profile
    Applicant backgroundSemester one/Full year intake 2022
    Number of studentsPercentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    4519.2%
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) studyN/AN/A
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    <5N/A
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    8034.2%
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/AN/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    83.4%
    International students10143.2%
    All students234100.0%


Fees and Scholarships

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.I am a:

  • Domestic
  • International

    Domestic applicants

    Indicative annual tuition fees
    Commonwealth-supported place: $8,345

    Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

    More information on Student Contribution Amounts.

    Scholarships

    These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.


    International applicants

    Indicative annual tuition fees (24 units)International student place: $47,000

    Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

    More information on International Student tuition fees.

    Scholarships

    These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.


Careers

Career Readiness

Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
Students who as part of their studies take part in The Academy by Deloitte experience will have the benefit of undertaking a paid internship with Deloitte. This internship is designed to shape their business readiness through significant real-world client exposure, access to multiple networking opportunities and relevant professional training.


Graduates are highly regarded by employers and have been successful in a wide variety of industries and areas. Employment opportunities exist in: administration, business data processing, computer programming, computer science, engineering design, financial software, games programming, graphics programming, information technology management, Internet commerce, network management and support, quality improvement, scientific data analysis, systems analysis, software engineering, systems support, real-time process control and user interface programming.

Career Pathways
Bachelor of Computer Science students can tailor their respective programs to guide them towards a particular career. Some of the options available are as follows:

  • Computer Graphics: As computing becomes a more visual medium, the demand increases for computer scientists with skills in the areas of computer vision, graphics, networking and broadband telecommunications. With the right choice of computer science courses and electives, students will be well prepared for a rewarding career in this area.

  • Database and Information Systems Management: Database and information systems management is an increasingly important field in the area of information technology, with large volumes of data needing to be correctly stored and interpreted. It is recommended that students thinking about this type of career also undertake electives from the discipline of statistics.

  • Network Management: Graduates in this area focus on the technical aspects of the design and implementation of data communications networks, including security and robustness. Choosing courses specifically focused on network issues will assist students to follow this career path.

  • Software Engineering: Software engineering is an essential discipline for anyone aiming to write reliable software for complex systems. Computer science degrees offer several software engineering courses, which include group projects tackling real world problems and cover the creation of software from its conception to delivery.

 

The University of APSB Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Graduate Attributes

The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of APSB Graduate Attributes.

  1. Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
  2. Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
  3. Teamwork and communication skills
  4. Professionalism and leadership readiness
  5. Intercultural and ethical competency
  6. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
  7. Digital capabilities
  8. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Professional Accreditation

The Bachelor of Computer Science is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
It also provides the necessary academic requirements for membership of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the American-based Association for Computing Machinery  (ACM).

Potential careers

Online Commerce Specialist, Information and Communications Technologist, Network Engineer, Computer Programmer, Software Engineer, Software Developer, Gaming Programmer, Computer Scientist, Computer Systems Engineer, Instrumentation Engineer, Internet - Web Programmer, IT Manager, Systems Analyst


Degree Structure

To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Computer Science, the students must satisfactorily complete a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 72 units comprising:
  • Level I courses to the value of at most 30 units
  • Level II courses to the value of at least 18 units including Computer Science courses to the value of at least 12 units
  • Level III courses to the value of at least 24 units including Computer Science courses to the value of at least 18 units.
  • One Major chosen from the following:
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Computer Science
    • Cybersecurity
    • Data Science
    • Distributed Systems and Networking

Students who perform well can undertake an additional year of study to obtain an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Computer Science. The honours degree can provide access to postgraduate study and a wider range of professional opportunities in the computing industry.

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

Bachelor of Computer Science

Areas of Specialisation

Majors are available across the following areas:

Artificial Intelligence: in this major, taught by world-leading artificial intelligence researchers from the Australian Institute of Machine Learning—students learn how to design, develop and analyse software systems to perform tasks requiring human-level intelligence, such as driving cars and recognising and responding to images.

Computer Science: this major allows students to undertake a flexible elective program across all areas of computer science.

Cybersecurity: our cybersecurity major gives students advanced skills in the technologies, processes and practices that protect networks, data and software systems from attack and unauthorised access. Students learn from industry specialists and world-leading researchers.

Data Science: in this major, students learn how to apply cutting-edge data analysis techniques—such as machine and deep learning—to large sets of data, equipping them to help solve problems across health, education, science, engineering and business.

