The Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours) has a coursework component and an Honours thesis component. For the coursework component, your learning experiences will contain a broad mix of study modes, including lectorials, seminars, tutorials, workshops, practical and laboratory sessions, site visit and provision of online materials.

You’ll be expected to complete out-of-class learning activities in preparation of scheduled face-to-face and online classes, and encouraged to extend your learning through additional recommended readings and online activities. Of particular importance is the time spent in practice, laboratory based and work integrated learning activities that will develop your employability skills and capabilities.

This course uses a mixture of face-to-face and online delivery to enable meaningful, flexible and inclusive learning experiences. 

Course materials such as learning activities, resources and assessment are provided through RMIT’s Learning Management System, Canvas.

The assessment approach in this program is active, authentic and applied. It offers you opportunities to showcase your developed capabilities and the achievement of learning outcomes in each area.

You'll engage in various assessment methods that involve performing tasks reflective of real-world scenarios. These assessments will test your knowledge, skills and attitudes, applying them to contemporary work and life situations.

Assessments may also include quizzes, essays or reports, oral presentations, group projects, research projects, laboratory work, practical assignments, timed assessments and reflective journals.

This degree is informed by consultation with an Industry Advisory Committee. Membership is diverse and drawn from external industry and professional institutions, including staff from major IT companies with global and local presences. These committees help ensure that our content and student learning outcomes remain closely aligned with the needs of future employers. 

Your research may involve engagement with external collaborators, preparing you for future academic or professional roles in government or the industrial research sectors.

As a graduate of this course, you will be equipped with expert-level knowledge of the principles of computer science. The depth of your understanding in this discipline will enable you to design and develop user-centric solutions for contemporary societal and organisational challenges. Through research and critical analysis, you will adapt and integrate emerging technologies to formulate computing solutions to real-world problems.

Your studies in this degree will also further build your core professional skills, including problem-solving, decision-making, communication, agility, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team. You will be able to demonstrate your professional integrity, ethical conduct, and culturally inclusive standards when designing and implementing computing solutions in a range of contexts and environments.

Your first semester lays the groundwork for your honours year, beginning with compulsory onboarding modules that prepare you for advanced study.

You'll build core skills in research design and methodology, and begin shaping your thesis topic through guided preparation and early-stage project work.

At the same time, you'll explore a specialist area of computer science through an elective of your choice – whether that's machine learning, software security, big data or something else that aligns with your interests and career plans.

The second stage of your honours year is dedicated to completing your thesis – a substantial research project that spans the semester and demonstrates your ability to investigate, analyse and solve complex computing challenges.

Alongside your thesis work, you'll deepen your expertise by selecting another advanced elective, giving you the opportunity to focus on emerging fields such as AI, cyber security, data analytics or intelligent systems.

This combination of independent research and tailored learning prepares you for specialist roles in industry, government or further academic study.