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Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) in Games Design and Development
UndergraduateMUR-BIT-DEG2023
Course information for 2023 intake
Combine creativity with coding for a winning career
Make the games you love to play! Build a solid IT foundation and get creative with this game design specialisation. Experience gaming through a different lens, where core IT knowledge sets the platform for your artistic skills including 3D animation.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- Subject may require attendance
- Credit available
- Yes
- Duration
- 3 years full time or part time equivalent
- Total subjects
- 24
- Available loans
- Australian Higher Education Loan Program (HELP)
- CSP available
- Yes
Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) in Games Design and Development
About this degree
At the completion of this degree students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a clear understanding of the role of Information Technology in society.
2. Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles and core concepts of Information Technology, including:
a) Abstraction.
b) Systems thinking.
c) Complexity.
3. Demonstrate a broad and coherent knowledge and understanding of the underlying principles and core concepts of Games Design and Production, including:
a) Appreciation of the interplay between theory and practice.
b) Awareness of the broad applicability of games.
c) Appreciation of domain‐specific knowledge, including:
- Design and development of games using game engines
- Game Scripting
- Process for integration of game assets
- Game production process
4. Demonstrate mastery of the core multi‐disciplinary domains, technologies, methodologies, tools and environments to create games.
5. Identify, Interpret and analyse stakeholder needs, establish priorities and the goals, constraints and uncertainties of the system, including:
a) Recognition of social, cultural, legislative, environmental and business constraints.
b) Recognition of the ethical implications of professional practice.
6. Design, develop, use and improve systems as well as tools for solving problems employing a systematic approach that involves appropriate analytical and technical methods.
7. Develop proficiency in the use of tools and environments for implementation of solutions to problems.
8. Test, document and maintain software solutions in accordance with agreed standards to meet specified requirements.
9. Develop the ability and commitment to independently acquire new knowledge and skills in order to stay abreast of developments in the rapidly changing domain of Game Design and Production.
10. Develop the ability to use tools and techniques to create games.
11. Apply problem‐solving, design and decision‐making methodologies to develop components, systems, relevant infrastructure and processes to meet specified requirements, including:
a) Innovative approaches to the synthesis of alternative solutions, concepts and procedures.
b) Demonstrated information skills and the application of research methods.
c) Selection of appropriate tools and development environments.
d) Modelling.
e) Demonstrated a rigorous approach to testing of solutions.
f) Demonstrated a rigorous approach to the documentation at all project stages.
12. Demonstrated capacity to function effectively both as an individual and as a member of diverse teams, using the basic tools and practices of formal project management.
13. Demonstrated experience of working on at least one substantial project as a team requiring an evaluation of potential solutions and resulting in the delivery of an interactive system that meets client requirements.
14. Demonstrated written, oral and interpersonal communication skills that support the efficient and effective communication of developed systems through documentation and technical reports to a broad range of audiences.
15. Demonstrated ability to design and create games.
You’ll be in high demand across practically every industry with a degree in IT. Designed by world-class academics in close consultation with industry advisors, this course offers you an excellent step towards launching your career.
In this course, you will explore the theory, methods and systems used in the information technology industry, from mobile apps and virtual reality, artificial intelligence and machine learning, practical software engineering to corporate website architecture and global information systems.
Recommended study pattern
Complete Subjects in this order (depending on teaching period availability)
Year 1 / Level 1 (total of 24 pts)
- MSP100 Career Learning: Managing Your Career (3pts)
- ICT159 Foundations of Programming (3pts)
- MAS162 Foundations of Discrete Mathematics (3pts)
- ICT101 Introduction to 3D Graphics and Animation (3pts)
- ICT167 Principles of Computer Science (3pts)
- GAD154 Games Art and Design (3pts)
- 2 x Electives (total 6 pts)
Year 2 / Level 2 (total of 24 pts)
- ICT284 Systems Analysis and Design (3pts)
- ICT285 Databases (3pts)
- ICT288 Virtual Realities and Games Software Design (3pts)
- MSP200 Building Enterprise Skills (3pts)
- GAD232 Games, Play and Design (3pts)
- 3 x Electives (total 9 pts)
Year 3 / Level 3 (total of 24 pts)
- GAD375 Games Design and Prototyping (3pts)
- ICT365 Software Development Frameworks (3pts)
- ICT367 Virtual Realities and Games Software Production (3pts)
- ICT376 Mobile Applications Development (3pts)
- ICT396 User Interface Design (3pts)
- 3 x Electives (total 9 pts)
Specified Electives:
- MAS164 Fundamentals of Mathematics
- DIG12 Digital Design Process
- WEB101 Web Communications
- ICT100 Computational Thinking
- DIG22 Internet Design Introduction
- WEB207 Web Media
- CPT251 Security in Computing and IT
- IBA345 Building the New Venture
- WEB310 Online Games, Play and Gamification
- INF30033 IT Program and Project Management
Please contact the Academic Chair, Dr Mohd Fairuz Shiratuddin (f.shiratuddin@murdoch.edu.au), for approval to study any elective outside this list.
Award requirements
To qualify for the Bachelor of Information Technology at Murdoch University, students must complete 72 credit points (24 subjects).