Distributed Systems and Networking: this major enables students to develop enhanced skills in the design, development and analysis of large-scale distributed software systems, including parallel, distributed, mobile and cloud-based environments.

Example Study Plan

Core Courses

To satisfy the requirements for core courses students, must complete courses to the value of 30 units.

All of the following courses must be completed:COMP SCI 1102  Object Oriented Programming
COMP SCI 1106  Introduction to Software Engineering
COMP SCI 2000  Computer Systems
COMP SCI 2103  Algorithm Design and Data Structures
COMP SCI 2201  Algorithm and Data Structure Analysis
COMP SCI 2207  Web and Database Computing
COMP SCI 3004  Operating Systems
and courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
(only one of these courses can be presented toward the degree)
COMP SCI 3006  Software Engineering and Project
COMP SCI 3310  Software Engineering and Project (Artificial Intelligence)
COMP SCI 3311  Software Engineering and Project (Data Science)
COMP SCI 3312  Software Engineering and Project (Cybersecurity)
COMP SCI 3313  Software Engineering and Project (Distributed Systems and Networking)
and courses to the value of 3 units from the following:MATHS 1004  Mathematics for Data Science I
MATHS 1012  Mathematics IB
and courses to the value of 3 units from the following:MATHS 3025  Professional Practice III
ENTREP 3901  Tech eChallenge

Majors
Artifcial IntelligenceTo satisfy the requirements for the Artificial Intelligence Major, students must complete courses to the value of 24 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
  • COMP SCI 3007  Artificial Intelligence
  • COMP SCI 3310  Software Engineering and Project (Artificial Intelligence)
and courses to the value of 6 units from the following:
  • COMP SCI 3314  Introduction to Statistical Machine Learning
  • COMP SCI 3315  Computer Vision
  • COMP SCI 3316  Evolutionary Computation
and courses to the value of 12 units from the following:
  • Level I, II or III Computer Science courses (12 units)
Computer ScienceTo satisfy the requirements for the Computer Science Major, students must complete courses to the value of 24 units.
Courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
  • COMP SCI 3006  Software Engineering and Project
  • COMP SCI 3310  Software Engineering and Project (Artificial Intelligence)
  • COMP SCI 3311  Software Engineering and Project (Data Science)
  • COMP SCI 3312  Software Engineering and Project (Cybersecurity)
  • COMP SCI 3313  Software Engineering and Project (Distributed Systems and Networking)
and courses to the value of 21 units from the following:
  • Level III Computer Science courses (12 units)
  • Level I, II or III Computer Science courses (9 units)
Cyber SecurityTo satisfy the requirements for the Cybersecurity Major, students must complete courses to the value of 24 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
  • COMP SCI 3307  Secure Programming
  • COMP SCI 3308  Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • COMP SCI 3312  Software Engineering and Project (Cybersecurity)
and courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
  • COMP SCI 3001  Computer Networks and Applications
  • COMP SCI 3309  Cybersecurity A Practical Application
  • MATHS 3026  Cryptography III
and courses to the value of 12 units from the following:
  • Level I, II or III Computer Science courses (6 units)
  • Level II or III Computer Science courses (6 units)
Data ScienceTo satisfy the requirements for the Data Science Major, students must complete courses to the value of 24 units.
  • COMP SCI 3311  Software Engineering and Project (Data Science)
  • COMP SCI 3314  Introduction to Statistical Machine Learning
  • COMP SCI 3317  Using Machine Learning Tools
and courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
  • COMP SCI 3305  Parallel and Distributed Computing
  • STATS 3001  Statistical Modelling III
  • STATS 3006  Mathematical Statistics III
and courses to the value of 12 units from the following:
  • Level I, II or III Computer Science courses (6 units)
  • Level II or III Computer Science courses (6 units)
Distributed SystemsTo satisfy the requirements for the Distributed Systems and Networking Major, students must complete courses to the value of 24 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
  • COMP SCI 3001  Computer Networks and Applications
  • COMP SCI 3012  Distributed Systems
  • COMP SCI 3313  Software Engineering and Project (Distributed Systems & Networking)
and courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
  • COMP SCI 3004  Operating Systems
  • COMP SCI 3305  Parallel and Distributed Computing
and courses to the value of 12 units from the following:
  • Level I, II or III Computer Science courses (6 units)
  • Level II or III Computer Science courses (6 units)


Assessment

Assessment can vary from course to course and can include a combination of class work, tutorials, project work and exams.


RECOGNITION AND AFFILIATIONS

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