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Diploma in Information Technology
UndergraduateUNE-INF-DIP2025
Build a foundation in computing and boost your IT career
Your journey to becoming an IT professional starts here. Start with core subjects in programming. Then explore advanced topics including web, data science, and database management. Get the technical and professional skills needed in today’s IT careers.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Applications close
- 15 June 2025,
- 12 Oct 2025
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 1 year full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 8
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
Diploma in Information Technology
About this degree
On completion of this degree, students will be able to:
- apply knowledge and problem-solving skills to design and develop computer programs;
- analyse and debug computer programs to describe their purpose and identify logic and syntactical errors;
- understand principles of abstraction in the design of programs and computer systems;
- communicate and collaborate effectively with others;
- understand how ethical considerations apply to software development, with consideration for impacts on others and society; and
- demonstrate a capacity for independent learning and a developing level of technical knowledge in information technology and its applications.
Information technology and computing increasingly define how the world operates. Software permeates every area of modern living, from the smallest personal device to automating entire industries. Information Technology professionals are responsible for designing the software that runs so much of our lives, and for creating systems that handle and analyse incredible amounts of data.
The Diploma in Information Technology is a one-year full-time (or equivalent part-time) course that will provide students with a foundation in computing, and the flexibility to take on more advanced and specialised topics - be that specific technical skills, professional skills, or mathematical areas related to modern computing.
This degree is designed for students seeking an introduction to study in information technology or looking to grow their computer science, data science, or mathematical skills. It aims to give students new to the field a solid grounding in fundamental principles of computer science as well as the flexibility to fill in their mathematical or data science skills depending on their background and intended destination. It also aims to give more experienced students a compact means to access introductory and intermediate units in information technology, computer science, and data science, in order to extend their skills in areas that are relevant to their career.
Recommended study pattern
Pathway 1: Students admitted via Open Access - Students to complete 5 core subjects and 3 listed subjects.
Pathway 2: Students admitted via relevant work experience - Students to complete 4 listed subjects, with Advanced Standing for four subjects being granted on admission to candidature.
To access the course rules and plans go to the UNE Course Handbook.
Award requirements
To qualify for the award a candidate must pass subjects to the value of 48 credit points.
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.
Please note that only students who are applying on the basis of four years full-time relevant professional experience are required to submit a Statement of Service and CV.
Students must contact UNE with their intent to graduate.
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $18,808
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.
The University of New England is the only Australian public university to be awarded the maximum 5 stars for Overall Experience by the Good Universities Guide, 13 years in a row. UNE has delivered distance education since 1955—that’s longer than any other Australian university. Perhaps that’s why students continue to rate UNE so highly for student satisfaction and teaching quality. With over 170 degrees offered online, and more than 22,000 students, UNE is an expert in online education.
Learn more about UNE.
Explore UNE courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 36
Entry requirements
With the exception of the open enrolment subjects, this is a restricted degree. Further enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Students are eligible to apply after completing 2 of the following subjects:
- ICT100 Computational Thinking
- ICT101 From Logic to Data Processing
- COSC110 Introduction to Programming and the UNIX Environment
If you are able to demonstrate at least four years full-time equivalent relevant professional experience* in the areas of Information Communications Technology and Computer Science you may enter the course directly without the need to complete two Open Access Units, and will be granted credit for four subjects towards the Diploma.
*Demonstrated professional experience in the areas of Information Communications Technology and Computer Science.
At least one of the following criteria must be met:
- English is the applicant's first language; or
- Satisfactory completion, within five years of the date of application for admission to UNE, of at least one year of full-time or equivalent full-time study at senior secondary, post-secondary or tertiary level in a country in which English is the primary official language or co-official language and in which English was the sole medium of instruction and assessment for the particular period of study claimed, resulting in an AQF award or an award recognised by the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR); or
- A pass grade or better in an English language subject at Australian Year 12 level or overseas equivalent; or
- An IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least 6.0 with no sub-band less than 5.5; or equivalent TOEFL score of at least 213 in the computer-based test; or at least 79 in the internet-based test with no less than 22 in the written component; or a PTE Academic minimum overall score of 57 with no skill less than 50; or
- Satisfactory completion of the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) program:
- at the University of New England English Language Centre; or
- an equivalent EAP program at an Australian university NEAS-accredited English Language Centre (subject to certification from the university concerned that satisfactory completion of that university's EAP program would entitle the applicant to be accepted into a comparable award-bearing program at that university); or
- at a non-university NEAS-accredited English Language Provider that has a formal agreement with UNE under which it provides an equivalent EAP Program; or
- a NEAS-accredited TAFE NSW EAP Program.
More detailed information regarding these requirements can be viewed here:
Students admitted to the degree with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this degree may be eligible for advanced standing. For more information on Advanced Standing or Recognition of Prior Learning, please visit: UNE Advanced Standing
Study method requirements
Inherent Requirements
Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this degree.
Career opportunities
Examples include software design and development; data engineering; web and mobile development; scientific technology; and careers in banking and corporate sectors.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
| Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Network Professionals | $93K to $120K | Up 12.9% |
| Database and Systems Administrators, and ICT Security Specialists | Over $120K | Up 45.1% |
| ICT Support and Test Engineers | $93K to $120K | Up 30.1% |
| Software and Applications Programmers | $93K to $120K | Up 38.1% |
Explore IT & computer science courses
Discover related degrees to compare your options and find the best fit for your goals.
Information Technology Open Degree Pathway
UndergraduateLAT-ICT-PTH
Bachelor of Information Technology
UndergraduateLAT-TEC-DEG
UndergraduateLAT-CYS-DEG
Diploma of Information Technology
UndergraduateSCU-INF-DIP
UndergraduateGRF-CSC-DEG
Bachelor of Information Technology (Artificial Intelligence and Data Science)
UndergraduateUSQ-ADS-DEG
Associate Degree in Information Technology
UndergraduateUSA-INT-ADG
UndergraduateUSA-BDA-DEG
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.