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Bachelor of Business Information Systems
UndergraduateSWI-CIS-DEG2020
Course information for 2020 intake
Be the conduit between information systems and information technology
Study the systems fundamentals of databases, programming, networking, human interaction, risk, security and strategy. Work as a business analyst, programmer, systems consultant or IT project manager and solve contemporary business problems.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Bachelor of Business Information Systems
About this degree
Students who successfully complete this degree will be able to:
- Define and integrate theoretical principles applicable to information systems/information technology and apply those principles in a range of practices
- Systematically review and critically evaluate research from a variety of sources in order to make informed judgements on options for innovatively solving a range of problems that arise in information systems/information technology contexts
- Apply critical thinking, reflection and judgment in the selection and application of the appropriate IS/IT related concepts, frameworks and/or methods as part of the process to identify and propose solutions to organisational problems
- Demonstrate an appreciation and understanding of the professional and ethical issues, dilemmas, and cultural sensitivities pertaining to an information systems/information technology professional in a range of environments
- Communicate and articulate clear, coherent and independent exposition of knowledge and innovative ideas appropriate for the problem context, the stakeholders, and the organisational environment
- Build on and continuously develop the intellectual independence to be critical and reflective learners, cognisant of new technologies and their implications to business and social environments
- Work in a self-reliant, independent and responsible manner, show leadership and take initiative where appropriate, particularly in a collaborative and diverse team environment.
Students enrolled into the Bachelor of Business Information Systems can expect to gain technical and analytical skills as well as the ability to assess, evaluate, and communicate the key aspects of IS/IT as an enabler of modern organisations. The growing demand for IS professionals who can provide IS/IT expertise while showing an aptitude towards the organisational environment and the ability to communicate with the business users, means that graduates of this degree can enjoy career opportunities in the professional fields of business analysis, project management, or other fields where IS/IT-requisite skills and knowledge are highly valued. The degree also provides individuals with the requisite academic knowledge and skills to undertake further learning at higher levels such as Honours, Graduate Certificate, or Masters (by degreework) within the field of IS/IT and/or an area closely related to IS/IT.
Recommended study pattern
Follow the study pattern below, taking into account study period availabilities and subject prerequisites:
- Complete the 8 core subjects
- Choose and complete 8 subjects in a major
- 8 subjects of other studies (co-major, minors or electives)
Please note: You cannot re-enrol into Swinburne subjects that you have already passed.
Taking time off from study (Absent Without Leave and Leave of Absence): How to apply for an approved leave of absence and minimise the risk of having to reapply for degree admission: https://www.swinburne.edu.au/current-students/manage-course/enrolment-timetable/time-off/
Award requirements
To qualify for the Bachelor of Business Information Systems students must complete 24 subjects (300 credit points) comprising of:
- Eight (8) core Business Information Systems subjects of study (100 credit points)
- Eight (8) subjects of study from an Information Systems discipline major (100 credit points)
- PLUS Other studies (100 credit points) comprising:
- a second major from the business discipline (8 subjects); OR
- One co-major from another discipline (8 subjects); OR
- 1 to 2 minor/s, and/or single subject electives.
Regardless of any credit awarded within this degree, students must complete a minimum of 8 subjects of study with Swinburne University as part of this degree.
Choose your subjects
Electives
Students can complete up to 8 elective subjects. Electives can be any undergraduate subject offered by Open Universities Australia.
Students can complete an eight subject co-major in Marketing or you may prefer to complete up to two, four subject minors in the following areas:
- Internet Design
- Marketing
- Public Relations
Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.
This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
Withdrawal of Economics and Finance Major, Co-Majors and Minors from 2019
- Students undertaking the Economics or Finance streams will have to complete the major, co-majors or minors by the end of 2020.
- A teach-out subject schedule (below) has been developed which provides students with the information to plan the completion of their Economics or Finance subjects.
Please click here for the teach-out plan
Withdrawal of Tourism Management Major, Co-Major and Minor
Students undertaking the Tourism Management stream should have completed the co-major or minor by the end of 2017. If not, the subjects completed towards the co-major or minor may be used as electives depending on the number of subjects completed.
Bachelor of Business, Information Systems Course Transfers
From Study Period 1 2017, the Bachelor of Technology (Information Systems) changed to the Bachelor of Business Information Systems.
If you were admitted into the Bachelor of Technology (Information Systems) before 2017, or transitioned to the new degree, you can find out which subjects you still need to complete by downloading the Degree Planner applicable your course and admission year from Swinburne’s OUA course transition webpage.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $78,647
The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.
Fees may vary depending on:
- the subjects you choose
- credit from previous work experience
- your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.
To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.
Swinburne University of Technology leads the way with innovative and new ways of teaching, learning and thinking. It offers a wide range of study options, from pre-apprenticeships, undergraduate, postgraduate and PhDs, including online degrees with Open Universities Australia. Swinburne is known for career-oriented education and encouraging lifelong learning.
Learn more about Swinburne.
Explore Swinburne courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 19
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 17
Entry requirements
To view full Admission Criteria for the Bachelor of Business Information Systems, please click here.
Students admitted to the degree with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this degree may be eligible for academic credit.