All Murdoch University degrees are designed by combining a selection of components: Career Learning, Degree Core, Majors, and General Electives. In this way, Murdoch degrees are flexible and designed to provide relevant learning experiences that can be tailored to meet individual goals and study options that accommodate busy lifestyles.
Career Learning
Career Learning @ Murdoch is a unique, career enhancing experience that is woven into Bachelor degrees. It provides learning opportunities and real world experiences tailored to the area of study to ensure graduates have the skills and attributes employers are looking for.
Degree Core
A degree core is a set of subjects which all students studying a particular degree degree must successfully complete. They provide the opportunity to master fundamental disciplinary knowledge, learn how to think critically about key issues and engage with important research.
Majors
A Major is a set of subjects that students study to gain specialised in-depth knowledge in an area related to their degree.
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.
Transition arrangements are changes that occur when courses are updated or phased out. This happens regularly as part of continuous improvement. It may affect you if you are currently enrolled in this course, or if you plan to use credit from previous study towards it.
This course is being withdrawn.
All active students will be given a study plan to allow them to complete this programme. All of the units will be offered at least once through OUA in 2024 and after that units from other programmes will be recognised according to the study plans.
Contact:
Academic Chair for Bachelor of Information Technology (OUA)
Dr Mohd Fairuz Shiratuddin (f.shiratuddin@murdoch.edu.au)
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.
Indicative total fee $26,750
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.
This research-based university in Perth has a strong interdisciplinary focus and a reputation for outstanding teaching and ground-breaking research. With more than 25,000 students and 2,400 staff from over 90 countries, and campuses in Dubai and Singapore, Murdoch embraces free thinking, shared ideas and knowledge to make a difference, and Open Universities Australia is certainly part of that.
Learn more about Murdoch University.
Explore Murdoch courses.
- QS Ranking 2024:
- 27
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 26
Entry requirements
With the exception of five open enrolment subjects, this is a restricted degree. Subject enrolment is only available to students admitted into this degree.
Students can enrol in ICT159, GAD154, ICT101, MSP100, and MAS162 or any other subject through Open Universities Australia. Students who successfully complete two open enrolment subjects may apply for admission to the CSP only restricted Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) in Games Design and Development.
Transferring from another degree or university
If you have successfully completed university studies equivalent to at least 2 subjects (6 Murdoch credit points) you can apply to transfer to Murdoch University using your previous studies.
For all other minimum entry requirements and pathways, please refer to the course you are interested in on https://search.murdoch.edu.au/s/search.html?collection=mu-course-search.
Successful completion of two open enrolment subjects at pass level.
Recommended Units: ICT159, GAD154, ICT101, MSP100 and MAS162
School leavers gain an ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) from four degree subjects completed during Year 12, or OP (Overall Positions) in Queensland.
To apply to Murdoch University after Year 12, you must achieve English competency and have achieved your WA Certificate of Education (WACE) or its interstate equivalent along with the ATAR (or OP) relevant for your chosen degree.
An ATAR of 70.00 or higher (or a Queensland Overall Position of 14 or less) is required for admission to a Commonwealth Support Place in this degree.
If you have successfully completed a Certificate IV or higher you can apply for admission into a Commonwealth Support Place.
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
- STAT is a national test for mature age people designed to assess aptitude for learning in a tertiary environment. It is not a test of your knowledge on specific academic subjects. It is recognised in all Australian states. You must achieve a minimum of 140 in the Written English and 135 in the Qualitative or Multiple Choice sections of the STAT to gain entry to Murdoch.
- Completed secondary education more than two years ago
- Enabling Programs
- STAT preparation course - Applicant needs to sit the STAT after the course is completed.
- Murdoch University OnTrack / OnTrack Sprint / FlexiTrack - If you have successfully completed Murdoch University's OnTrack or Flexitrack program you can apply for admission into a Commonwealth Support Place. Details are available at http://www.murdoch.edu.au/OnTrack/ and https://www.open.edu.au/degrees/flexitrack-murdoch-university-mur-ftk-deg
Additional information
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre - http://www.murdoch.edu.au/Kulbardi/
- International Students - http://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/how-to-apply
- For further admission information about this degree, please refer to Murdoch Admission Information - Science
- Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)
To demonstrate English language competency you will need a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR English, Literature or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD).
Find out if you are eligible and apply at https://www.murdoch.edu.au/study/courses/undergraduate-courses/recognition-of-prior-learning.
Study method requirements
Proof of Australian citizenship is required. Please upload a scanned copy of your birth certificate or Australian passport or citizenship certificate along with your application.
Career opportunities
The major equips students with a range of problem‐solving and professional skills which are essential for working in the games, entertainment and visualisation industries. The outcomes of the major can be aligned with Software & Apps Programmer, Systems Analyst, and Analyst Programmer roles listed in the ACS Common ICT Job Profiles & Indicators of Skills Mobility document.
Australian job snapshots
Data sourced from Australian Jobs 2023.
Role | Earnings | Employment change |
|---|---|---|
Game and Multimedia Developers | N/A^ | N/A^ |
Graphic and Web Designers, and Illustrators | $75K to $93K | Down 9% |
Multimedia Specialists and Web Developers | $93K to $120K | Up 22.5% |
^ There is no data available
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.