The Bachelor of Arts is the most diverse, most flexible, and most popular degree at The Australian National University. Each of its some fifty majors, in fields throughout the arts, humanities and social sciences, is taught by truly outstanding scholars to ensure that each student receives the very best education, is engaged with cutting-edge research, and learns to think like a researcher. These majors can be coupled with more than seventy minors and specialisations to broaden or deepen your study. Regardless of your choices, your Arts degree will provide you with core skills in critical analysis and in written and oral communication, while developing your adaptability and ability to help shape change and prepare you for a multifaceted career or further study.
Look around, Information Technology (IT) is everywhere - your TV, laptop, gaming system, mobile phone, watch, music, movies, kitchen, car, bank and your next gig tickets. It is changing the way we live, learn, work and even socialise.
If you are interested in driving this exciting revolution, within a truly globalised and fast changing industry, then the ANU Bachelor of Information Technology is for you.
You will get a strong grounding in computing fundamentals to tackle the progressive nature of IT. With IT being an intrinsic part of all industries, knowledge of software development and information systems is highly sought after by the best employers.
This degree can also be taken as a flexible double with almost any other degree at ANU.
Career Options
ANU ranks among the world's very finest universities. Our nearly 100,000 alumni include political, business, government, and academic leaders around the world.
We have graduated remarkable people from every part of our continent, our region and all walks of life.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts may find work in publishing, policy, education, international development, politics, media, information technology, communications, journalism, aid, advertising, art conservation, government and many other fields.
Learning Outcomes
- critically apply theoretical frameworks and research techniques to understanding national and international issues and problems;
- identify, including through interrogation of databases, relevant sources of information from across a variety of media (print and digital, written and audio-visual) and judge the importance and reliability of those sources;
- evaluate ideas and develop creative solutions to problems, including through independent pursuit of knowledge and making connections between different disciplinary approaches and methods;
- communicate and debate both orally and in writing, and work with others, using a variety of media; and
- understand the ethical implications of ideas, communications, and actions.
- Analyse well defined problems, and design, implement and evaluate solutions that demonstrate an understanding of the systems context in which software is developed and operated including economic, social, historical, sustainability and ethical aspects.
- Recognise connections and recurring themes, including abstraction and complexity, across the discipline.
- Adapt to new environments and technologies, and to innovate.
- Demonstrate an operational understanding of the foundations of computer science including programming, algorithms, logic, architectures and data structures.
- Communicate complex concepts effectively with diverse audiences using a range of modalities.
- Work effectively within a team in order to achieve a common goal.
- Demonstrate commitment to professional conduct and development that recognises the social, legal and ethical implications of their work, to work independently, and self- and peer-assess performance.
Further Information
APAC accreditation and pathway to Honours in Psychology
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) when students complete the accredited sequence of psychology courses. At ANU this includes minimum required learning achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003, PSYC1004, PSYC2001, PSYC2002, PSYC2007, PSYC2008, PSYC2009, PSYC3018, PSYC3025, PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses. Students in an ANU BA who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology must complete the specific set of courses that satisfy the APAC accreditation requirements.
APAC accreditation and pathway to Honours in Psychology
This program is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) when students complete the accredited sequence of psychology courses. At ANU this includes minimum required learning achieved by successful completion of PSYC1003, PSYC1004, PSYC2001, PSYC2002, PSYC2007, PSYC2008, PSYC2009, PSYC3018, PSYC3025, PSYC3026 and an additional 2 x 3000 level PSYC courses. Students in an ANU BA who wish to be eligible for Honours in psychology must complete the specific set of courses that satisfy the APAC accreditation requirements.
Admission Requirements
- ATAR:
- 80
- International Baccalaureate:
- 29
Prerequisites
ACT: Mathematical Methods (Major)/Further Mathematics (Major)/Specialist Mathematics/Specialist Methods (Major)
NSW: Mathematics Advanced or equivalent. More information about interstate subject equivalencies can be found here. here.
Adjustment Factors
Adjustment factors are additional points added to an applicant's Selection Rank (for example an applicant's ATAR). ANU offers adjustment factors based on performance and equity principles, such as for high achievement in nationally strategic senior secondary subjects and for recognition of difficult circumstances that students face in their studies.
Selection Rank adjustments are granted in accordance with the approved schedules, and no more than 15 (maximum 5 subject/performance-based adjustment factors and maximum 10 equity-based adjustment factors) can be awarded.
You may be considered for adjustment factors if you have:
- applied for an eligible ANU Bachelor degree program
- undertaken Australian Year 12 or the International Baccalaureate
- achieved an ATAR or equivalent at or above 70
- not previously attempted tertiary study.
Please visit the ANU Adjustment Factors website for further information.
