Bachelor of Computer Science

Undergraduate | 2026

Mode

On Campus

Start date

February, July

Campus

Adelaide City Campus, Mawson Lakes

Duration

3 year(s) full-time

Program code

BCOMP

Study as

Full time or part time

Indicative annual fees

Commonwealth Supported

Non-tuition fees

SATAC code

ABP144

Prerequisite

SACE Stage 2 Mathematical Methods (or equivalent)

Assumed knowledge

None

Entry scores

2025 CUT-OFFS Guaranteed entry score (ATAR-based):80 Guaranteed entry score (Grades-based):A,A,B

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved at least one of the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.

Secondary education (Year 12)

Completion of a secondary education qualification equivalent to the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE).

Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Completion of an award from a registered training organisation (RTO) at Certificate IV (AQF level 4) or higher.

Higher education study

Successful completion of at least 6 months full-time study (or equivalent part-time) in a higher education award program.

Work and life experience

Completion of an Adelaide University approved enabling, pathway or bridging program; OR
A competitive result in the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT); OR
Qualify for special entry

Note:

Please note that entry requirements for this degree are provisional and subject to change.

Why Bachelor of Computer Science?

Create the technology of the future. Computer scientists design, develop, and analyse the software and hardware used to solve a range of problems facing society. While IT specialists work with existing technology to solve a problem, computer scientists are at the forefront of building new technology from the ground-up.

With increased technology adoption driving transformation in virtually every sector – from agriculture to healthcare, education and manufacturing – the demand for highly skilled computer scientists has never been greater (Tech Council of Australia, 2023).

Our Bachelor of Computer Science will equip you with a solid foundation in computer science skills. You’ll also acquire strong understanding of the ethical and legal dimensions of the evolving tech landscape – preparing you well for a dynamic career in a wide range of industries.

Overview

Our Bachelor of Computer Science provides you with a solid base of essential computer science knowledge and skills.

The broad focus of this degree means you’ll study a mix of courses covering artificial intelligence, algorithms, data management, programming languages, security, computer architecture, and more

You’ll also have the option to specialise with a major in either artificial intelligence and machine learning, human-centred computing, or programming languages. Or you may prefer to complete a general major, learning a little bit of everything.

In addition, you’ll sharpen your professional skills with courses in communication, as well as group projects where you’ll work in a team to deliver a client artefact.

Individuals with computer science expertise can be found working in a wide range of fields– from software development, finance and banking, healthcare, e-commerce, video game design, defence, and manufacturing.

What you'll learn

Our Bachelor of Computer Science covers core computer science knowledge, theories, principles, technical and professional skills.

In first year, you’ll study courses in problem solving and programming, IT systems, structured data, security foundations, and system requirements.

From second year, you can specialise in an area of interest with a major in either:

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Human-Centred Computing
Programming Languages.

Or you may prefer to complete a ‘general major’ – enabling you to explore a little bit of everything.

Throughout, you’ll develop deep reasoning skills, an understanding of the limits and capabilities of computing, alongside technical and programming skills.

In your final year, you’ll sharpen your professional skills through a major project. Working in a project team, you’ll develop an artefact for a client. This might include the application of new technologies, developing proof of concept solutions or analysing current business processes to identify areas for improvement.

On completion of your studies, you’ll be eligible for professional membership with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).

You’ll be able to complete majority of first year common courses and second year courses at either our Adelaide City or Mawson Lakes Campus with some potential cross-campus study required. Throughout your degree, you’ll gain access to cutting-edge facilities across both campus locations to enhance your overall learning experience.

Majors

Did you know that you can also choose a Bachelor of Computer Science with a major in one of the following:

What courses you'll study

Complete 144 units comprising:

66 units for all Core courses, and
Either:
54 units for one Major from Majors, or
54 units for all Discipline courses, and
12 units for all Work integrated learning, and
12 units for Electives

Complete 66 units for ALL of the following:

	Course code	Units
Course name Problem Solving and Programming	Course code COMP1002	Units 6
Course name Structured Data	Course code COMP1003	Units 6
Course name Object-Oriented Programming	Course code COMP1005	Units 6
Course name Computing Innovations in the Modern World	Course code COMP1015	Units 6
Course name Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP2017	Units 6
Course name Software Development Practice	Course code COMP2021	Units 6
Course name Information Technology Systems	Course code INFO1012	Units 6
Course name System Requirements	Course code INFO1013	Units 6
Course name Security Foundations	Course code INFO1016	Units 6
Course name Professional Communication and Teamwork	Course code INFO2032	Units 6
Course name Foundations in Mathematics	Course code MATH1000	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Problem Solving and Programming	Course code COMP1002	Units 6
	Course name Structured Data	Course code COMP1003	Units 6
	Course name Information Technology Systems	Course code INFO1012	Units 6
	Course name Computing Innovations in the Modern World	Course code COMP1015	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Object-Oriented Programming	Course code COMP1005	Units 6
	Course name Security Foundations	Course code INFO1016	Units 6
	Course name System Requirements	Course code INFO1013	Units 6
	Course name Foundations in Mathematics	Course code MATH1000	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Discrete Mathematics	Course code MATH1006	Units 6
	Course name Software Development Practice	Course code COMP2021	Units 6
	Course name Computer Systems	Course code COMP2000	Units 6
	Course name Ethical and Legal Challenges in Technology	Course code COMP2022	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Language Models, Translation and Execution	Course code COMP2001	Units 6
	Course name Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP2017	Units 6
	Course name Operating Systems	Course code COMP2002	Units 6
	Course name Professional Communication and Teamwork	Course code INFO2032	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP3008	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Cyber Security Application	Course code INFO2007	Units 6
	Course name Theory of Computation and Formal Verification	Course code COMP2003	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Distributed and Decentralised Computing	Course code COMP2004	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 1	Course code INFO3901	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 2	Course code INFO3902	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6

