Bachelor of Computer Science (Advanced)

Decode grand challenges

Our Bachelor of Computer Science (Advanced) is a distinctive degree for highly capable students who want to tackle global questions in computer science and information technology.

The program is taught by world-class researchers and teachers within a faculty ranked 48 in the world for computer science and engineering^. It features artificial intelligence and machine learning courses not available anywhere else in South Australia.

What will you do?

You will apply your skills to real-world challenges through self-directed learning and practical projects. Depending on your chosen major, you will:

  • explore self-driving cars, robotic vision, machine learning and image recognition
  • learn how to protect networks, data and software systems from attack and unlawful access
  • apply cutting-edge data analysis techniques—such as machine and deep learning—to large sets of data
  • design, make and study large-scale distributed software systems, including parallel, mobile and cloud-based environments.

Majors are available in:

We also set up opportunities within the program for displaying your talents to future employers.

Note: You must maintain a high grade point average to stay in this highly competitive degree.

Where could it take you?

With advanced technology skills, you’ll work on solving real problems in our society. You could come up with multi-cloud solutions to tackle future security issues. You might develop a revolutionary algorithm. Perhaps you’ll program nanorobots that reverse aging or design the first unquestionably true artificial intelligence. 

This program is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).


Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
This degree gives you the opportunity to be part of our new The Academy by Deloitte You’ll be part of a supportive student cohort that learns from one another and industry leaders. Formal and informal experiences will allow you to build relationships within the Deloitte network.


  • Ranked #50 in the world for computer science and engineering^
  • Five-star rating for teaching quality and student support~
  • Showcase your work and network with future employers at Ingenuity

^ARWU, 2022
~Good Universities Guide, 2022

Entry Requirements

Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions information for this program.
I am a:

Before applying make sure you understand the eligibility and entry requirements for your chosen degree.

Look out for any prerequisites or assumed knowledge subjects. Some degrees also have additional entry requirements like interviews and auditions.

Domestic applicants

Admissions information

SATAC Code 324681
2023 CSP ATAR 95.1
2023 CSP IB 38.5
Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR 95
Guaranteed Entry Score - IB 38.25
Deferment Yes - 2 year
Intake February and July* *Students commencing in July may have a slightly limited selection of courses.
Prerequisites SACE Stage 2: Mathematical Methods. IB: Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (HL) or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL) MathTrackX is an online bridging program available as a recognised alternative to Mathematical Methods.
Additional Entry Requirements
Year 12 applicants must obtain an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of 95 or higher (or equivalent), including any applicable adjustment factors.
Selection Criteria
Recent Secondary Education Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors). Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Higher Education Study You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Work and life experience To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as as pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2024. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2024 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2023 or 2022), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2022). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information.
Other Entry Pathways

2023 Admissions Data for school leavers
ATAR
(raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors)
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer 85.25
Median ATAR to receive an offer 86.75
Highest ATAR to receive an offer 99.95
Selection Rank
(ATAR plus any adjustment factors)
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer 95.1
Median Selection Rank to receive an offer 99.15
Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer 99.95
Minimum eligibility score 90
Additional criteria considered Selection rank only
  • Admissions Transparency Data
    Student Profile
    Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023
    Number of students Percentage of all students
    (A) Higher Education study
    (includes a bridging or enabling course)
    14 12.7%
    (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study n/a N/A
    (C) Work and life experience
    (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)
    <5 N/A
    (D) Recent secondary education:
    • Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
      (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
    65 59.1%
    • Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
      (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
    N/A N/A
    • Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
      (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
    24 21.8%
    International students 6 5.5%
    All students 110 100.0%

Ready to Apply?

Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.

Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.

Apply

Fees and Scholarships

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Domestic applicants

Indicative annual tuition fees
Commonwealth-supported place: $8,995

Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.

More information on Student Contribution Amounts.

Scholarships

These scholarships, as well as many others funded by industry and non-profit organisations, are available to potential and currently enrolled students.

Find a Scholarship.

Careers

Career Readiness

Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
Students who as part of their studies take part in The Academy by Deloitte experience will have the benefit of undertaking a paid internship with Deloitte. This internship is designed to shape their business readiness through significant real-world client exposure, access to multiple networking opportunities and relevant professional training.