Indicative fees
Bachelor of Arts - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
Bachelor of Information Technology - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
For more information see: http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/costs-fees
- Annual indicative fee for international students
- $49,330.00
Scholarships
ANU offers a wide range of scholarships to students to assist with the cost of their studies.
Eligibility to apply for ANU scholarships varies depending on the specifics of the scholarship and can be categorised by the type of student you are. Specific scholarship application process information is included in the relevant scholarship listing.
For further information see the Scholarships website.
Program Requirements
The Bachelor of Arts flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
The 96 units must consist of:
48 units from the completion of one of the following majors
MAJORS
Disciplines and Fields
Technology, Networks and Society
Languages
Geographically Defined Area Studies
Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Indian and South Asian Studies
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
EITHER:
48 units from completion of a second major from the list above
OR
24 units from completion of one of the following minors, which must have a different name to the major
MINORS
Disciplines and Fields
Technology, Networks and Society
Languages
Geographically Defined Area Studies
Asian and Pacific Anthropology
Asia and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
Asian-Pacific International Relations
Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
Indian and South Asian Studies
Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
ANIP
ANIP3007 Australian National Internships Program D *
And 24 units from completion of elective courses offered by ANU
OR
48 units from completion of two of the above minors, which must have different names to the major
The Bachelor of Information Technology flexible double degree component requires completion of 96 units, of which:
A maximum of 36 units may come from completion of 1000-level courses
The 96 units must include:
30 units from the completion of the following compulsory courses:
COMP1600 Foundations of Computing
COMP2100 Software Design Methodologies
COMP2300 Computer Organisation and Program Execution
COMP2420 Introduction to Data Management, Analysis and Security
MATH1005 Discrete Mathematical Models
6 units from completion of course from the following list:
COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving
COMP1130 Programming as Problem Solving (Advanced)
6 units from completion of course from the following list:
COMP1110 Structured Programming
COMP1140 Structured Programming (Advanced)
24 units from completion of a 3000- and 4000-level courses from the following subject areas:
COMP Computer Science
INFS Information Systems, only if completing the Information Systems major
A minimum of 12 units and a maximum of 30 units from completion of further courses from the following subject areas:
COMP Computer Science
INFS Information Systems, only if completing the Information Systems major
A maximum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:
MATH1013 Mathematics and Applications 1
MATH1014 Mathematics and Applications 2
MATH1115 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 1
MATH1116 Advanced Mathematics and Applications 2
MATH2301 Games, Graphs and Machines
STAT1003 Statistical Techniques
STAT1008 Quantitative Research Methods
A maximum of 12 units from completion of courses from the following list:
ENGN1211 Discovering Engineering
VCUG2002 Leadership and Influence in a Complex World
VCUG3001 Unravelling Complexity
Majors
Bachelor of Information Technology Majors
Bachelor of Arts Majors
- Ancient Greek
- Ancient History
- Anthropology
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Biological Anthropology
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Criminology
- Development Studies
- Digital Humanities
- Economic Studies
- English
- Environmental Studies
- French Language and Culture
- Gender, Sexuality and Culture
- Geography
- German Language and Culture
- Global Security
- Hindi Language
- History
- Human Evolutionary Biology
- Human Rights
- Indian and South Asian Studies
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Studies
- International Communication
- International Relations
- Italian Language and Culture
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Language
- Korean Studies
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
- Music
- Music Technology
- Musicology
- Northeast Asian Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Performance
- Persian
- Philosophy
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Sanskrit Language
- Screen Studies
- Sociology
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Spanish
- Technology, Networks and Society
- Thai Language
- Vietnamese Language
- War Studies
Minors
Bachelor of Arts Minors
- Advanced Ancient Greek
- Advanced Arabic
- Advanced Chinese Language
- Advanced French Studies
- Advanced German Studies
- Advanced Italian Studies
- Advanced Japanese Language
- Advanced Korean Language
- Advanced Latin
- Advanced Persian
- Advanced Sanskrit Language
- Advanced Spanish Studies
- American Studies
- Ancient Greek
- Ancient History
- Anthropology
- Applied Linguistics
- Arabic
- Archaeology
- Archaeology of Aboriginal Australia in its Regional and Cultural Context
- Art History and Theory
- Asian and Pacific Anthropology
- Asian and Pacific Archaeology
- Asian and Pacific Culture, Media and Gender
- Asian and Pacific Linguistics
- Asian and Pacific Literature and Film
- Asian Art History
- Asian History
- Asian Studies
- Asia-Pacific International Relations
- Asia-Pacific Politics
