Bachelor of Information Technology (Professional Practice)
Develop an understanding of delivering large scale and complex IT projects, through a combination of study and practical industry experience.
Course essentials
ATAR
Guaranteed ATAR: Less than 50.00
Lowest Adjusted ATAR: Less than 50.00
Entry requirements
Credit
Study mode
Online
Duration
Start dates
01 March 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Mt Helen (on campus)
Online
Course overview
The Bachelor of Information Technology (Professional Practice) is Federation's premier co-operative degree, with a long history of providing students with successful placements with key industry partners including IBM®, and more recently Kyndryl and Westpac.
Choose your study path, including subjects such as Mainframe (a specialised area only offered by a select number of universities worldwide), Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Business Analysis, Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering.
Through the degree you'll also become job-ready through our career development units, and complete 1600 hours of paid industry placement through one of our selected industry partners.
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Information Technology
Course co-ordinator
Taiwo Oseni
Career paths
Professional recognition
This course holds Professional Level accreditation with the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
Commonwealth Supported Places are subsidised by the Australian Government. The tuition fee is called the student contribution amount. The indicative fee above is based on a typical first-year enrolment for this course and should be used as a guide only. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Your fee will depend on the units you chose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
How it's calculated
The government sets the fee each year. The amount depends on the discipline area and band of each unit. 2026 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range from $4,738 (Band 1) to $17,399 (Band 4). The sample course structure below link to the EFTSL, Band and fee for each unit or you can use our unit search to find these details.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your student contribution fee. If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 2, 2026
20 July 2026
Locations
Berwick (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Online
Semester 1, 2027
1 March 2027
Locations
Berwick (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Online
Semester 2, 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Berwick (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Online
Information
- Our Mt Helen, SMB, Camp St and Gillies St campuses are located in Ballarat.
- Online learning is only an option if you’re not studying on an international student visa.
Contact hours
16 hours per week.
Work experience begins in 2nd year and students engage in the work internship for the remainder of their course balanced with their academic workload. This can involve working during summer or winter holiday periods.
Work integrated learning
This course provides you with real experience to begin your professional career in Information Technology.
You will undertake a 1600 hour paid placement as an intern (casual or part-time) with one of our industry partners over year 2 and 3 of your course. You will receive direct course credits for 60 days of this placement. In addition, you will be supported by completing specialisation electives relating to your internship role. You will be mentored to grow your career while you work and study. When you graduate, you will have completed the equivalent of almost one year of full-time work as an IT professional. Many of our graduates transition to full-time employment with their internship employer upon completion of their degree.
Sample course structure
Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.
- Digital Literacy15 credit pointsITECH1500
- User Centred Design15 credit pointsITECH1501
- Connected Systems15 credit pointsITECH1504
- Data and Information Systems15 credit pointsITECH1503
- Professional Identity (Information Technology)15 credit pointsCOOPI1001
- Cybersecurity Fundamentals15 credit pointsITECH1502
- Foundations of Programming15 credit pointsITECH1400
Elective
- Co-operative Placement 1 (Information Technology)30 credit pointsCOOPI2011
Elective
- IT Project Management Techniques15 credit pointsITECH2250
- AI Governance and Assurance15 credit pointsITECH2119
- Co-operative Placement 2 (Information Technology)30 credit pointsCOOPI2012
Elective
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (year 12)
- Units 1 and 2: satisfactory completion in two units (any study combination) of Maths: General Mathematics, Maths: Mathematical Methods or Maths: Specialist Mathematics or Units 3 and 4: any Mathematics
- Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in any English.
Essential requirements for admission
All applicants must attend an interview as part of the selection process. Interviews are conducted with industry representatives to ensure applicants career objectives align with internship opportunities.
Applicants must be able to pass a police check prior to beginning the internship.
Entry requirements (non year 12)
Admission criteria for applicants with a Higher Education Study
Compulsory: Previous higher education studies with results at a pass level, including any 'single subjects of study', or successful completion of a tertiary preparatory course such as the Federation Access Studies Program (FAST).
Admission criteria for applications with a Vocational Education and Training study
Compulsory: Successful completion of a relevant VET qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
Admission criteria for applications with work and life experience
Applicants who have not completed secondary education, or undertaken any TAFE or university studies will not be eligible for entry into this course. Applicants in this category should consider a pathway course such as Federation Access Studies (FAST) Program
Essential requirements for admission
All applicants must attend an interview as part of the selection process. Interviews are conducted with industry representatives to ensure applicants career objectives align with internship opportunities.
Applicants must be able to pass a police check prior to beginning the internship.
English language requirements
Overall Academic IELTS band score of 6.0, with no band less than 6.0, or equivalent
How you apply will depend on your current situation – school leaver, tertiary background or life experience – and whether you’re also applying for courses at other institutions. Visit our how to apply page to find out more.
Ready to fill out your application? You might need these codes:
- VTAC application
- Yes
- VTAC code
- 3701837201 - Berwick (on campus)
3700537201 - Mt Helen (on campus)
3700837201 - Online - Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- IB5
Previous articulation agreements for CI5 are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis as students apply for credit.
The Bachelor of Information Technology (Professional Practice) has articulation arrangements as follows, subject to meeting supplementary admission requirements:
DP-ICT1 Diploma of Information Technology (Unilink): Swinburne
The below articulation agreements apply to IB5 subject to meeting supplementary admission requirements.
Diploma of Information Technology (Unilink)
COS10029-Fundamentals of programming/ITECH1400 Foundations of programming
INF10009 - Introduction to business information systems/ITECH1500 Digital literacy
COS10034 Cloud computing/ITECH1504 Connected systems
TNE10007 Network fundamentals and TNE10008 Advanced networking/ITECH1502 Cybersecurity fundamentals
COS10030-Digital technology in an indigenous context and COS10032-Computer system projects/Introductory elective
COS10031-Computer technology and ORG10001-Management and COS10033-Advanced programming/Intermediate elective
Hear from our staff
Hi, my name is Dr Gour Karmakar and I am the Associate Professor in Information Technology and Program Coordinator of Bachelor of IT Gippsland and Networking and Security stream at Federation University. My favourite part of this program is that it comprises contemporary and in-demand courses and streams such as Business Information Systems, Big Data, Analytics, Networking and Security and Software Development. They enable students to get highly paid jobs such as data scientist, cyber security and networking specialist, software engineer and business analyst. The program not only focuses the development of theoretical knowledge but also underpins on hands-on experience and contemporary tools. Using contemporary tools they equip students with sufficient knowledge and technical foundational skill to apply in different business context. What makes our program different from other universities is that we are collaborating with industry to embed co-op education, that is co-design, co-delivery and co-assessment of the courses. Besides, authentic assessment is the bedrock of this program. The coordination of co-operation is also mapping the courses to relevant vendor certification which help students become job ready and secure great job. Fun fact, that I occasionally write poetry and like walking in the morning. So please study this course and join Federation University.