Bachelor of Information Technology

Course rules

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Information Technology, students must complete 400 credit points of study as stated below. The course is essentially a four-year course completed in three calendar years and includes four standard semesters, two summer semesters and two 20-week periods of Work Integrated Learning.

Students complete at least 400 credit points comprising of:

• 8 core units of study (100 credit points)
• 8 units of study from the Business Technology major (100 credit points)
• 8 units of Secondary studies (100 credit points) comprising of:
  - co-major in Computer Science; OR
  - 2 minors or advanced minors from Data Management advanced minor, Data Analytics advanced minor, Computer Science minor, Web Development minor; or
  - 1 of the above minors or advanced minors and 4 electives
• 4 units of study from the Professional Placement co-major (100 credit points)

Additionally the following rules apply:

• No more than 10 units (125 credit points) at Stage 1 (unit codes with a first digit of '1').
• The same unit cannot be counted more than once - where there are overlaps in units, the 400 credit points of study must be made up of additional units of study as directed by the course coordinator.

Students admitted to the degree receive an industry-funded scholarship paid over the three years of the course and undertake two 20-week Industry Placements working with Swinburne’s industry partners. Bachelor of Information Technology students are not eligible for paid placements in addition to their required course placements. Students are expected to enrol in classes and participate in industry placements throughout the year, including summer and winter semesters.

Final year experience - Capstone Project
All students undertake an Industry project as a capstone unit. This provides students with professionally focused learning experiences during their final year of study. This capstone unit is aimed at consolidating and integrating student learning with real world practice. 

Academic Progress – special requirements

Students in the Bachelor of Information Technology course, will have their academic progress reviewed after each of the following Higher Education academic segments:

1. After results release for Summer Term
2. After results release for Semester 1
3. After results release for Semester 2

Note: If permission has been granted to enrol in either OUA or Hawthorn Online study periods, the review period for the unit will be dependent upon the unit’s teaching dates.

In addition to the standard academic progress rules, the Bachelor of Information Technology course has the following additional academic progress rules which are established in accordance with Academic Courses Regulation 62(2):

1. A student is classified as 'at risk' of unsatisfactory progress if they:
(a) fail any unit of study
(b) fail to maintain an average of 60%
(c) do not attend all the required program activities such as industry events, placement briefings or professional development events, without acceptable evidence of incapacity
(d) behave in a manner that breaches the Swinburne Student Charter whilst on a professional placement

In accordance with Academic Progress Policy, and the ‘at risk’ criteria for the Bachelor of Information Technology, a student whose academic status is considered to be ‘at risk’ will be reviewed by the Course Director. The Course Director may impose specific conditions to be met in the next teaching period and/or have the scholarship varied, cancelled or suspended. Scholarships will not be varied, cancelled or suspended without the student being offered the opportunity to meet with the Course Director to explain their circumstances.

2. A student is classified as 'unsatisfactory progress' and will be required to ‘show cause’ if they:
(a) fail a unit of study for the second time
(b) fail a total of three or more units of study in either one segment or over two consecutive academic segments;
(c) fail a Professional Placement or Work Experience in Industry unit
(d) are unsuccessful at placement interview after five attempts*
(e) have their professional placement terminated early by an industry partner**

Students who are identified as having unsatisfactory progress will be required to ‘show cause’ within five working days of being notified of their unsatisfactory progress as detailed in the ‘show cause’ provisions in the Progress Review section of the Academic Progress Policy. The outcome will be determined by the Course Director, acting as the delegate for the Associate Dean Learning Innovation, Faculty of Business and Law. Outcomes of ‘show cause’ may include additional conditions to be met for continued enrolment in the course; having the scholarship varied, cancelled or suspended or transfer to a course that does not require placements and cancellation of scholarship. Scholarships will not be varied, cancelled or suspended without student being offered the opportunity to meet with the Course Director to explain their circumstances. Failure to comply with a request to ‘show cause’ may also result in having the scholarship varied, cancelled or suspended.

* Students who are unsuccessful after five attempts in securing a Professional Placement or Work Experience in industry due to poor performance during the placement interview, will be unable to complete this core component of the course and, therefore, will not be able to complete this course. Students in this situation will be invited to transfer to a suitable course (where appropriate).

** In the case of early termination of an industry placement by an industry partner, the student will be deemed as having 'unsatisfactory progress'.