RMIT is committed to providing students with an education that strongly links formal learning with workplace experience.

You will learn through a broad mix of study modes including lectures, tutorials, practical classes, project work and seminars using face-to-face, online and other flexible delivery mechanisms.

You will have access to specialised computer laboratories during scheduled classes and outside scheduled class times. These laboratories provide access to a range of computer environments including a variety of database products under different operating systems.

The Master of Information Technology has substantial links with business, government and other tech-related organisations, both in Australia and internationally.

Employers and industry professionals work with our academics to ensure course content meets the latest requirements of employers and matches market trends.

While the course is led by academics with strong research backgrounds and links to industry, subjects are also taught by sessional teachers and guest lecturers currently working in industry. These embedded professional relationships mean there are opportunities to undertake internships in a professional setting and complete an industry-relevant project.

Full-time students take four subjects each semester.

Each subject has four contact hours per week and requires six hours of independent study per week. Classes are held on weekdays and evenings.

Part-time students typically take two subjects per semester and attend on-campus classes two nights per week.

There are no placements in this course. In the final semester, students work on a large group project for an industry partner.

The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this degree and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.

This degree consists of 192 credit points, which equates to two years of full-time study.

This includes:

• four foundation subjects 
• up to four advanced information technology subjects
• four subjects from your area or areas of specialisation (subject to availability)
• one elective subject (or an additional specialisation subjects)
• a project of research outcome consisting of either:
  • a software engineering project in IT, as part of a team of up to 6 people, producing together a significant industry-based project, or
  • a Research Minor Thesis, equivalent to an Honours thesis.    

You can choose your specialisation from the following:

Big data analytics

The profusion of data generated by digital sources is creating a global information overload, but you’ll find out how big data analytics is solving real-world challenges like preventive healthcare and fighting crime.

Learn to manage big data and exploit its potential – capture, curation, storage, search, sharing, transfer, analysis and visualisation.

Cloud data, programming and infrastructure

Discover how computing tasks, such as running applications and storing data, can be carried out remotely, creating efficiencies and cost savings.

You’ll gain insights into cloud computing systems, including Google AppEngine, Microsoft Azure, Yahoo’s Hadoop, Google’s MapReduce, Amazon EC2 and S3s.

Artificial intelligence in systems and applications

AI is finding its way into more and more products and services. There is a growing demand for programmers who have the knowledge and expertise to implement AI solutions.

You’ll gain knowledge of the main theoretical aspects of AI and the skills to work with state-of-the-art software.

Mobile and IoT computing

Mobile technologies drive innovation in communications, finance and information-sharing, with demand growing for skilled creators of apps for industry, government and commerce.

You’ll develop skills in the key areas in mobile computing, including mobile software, mobile hardware and mobile communication and security.

Security and blockchain technology

The security of information collected, stored and exchanged concerns organisations in many sectors, including banking, health, utilities, government and more.

You'll learn to enhance security in computer systems and understand the mathematical basis of network security, including cryptography, coding for reliable communication, cloud security and algebra for information security. You will also be able to explore the details of blockchain processing in all its forms, including smart contracts.

Software systems and architecture

Software architects design and manage ICT infrastructure for optimal efficiency, getting the most out of the latest apps, systems and new technologies.

You’ll learn to design solutions using advanced software development techniques and technologies, exploiting the latest development environments and languages while balancing usability issues.

Web systems and search technology

With the growth of web services and applications, the boom in data and the need for increasingly sophisticated search technologies, opportunities abound for those with specialist web skills to develop and manage the systems and services we need.

You’ll build expertise in web development and web database applications, e-commerce and enterprise systems, web security and web document mark-up languages.

You’ll also learn about the design and implementation of search engines, search engine optimisation, structured and unstructured information management and web services.