The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions, in respect of degrees, to apply in addition to these entry requirements.
Successful completion of 2 subjects from the Business Pathway; OR
Successful completion of 2 subjects from the Bachelor of Business Information Systems Core or Majors
Successful completion of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification. VCE prerequisites: Subjects 3 and 4: a minimum study score of 25 in English (or equivalent) or 30 in English (EAL); Expected 2019 ATAR: 60.
Completion or partial completion of an approved tertiary qualification (including a certificate IV, diploma, advanced diploma, associate degree or degree). Additional performance criteria and prerequisite requirements may also apply.
Please note, that the partial completion requirement does not apply to a certificate IV.
English language requirements: (International students only)
IELTS (Academic Module): Overall 6.0 with no individual band below 6.0; or Swinburne English Language Centre: EAP 5 Advanced level with overall 65% and all skills 65% or above; or TOEFL iBT: minimum score 75 (Reading no less than 18, Writing no less than 20) or equivalent measures available at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/study/international/apply/entry-requirements/
Please note: This course is not available to international students who will be studying in Australia on a student visa (subclass 500).
Students who are considering enrolling into a Swinburne undergraduate degree may apply for academic credit of up to sixteen [16] subjects based on prior credentialed or non-credentialed learning. Students wishing to apply for credit (referred to as ‘exemptions’) can do so on the basis of:
- Credentialed Learning - previous formal post-secondary studies taken at another educational institution or in another sector or in another degree or
- Non-credentialed Learning - Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience and/or formal training or a combination of both.
Broad Conditions
- Study older than 10 years may need to be approved by an Academic Assessor.
- Students must complete at least eight [8] Swinburne undergraduate subjects to be eligible to graduate with a Swinburne undergraduate award.
For information on how to apply for credit please refer to Swinburne’s website at http://www.swinburne.edu.au/open-universities-australia/advanced-standing-rpl.html
Career opportunities
This degree prepares students for careers as Information Systems professionals. Depending on electives chosen, direct career outcomes include entry-level roles as business analysts/programmers, systems consultants and junior project managers. With additional work experience, and professional development, subsequent careers may include roles such as Database Administrator (DBA), Chief Information Officer (CIO) and other senior management positions.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists | Over $120K | Up 45.1% |
| ICT Business and Systems Analysts | Over $120K | Up 62.5% |
| ICT Managers | Over $120K | Up 49.6% |
Degree FAQs
How long does it take to finish an online degree?
That's up to you! Because we let you choose when to study online, you can actually pick up and pause study when it suits you. Many universities have a set time you need to complete your degree within. For some this is up to 10 years, and for others there is no limit.
There are some degrees that are stricter about when you can take breaks, and about how many years you can take to complete your degree. Please always check with your uni what the limits are.
As a general guide, Commonwealth supported place students have 10 years to finish their undergraduate degree through OUA, However, if you're studying with Griffith University, there's a limit of 8 years to complete your studies. If you want to take a break that lasts more than two study terms, you'll need to apply for a leave of absence. You can apply for a leave of absence for up to 12 months, as long as you complete your studies within the maximum time allowed for your degree.
If you're studying with Macquarie University, with the exception of certain degrees, there's no limit to how long you can take. But, please check with Macquarie Student Administration to be sure.
If you're studying with the University of Adelaide, you have up to 9 years to complete your undergraduate degree and graduate.
If you're studying with La Trobe University and want to take a break of minimum 1 study term, you must apply for leave of absence to avoid being inadvertently withdrawn from your degree.
Through OUA, you can study all year round, so it's possible to fast-track and finish up sooner than studying at a traditional uni would allow. That said, you need to spend around 12 hours a week on each undergraduate subject you do, so taking on extra work to finish ahead of time can be challenging.
How can I pay for my studies?
You may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government, depending on your citizenship status and where you'll be living during your studies. You can also pay upfront with your credit card.
Payment options are explained in Fees, and you can contact a student advisor for more information.
How does studying through Open Universities Australia work?
You might find learning through OUA a little different to how you've studied in the past. It can take time to develop the skills you need for independent online study.
We connect you with subjects and degrees that are taught by leading Australian universities. You can complete single subjects, or follow a degree structure to work towards a specific qualification. Subjects are offered in several study terms throughout the year, so you can choose to study part-time or full-time, continuously or with breaks.
We help you find the subjects or degree that's right for you, and we handle your enrolment in uni and some administration. Your uni sends you your study materials and deals with all academic matters. They're also in charge of your assessment and graduation. If you go on to complete a degree, you'll graduate from the uni offering your degree, for example, RMIT University or Griffith University.
How do I know if I‘m eligible to apply for a course?
Before starting an enrolment, it's important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you're eligible to apply. If you don't quite meet the requirements, we can help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study. Contact us to find out more.
When is my cut-off date for enrolment?
Our close of enrolment times vary. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting Key dates.
Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don't meet the entry requirements for a degree, we'll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We'll introduce you to flexible study options you didn't even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.You'll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you'll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you'll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.We'll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
How do I enrol?
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you've made your choice, click 'Apply now' on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We'll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to a student advisor and we'll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.