Complete 54 units for ALL of the following:

	Course code	Units
Course name Discrete Mathematics	Course code MATH1006	Units 6
Course name Computer Systems	Course code COMP2000	Units 6
Course name Language Models, Translation and Execution	Course code COMP2001	Units 6
Course name Operating Systems	Course code COMP2002	Units 6
Course name Theory of Computation and Formal Verification	Course code COMP2003	Units 6
Course name Distributed and Decentralised Computing	Course code COMP2004	Units 6
Course name Ethical and Legal Challenges in Technology	Course code COMP2022	Units 6
Course name Cyber Security Application	Course code INFO2007	Units 6
Course name Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP3008	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Problem Solving and Programming	Course code COMP1002	Units 6
	Course name Structured Data	Course code COMP1003	Units 6
	Course name Information Technology Systems	Course code INFO1012	Units 6
	Course name Computing Innovations in the Modern World	Course code COMP1015	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Object-Oriented Programming	Course code COMP1005	Units 6
	Course name Security Foundations	Course code INFO1016	Units 6
	Course name System Requirements	Course code INFO1013	Units 6
	Course name Foundations in Mathematics	Course code MATH1000	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Discrete Mathematics	Course code MATH1006	Units 6
	Course name Software Development Practice	Course code COMP2021	Units 6
	Course name Computer Systems	Course code COMP2000	Units 6
	Course name Ethical and Legal Challenges in Technology	Course code COMP2022	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Language Models, Translation and Execution	Course code COMP2001	Units 6
	Course name Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP2017	Units 6
	Course name Operating Systems	Course code COMP2002	Units 6
	Course name Professional Communication and Teamwork	Course code INFO2032	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP3008	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Cyber Security Application	Course code INFO2007	Units 6
	Course name Theory of Computation and Formal Verification	Course code COMP2003	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Distributed and Decentralised Computing	Course code COMP2004	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 1	Course code INFO3901	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 2	Course code INFO3902	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6

Complete one Major from the following:

Major name
	Major Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
	Major Human-Centred Computing
	Major Programming Languages

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Problem Solving and Programming	Course code COMP1002	Units 6
	Course name Structured Data	Course code COMP1003	Units 6
	Course name Information Technology Systems	Course code INFO1012	Units 6
	Course name Computing Innovations in the Modern World	Course code COMP1015	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Object-Oriented Programming	Course code COMP1005	Units 6
	Course name Security Foundations	Course code INFO1016	Units 6
	Course name System Requirements	Course code INFO1013	Units 6
	Course name Foundations in Mathematics	Course code MATH1000	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Discrete Mathematics	Course code MATH1006	Units 6
	Course name Software Development Practice	Course code COMP2021	Units 6
	Course name Computer Systems	Course code COMP2000	Units 6
	Course name Ethical and Legal Challenges in Technology	Course code COMP2022	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Language Models, Translation and Execution	Course code COMP2001	Units 6
	Course name Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP2017	Units 6
	Course name Operating Systems	Course code COMP2002	Units 6
	Course name Professional Communication and Teamwork	Course code INFO2032	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP3008	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Cyber Security Application	Course code INFO2007	Units 6
	Course name Theory of Computation and Formal Verification	Course code COMP2003	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Distributed and Decentralised Computing	Course code COMP2004	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 1	Course code INFO3901	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 2	Course code INFO3902	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6

Complete 12 units for ALL of the following:

Course name		Course code	Units
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 1	Course code INFO3901	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 2	Course code INFO3902	Units 6