Graduates are highly regarded by employers and have been successful in a wide variety of areas. Employment opportunities can be found in administration, business data processing, computer programming, computer science, engineering design, financial software, games programming, graphics programming, information technology management, Internet commerce, network management, quality improvement, scientific data analysis, systems analysis, software engineering, real-time process control and user interface programming.

Students in this advanced degree have many opportunities to develop and showcase their talents to future employers.

The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Graduate Attributes

The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes.
  1. Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
  2. Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
  3. Teamwork and communication skills
  4. Professionalism and leadership readiness
  5. Intercultural and ethical competency
  6. Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
  7. Digital capabilities
  8. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Professional Accreditation

The Bachelor of Computer Science (Advanced) is accredited by the Australian Computer Society (ACS).
It also provides the necessary academic requirements for membership of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) and the American-based Association for Computing Machinery (ACM).

Potential careers

Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:

Internet Consultant;  Network Engineer;  Computer Programmer;  Computer Scientist;  Computer Systems Engineer;  Software Engineer;  Systems Analyst;  IT Manager;  Information and Communications Technologist;  Instrumentation Engineer ...

Degree Structure

This program involves a core of compulsory computer science courses, including a selection of high-level specialised computer science courses, and a wide range of electives from mathematics and statistics, commerce, economics, engineering, finance, humanities and social sciences or science.

Choosing a major is a great way to pursue topics of interest without narrowing future options. Majors are available in: Artificial Intelligence; Computer Science; Cybersecurity; Data Science; and Distributed Systems and Networking. 

Students who perform well can undertake an additional year of study to obtain an Honours Degree of Bachelor of Computer Science. The honours degree can provide access to postgraduate study and a wider range of professional opportunities in the computing industry.

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

Bachelor of Computer Science (Advanced)

Areas of Specialisation

Students, through their elective choices, can pursue a Major within their Bachelor of Computer Science (Advanced). Choosing a major is a great way to pursue topics of interest without narrowing future options.

Majors are available across the following areas:

Artificial Intelligence
Learn from academics within the Australian Institute of Machine Learning, driving the fourth industrial revolution. In this major, students learn how to design, develop, and analyse software systems to perform tasks requiring human intelligence such as: self-driving cars, robotic vision, machine learning, and image recognition.

Computer Science
This major allows students to take a flexible elective program across all areas of computer science.

Cybersecurity
Build skills and awareness of the technologies, processes, and practices that protect networks, data, and software systems from unauthorised attack or access. Learn from our world-leading cybersecurity academics, including the discoverers of Spectre—one of the most significant cybersecurity developments in the last decade.

Data Science
Data science involves the application of data analysis techniques—such as machine learning and deep learning—to large sets of data, helping solve problems across health, education, science, engineering, and business. The University of Adelaide leads the way in global education in Big Data and Data Science.

Distributed Systems and Networking
Build skills in the design, development, and analysis of large-scale distributed software systems including parallel, distributed, mobile, cloud-based environments and building smart cities.

Example Study Plan

Core Courses 

Students must complete the following.


Core Course, choice of

Students must complete one of the following.

  • COMP SCI 3006 Software Engineering & Project or;
  • COMP SCI 3310 Software Engineering & Project (Artificial Intelligence) or;
  • COMP SCI 3311 Software Engineering & Project (Data Science) or;
  • COMP SCI 3312 Software Engineering & Project (Cybersecurity) or;
  • COMP SCI 3313 Software Engineering & Project (Distributed Systems & Networking)

Core Course, choice of

Students must complete one of the following.

Core Course, choice of

Students must complete one of the following.

Electives

Students must complete 9 courses from the following.


Including a choice of 3 broadening electives from across the University. 

Note: Students cannot present courses from Computer Science, Maths, Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics or Statistics.

Assessment

Assessment can vary from course to course and can include a combination of class work, tutorials, project work and exams.

Testimonial

The idea of being able to make a change and innovate using technology made me select this discipline.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Last updated: Tuesday, 10 Oct 2023