Computer Science

Entry requirements

Admission to the programme shall be subject to the approval of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

Every applicant shall have fulfilled one of the following conditions: be a graduate and have achieved an average grade of at least B in the relevant 300-level papers; have obtained a Postgraduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science with an average grade of at least B; have equivalent alternative qualifications or experience acceptable to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Sciences).

In considering an applicant's qualifications, regard will be had to the detail of the course of study followed to gain the qualification, as well as the applicant's performance in the programme.

If your first language is not English you need to meet our English language requirements as follows: IELTS score of 6.5 in the academic module (with no individual band below 6.0); we also accept a number of other English language tests. Due to COVID-19, we currently accept Duolingo English Test (DET), IELTS Indicator Test, and TOEFL iBT Special home Edition.

Don’t meet the English language requirements? The University of Otago Language Centre English for Otago programme offers a pathway for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students to meet the English language requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Months of entry

February

Course content

The Master of Applied Science (MAppSc) is a 180-point, coursework postgraduate degree. A candidate would normally be a graduate but the degree is also open to those with other relevant qualifications.

The MAppSc is designed for students who wish to pursue an interdisciplinary programme of study underpinned by science that delivers versatile skills relevant to multiple end-users. Optional paths are available that emphasize commercialization, workplace-based projects or independent study.

The MAppSc can be completed in 12 months or in stages, providing flexibility for recent graduates and those currently employed.

Computer Science is the study of computers and the work they do. We need a science of computers because, unlike other machines, computers are general purpose; the same machine can perform many different tasks and the same tasks can be done equally well by different computers.

Because of this, the study of what a computer can do is more than the study of a particular machine. It is the study of what can be done by a device which processes information. Naturally Computer Science papers deal with the practical matter of making the computer do what we want it to (programming). But we also deal with many other questions about computing and computers. How do they work? How are they used? How do they fit into our society? What are their limitations?

Today computers are used not only as a tool in commerce and science, but also for research in many disciplines, such as Anthropology and Linguistics. Computer Science can be taken as a major for both the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees and can also be included as a supporting subject in a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Some knowledge of computing is useful to all science students and many arts and business students even if you do not intend to major in Computer Science.

Papers

Papers worth 120 points from:

COSC 402, COSC 410, COSC 411, COSC 412, COSC 420, COSC 421, COSC 422, COSC 430, COSC 431, COSC 440, COSC 441, COSC 450, COSC 470, COSC 471

20 further approved points at 400-level

APPS 597 Supervised Independent Study

Information for international students

Otago offers students an unrivalled campus experience and a vibrant, social student culture. The majority of Otago’s 21,000 students live, work and play in Dunedin - New Zealand’s only true university city. Otago is home to over 3,000 students, from over 100 countries.

Fees and funding

New Zealand is a relatively affordable country to live in. Dunedin, being a student-focused city, has living and entertainment options for all budgets.

Students are eligible for the Otago International Excellence Scholarship.