Bachelor of Computer Science
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 41 in the world for computer science and engineering*.
Graduate ready for an abundance of career options within an industry growing year on year at an above average rate in Australia**.
This program is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
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, covering topics ranging 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.
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.
* US Global Rankings, 2023
** ACS Australia's Digital Pulse Survey 2022 - Deloitte
^ARWU, 2022
#Good Universities Guide, 2022
Entry Requirements
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions
information for this program.
I am a:
Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.
Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.
Domestic applicants
| SATAC Code | 314111 |
|---|---|
| 2024 CSP ATAR | 65 |
| 2024 CSP IB | 24 |
| Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR | 80 |
| Guaranteed Entry Score - IB | 29.5 |
| Deferment | Yes - 2 year |
| Intake | February and July* *Students commencing in July may have a slightly limited selection of courses. |
| Prerequisites | SACE 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 Education | Applicants 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 Study | You 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 Adelaide, 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) study | You 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 experience | To be eligible to sit the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2025. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2025 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2024 or 2023), 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 2023). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Skills for 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 | |
2024 Admissions Data for school leavers
| ATAR (raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors) |
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer | 57.4 |
|---|---|---|
| Median ATAR to receive an offer | 81.38 | |
| Highest ATAR to receive an offer | 98.75 | |
| Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 65 |
| Median Selection Rank to receive an offer | 88.95 | |
| Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 99.95 | |
| Minimum eligibility score | 65 | |
| Additional criteria considered | Selection rank only | |
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Admissions Transparency Data
Student Profile
Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2024 Number of students Percentage of all students (A) Higher Education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)70 28.3% (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study <5 N/A (C) Work and life experience
(admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)5 2.0% (D) Recent secondary education: - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
72 29.1% - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
N/A N/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)
N/A N/A International students 98 39.7% All students 247 100.0% - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
Ready to Apply?
Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.
Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.
ApplyFees and Scholarships
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.
I am a:
Domestic applicants
| Indicative annual tuition fees |
Commonwealth-supported place: $9,675
|
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
Scholarships are not only for high achievers—they are also available to provide students with an equal opportunity to study at university, no matter where they live or what their financial situation might be.
Scholarships are available to both new and continuing students. We encourage students to apply for any scholarships for which they may be eligible.
To browse scholarships offered by the University, visit: University Scholarships
To explore scholarships offered by organisations external to the University, visit: External Scholarships
Careers
Career Readiness
Graduates are highly regarded by employers and have been successful in a wide variety of industries and areas.
Access Our Exclusive Winter Microsoft Bootcamp - Delivered By Akkodis, Microsoft and g01
Gain a competitive edge in the employment market by taking advantage of the Winter School Microsoft Bootcamp program. This is a unique opportunity to network with industry experts and learn the skills to become future leaders in technology.
Participants will have exclusive access to a wealth of learning materials, practice assessments, and certification exams. But that's not all! We are proud to present a line-up of distinguished experts from Microsoft, Akkodis & Datacom, who will share their knowledge and provide invaluable insights.
Plus, students will have the opportunity to showcase their potential by submitting their resume to Akkodis.
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 Adelaide 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 Adelaide Graduate Attributes.- Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
- Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Professionalism and leadership readiness
- Intercultural and ethical competency
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
- Digital capabilities
- Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Industry Placement
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
Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:
Information and Communications Technologist; Computer Programmer; Software Engineer; Software Developer; Gaming Programmer; Computer Scientist; Computer Systems Engineer; Instrumentation Engineer; Internet - Web Programmer; IT Manager ...
Degree Structure
- 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.
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
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
| Artificial Intelligence | To 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:
|
| Computer Science | To 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:
|
| Cyber Security | To 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:
|
| Data Science | To satisfy the requirements for the Data Science Major, students must complete courses to the value of 24 units.
|
| Distributed Systems | To 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:
|
Assessment
Assessment can vary from course to course and can include a combination of class work, tutorials, project work and exams.
Related Degrees
Further Study
Testimonial
Studying has given me an edge in my future career. The learning outcomes focused on both future research and industry pathways for future graduates.
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Last updated: Thursday, 12 Sep 2024