- Australian Indigenous Studies
- Australian Politics
- Biological Anthropology
- Burmese Language
- Chinese Language
- Chinese Studies
- Climate Science and Policy
- Composition, Arranging and Sound Design
- Contemporary Europe
- Criminology
- Demography
- Design
- Development Studies
- Digital Humanities
- Economic Studies
- English
- English Language
- Environmental Policy
- Environmental Studies
- Forensic Anthropology
- Forensic Linguistics
- French Language and Culture
- Gender and Sexuality
- Geography
- German Language and Culture
- Global Security
- Health, Medicine and the Body
- Heritage and Museum Studies
- Hindi Language
- History
- Human Ecology
- Human Evolutionary Biology
- Human Rights
- Indian and South Asian Studies
- Indonesian Language
- Indonesian Studies
- International Communication
- International Relations
- Italian Language and Culture
- Japanese Language
- Japanese Linguistics
- Japanese Studies
- Korean Language
- Korean Studies
- Latin
- Linguistics
- Literary Chinese
- Mathematics
- Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies
- Mongolian Language
- Music
- Music Technology
- Musicology
- Northeast Asian Studies
- Pacific Studies
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Performance
- Persian
- Philosophy
- Philosophy and Science
- Political Science
- Popular Music
- Russian
- Russian and Central Asian Studies
- Sanskrit Language
- Screen Studies
- Social Psychology
- Social Research Methods
- Sociology
- Southeast Asian Studies
- Spanish
- Sustainable Development
- Technology, Networks and Society
- Tetum Language
- Thai Language
- Tibetan Language Minor
- Tok Pisin Language
- Vietnamese Language
- Visual Arts Practice
- War Studies
Bachelor of Information Technology Minors
Study Options
| Year 1 | Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 1000 level Course 6 units | COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving 6 units OR COMP1130; | MATH1005 Discrete Mathematical Models 6 units |
| Arts Major 1000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 1000 level Course 6 units | COMP1110 Structured Programming 6 units OR COMP1140; | COMP1600 Foundations of Computing 6 units | |
| Year 2 | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | COMP2100 Software Design Methodologies 6 units | COMP2300 Computer Organisation and Program Execution 6 units |
| Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Minor 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Computing elective | Computing elective | |
| Year 3 | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | COMP2420 Introduction to Data Management, Analysis and Security 6 units | 3000 level Computing elective |
| Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | 3000 level Computing elective | 3000 level Computing elective | |
| Year 4 | Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | 3000 level Computing elective | Computing elective |
| Arts Major 2000/3000 level Course 6 units | Arts Elective 6 units | 3000 level Computing elective | Computing elective |
Back to the Bachelor of Arts page
Course selection
Enrolling for the first time can seem like a big task. Below, you will find an example enrolment pattern for your first year of study.
There are a few items to note:
- Courses coded in the 1000 range are appropriate for first-year students. We strongly recommend that students new to tertiary study enrol in first-year courses during their first semester.
- We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you pick your later year courses.
- The tables below represent only one possible combination. You are welcome to pick and choose from any other 1000-coded course found under the “Study Tab”.
- The tables below assume you are new to tertiary study and ineligible for course credit.
Single degree
Students starting in Semester 1 or Semester 2 –single degree Bachelor of Arts, example
Semester 1
Arts major
Arts minor
Elective
Elective
Semester 2
Arts major
Arts minor
Elective
Elective
Search Programs and Courses for the full list of available Majors and Minors and select a 1000-level that contributes to that major/minor.
Other first year courses available: to find all other 1000-level courses, refer to the Catalogue of Programs and Courses. You may refine your selection on the right-hand column of the webpage.
Double degree
Students starting in Semester 1 or Semester 2 – double degree Bachelor of Arts, example
Semester 1
Arts major
Arts minor
Course from other degree
Course from other degree
Semester 2
Arts major
Arts minor
Course from other degree
Course from other degree
Electives
Study Options
Study Plan
Please refer to the "Study" tab.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | Arts major | Arts minor | Elective | Elective |
| Arts major | Arts minor | Elective | Elective |
Study Plan
Please refer to the "Study" tab.Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | Arts major | Arts minor | Course from other degree | Course from other degree |
| Arts major | Arts minor | Course from other degree | Course from other degree |
Academic Advice
Course credit
If you have undertaken previous study that is relevant to your current academic program, you can request to receive course credit. For more information and how to apply, see the CASS credit application webpage, or contact the CASS Student Office.
Other important information for new students
Please refer to the New students page. You will find all the information you require to activate your ANU email account, enrol into courses and our O week details.
Need help?
If you would like further information or advice regarding your degree, please contact the Student Office. We offer appointments, and you can reach us at students.cass@anu.edu.au.
You can also check out our in person opening hours and location on the CASS Student Office webpage.
