The PGDipSci in Computer Science

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PGDipSci students should select 600 or 700 level COMPSCI courses with the guidance and approval of the Diploma Coordinator. Up to 2 courses from other subjects may be also chosen. Courses should be selected from the PGDipSci Schedule in the University Calendar.

The course selection can include COMPSCI 601, 751, 761 and 771. Students taking these courses will attend lectures and do the coursework and exam for a corresponding Stage III COMPSCI course. In addition to the coursework, students opting for these courses are required to produce a report by the end of semester. Students must pass the report component as well as the exam to pass the course as a whole.

PGDipSci students can also choose supervised, self-directed research courses. COMPSCI 780 is a 15-point project course and COMPSCI 691 is a 30-point dissertation. Students must find a supervisor from the Computer Science staff and get the approval of the Diploma Coordinator before enrolling in these courses. Students cannot do both COMPSCI 780 and COMPSCI 691.

It is important to note that only a maximum enrolment of 160 points is permitted. This means that students can fail only two courses. The programme will be discontinued after a third fail.

Entry Requirements

Applicants for the PGDipSci must have achieved a high standard in a Bachelor's degree or Graduate Diploma in Computer Science from a recognised University to be eligible. In particular, applicants with a BSc or GradDipSci in Computer Science from this University need to have completed 4 Stage III Computer Science courses with a B average.

Students who have not achieved this average grade should enrol in some Stage III COMPSCI courses to improve their average before applying for admission. Students take the extra courses under the Certificate of Proficiency (COP) programme. Under the COP programme, a student can re-do courses that were passed previously in the BSc or other programme.

Overseas applicants
An undergraduate degree from an overseas university is unlikely to be completely equivalent in style and content to a BSc in Computer Science from The University of Auckland. Postgraduate courses presume that students have the knowledge base provided by our undergraduate courses. Overseas students benefit from time to adjust to the New Zealand style of education and study.

For this reason, students coming from overseas universities wanting to apply for a PGDipSci should first apply for a Transitional Certificate (TransCert) programme. Under this programme students should complete in 4 Stage III COMPSCI courses with a B average and then apply for the PGDipSci.

Before applying for a PGDipSci or a TransCert all applicants should consult the Diploma Coordinator.