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Problem Solving and Programming	Course code COMP1002	Units 6
	Course name Structured Data	Course code COMP1003	Units 6
	Course name Information Technology Systems	Course code INFO1012	Units 6
	Course name Computing Innovations in the Modern World	Course code COMP1015	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Object-Oriented Programming	Course code COMP1005	Units 6
	Course name Security Foundations	Course code INFO1016	Units 6
	Course name System Requirements	Course code INFO1013	Units 6
	Course name Foundations in Mathematics	Course code MATH1000	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Discrete Mathematics	Course code MATH1006	Units 6
	Course name Software Development Practice	Course code COMP2021	Units 6
	Course name Computer Systems	Course code COMP2000	Units 6
	Course name Ethical and Legal Challenges in Technology	Course code COMP2022	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Language Models, Translation and Execution	Course code COMP2001	Units 6
	Course name Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP2017	Units 6
	Course name Operating Systems	Course code COMP2002	Units 6
	Course name Professional Communication and Teamwork	Course code INFO2032	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP3008	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Cyber Security Application	Course code INFO2007	Units 6
	Course name Theory of Computation and Formal Verification	Course code COMP2003	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Distributed and Decentralised Computing	Course code COMP2004	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 1	Course code INFO3901	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 2	Course code INFO3902	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6

Complete 12 units comprising:

12 units from University-wide electives

Course name		Course code	Units
Year 1
Semester 1
	Course name Problem Solving and Programming	Course code COMP1002	Units 6
	Course name Structured Data	Course code COMP1003	Units 6
	Course name Information Technology Systems	Course code INFO1012	Units 6
	Course name Computing Innovations in the Modern World	Course code COMP1015	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Object-Oriented Programming	Course code COMP1005	Units 6
	Course name Security Foundations	Course code INFO1016	Units 6
	Course name System Requirements	Course code INFO1013	Units 6
	Course name Foundations in Mathematics	Course code MATH1000	Units 6
Year 2
Semester 1
	Course name Discrete Mathematics	Course code MATH1006	Units 6
	Course name Software Development Practice	Course code COMP2021	Units 6
	Course name Computer Systems	Course code COMP2000	Units 6
	Course name Ethical and Legal Challenges in Technology	Course code COMP2022	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Language Models, Translation and Execution	Course code COMP2001	Units 6
	Course name Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP2017	Units 6
	Course name Operating Systems	Course code COMP2002	Units 6
	Course name Professional Communication and Teamwork	Course code INFO2032	Units 6
Year 3
Semester 1
	Course name Advanced Data Structures and Algorithms	Course code COMP3008	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6
	Course name Cyber Security Application	Course code INFO2007	Units 6
	Course name Theory of Computation and Formal Verification	Course code COMP2003	Units 6
Semester 2
	Course name Distributed and Decentralised Computing	Course code COMP2004	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 1	Course code INFO3901	Units 6
	Course name ICT Capstone Project 2	Course code INFO3902	Units 6
	Course name Elective	Course code -	Units 6

Career outcomes

With Australia needing an additional 600,000 people to join the tech sector by 2030, the demand for highly skilled computer scientists is only expected to rise (Tech Council of Australia, 2023). With its rigorous focus on theory, technical and professional skill development, our Bachelor of Computer Science ensures you’ll graduate career-ready with the skills industry demands.

You could develop software to help farmers more accurately determine how much water to use in different parts of their fields. Perhaps you’ll design more immersive virtual reality technology to help train future medical professionals. Or maybe you’ll devise an algorithm that enables renewable energy grids to manage energy demand and distribution more intelligently or code to coordinate the next generation driverless cars.

Computer scientists can be found working in both direct and indirect tech roles in a wide range of industries and sectors, including:

Agriculture, food, and wine
Social media
Defence
Education
Banking
Energy
Finance
Health care
Manufacturing
Marketing
Retail
Transportation.

Explore a range of career opportunities including:

Software engineer
Software developer
Integration developer
Application developer
Backend developer
Frontend developer
Backend developer
API developer
Cloud engineer.

Industry trends

Tech jobs are growing twice as fast as any other industry and wages in the direct tech sector remain high and strong. The average advertised salary in the ICT industry is approximately $132k – which is 1.5 times the average salary in all other job sectors (Tech Council of Australia, 2023).

Big data analytics, climate change and environmental management technologies, and encryption and cybersecurity are expected to be the biggest drivers of future job growth (World Economic Forum, 2023).

Over 85% of organisations identify increased technology adoption will remain a key driver of business transformation in the next five years and beyond, (World Economic Forum, 2023) meaning the future in computer science is bright.

Accreditation

This program is provisionally accredited at the level of Professional by the Australian Computer Society (ACS). Graduates are eligible for membership with the ACS and are recognised internationally through the Seoul Accord.

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How to apply

Applications are open for Australian students to study at Adelaide University in 2026.

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Your study experience and support

Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.

You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.

Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.

Student services

We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:

Career advice and mentoring services
Personal counselling
LGBTQIA+ support
Academic support
Fees and finance help
Security services
Accommodation services
Common rooms
Prayer rooms.

You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.

Your campus

You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.

This degree is offered at the following campus(es)

Study hours

Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.

Assessment

During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:

Case studies
Essays and assignments
Examinations
Group projects
Internships and placements
Practicals
Presentations
Reports and project documentations
Research projects
Workplace and classroom contributions.

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Bachelor of Computer Science