Back to the Bachelor of Information Technology page
The ANU Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) program (when taken with a major in Information Systems, Software Development, or Cyber Security) is accredited by the Australian Computer Society. The degree can also be taken without a major, or with a major or minor from other areas of Computing (see BIT Majors). The three year degree prepares graduates to enter the computing industry work force as novice practitioners to develop software or to apply computing in human organisations. The BIT can also be taken as a part of many double degrees and there is an option for high performing students to apply for an Honours year (Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours)).
About this degree
The degree is made up of compulsory requirements (seven courses) and an additional suite of computing requirements (nine courses) plus electives.
You can choose to study a computing major or minor – note that completing a major in Information Systems, Software Development, or Cyber Security is required for ACS accreditation.
Single degree
- This degree requires 144 units (each course is typically 6 units)
- Typically, you will study four courses per semester (total of 24 units) In addition, you have 48 units (eight courses) of electives that can be taken from Computer Science or from any other area of the university.
- You can study a computing major (48 units) or minor (24 units)
Double degree
- This degree requires 96 units (each course is typically 6 units) from the BIT rules
- Typically you will study four courses per semester (total of 24 units)
- There are no university electives in the double degree. You can choose your double degree with BIT from the Degree Builder in Programs and Courses.
- You can study a major (48 units) or a minor (24 units).
About this degree
Typically you will study 4 courses per semester (total of 24 units) as a full time student giving you a total of 24 courses across your whole degree
- The degree is made up of compulsory requirements (seven courses) and an additional suite of computing requirements (nine courses)
- You can choose to study a computing major or minor – note that completing a major
- In the single degree program you will have 48 units (eight courses) of electives. You may use these to study further computing courses, courses from elsewhere in the university, or a major or minor from another area of the university.
- In the double degree, you have no electives - your other degree requirements use up all of these.
Enrolment Status
While it is possible to enrol in fewer courses per semester, which is called studying part-time, it will take you longer to finish your program and get your degree. If you are an international student you must always be full-time.
Important things to keep in mind when choosing your 1000-level courses
When you enrol for the first time you will typically study '1000-level' courses. These courses have '1' as the first number in their course code, such as COMP1100.
You need to enrol in courses for both First Semester and Second Semester noting that you can change your Semester 2 courses anytime until July.
You can’t study more than four courses (24 units) per semester (eight courses per year )
International students cannot study less than 24 units a semester.
You may take 1000-level courses at any time in your program remembering:
for a single degree you can’t count more than ten 1000-level courses (60 units)
for a double degree you can only count six 1000-level courses (36 units) towards your BIT half of the double degree.
Choosing your first year programming courses
For your first year programming courses you have a choice of COMP1100 or COMP1130 in Semester 1, followed by, COMP1110 or COMP1140 in Semester 2.
The standard courses are COMP1100/1110 but if you have a strong maths background, and/or significant programming experience, you should chooseCOMP1130/1140.
If you choose COMP1130 and it is the wrong level for you, you will be able to transfer to COMP1100 within in the first 2 weeks without penalty.
Majors and Minors
See available majors and minors for this program
See available majors and minors for this program
You have the option to complete a major as a part of your BIT degree. Note that only BIT degrees with a major in Information Systems, Software Development or Cyber Security will receive Australian Computer Society Accreditation.
Electives
You have four electives to choose in your first year. These can be additional computing courses (e.g.:COMP1720, COMP1710, COMP2400, INFS1001), other electives that may count as COMP courses (MATH1013, MATH1014, STAT1003, STAT1008,ENGN1211) and/or engineering oriented electives (such as PHYS1001 or ENGN1218 ).
Explore majors, and minors, in other subject areas (e.g., management, mathematics, psychology, languages) that interest you. Each college site will provide information on the first year courses that you can study for a given major or minor.
Study Options
Bachelor of Information Technology - Semester 2 Commencement
This study plan is for those students commencing in semester 2. Due to the different offering of courses, your study plan is different from those students who commence in semester 1.Bachelor of Information Technology single degree
Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving 6 units OR COMP1130; | MATH1005 Discrete Mathematical Models 6 units | Elective course 6 units | Elective course 6 units |
| COMP1110 Structured Programming 6 units OR COMP1140; | COMP1600 Foundations of Computing 6 units | Elective course 6 units | Elective course 6 units |
Bachelor of Information Technology double degree
Study Options
| Year 1 48 units | COMP1100 Programming as Problem Solving 6 units OR COMP1130; | MATH1005 Discrete Mathematical Models 6 units | Other Degree course 6 units | Other Degree course 6 units |
| COMP1110 Structured Programming 6 units OR COMP1140; | COMP1600 Foundations of Computing 6 units | Other Degree course 6 units | Other Degree course 6 units |
Academic Advice
For assistance, please check Enrolment and program management or for further questions email studentadmin.cecs@anu.edu.au.