BlogMacquarie UniversityPros and Cons of a Bachelor of Information Technology at Macquarie Uni

Pros and Cons of a Bachelor of Information Technology at Macquarie Uni

Since you’ve already gotten an objective insight into what it’s like studying a Bachelor of IT at MQ Uni, it would only be natural to be now looking for a genuine opinion on the course. 

Lucky for you, we’ve got you covered. We got to chat with MD, a third year Information Technology student, who told us everything there is to know!

Come with us on a journey as we dive into the endless features that make up the Bachelor of Information Technology. The good and the ugly, the ups and downs and pros and cons. 

Let’s get started! 

Why should you study a Bachelor of IT at MQ Uni?
Top 3 Pros of an IT Degree
Top 3 Cons of an IT Degree
Mistakes You Shouldn’t Make
Things to Know Before Starting a Bachelor of IT at MQ Uni
What Makes this Degree Different
Motivations for Studying a Bachelor of IT at MQ Uni
Potential Career Paths

Why should you study a Bachelor of IT at MQ Uni?

The Bachelor of Information Technology is a 3-year undergraduate degree offered by Macquarie University to get their students equipped and confident in the information technology world. It’s a discipline that is becoming more and more relevant as we continue to undergo digitisation and technological advancements, so if you’re someone wanting to remain ahead of the virtual curve, this degree may be the one for you. 

Bachelor of IT MQ - Quote

As a student in the Bachelor of Information Technology, you’ll be gaining the fundamental skills and knowledge in programming, data storage, modelling, network and cyber security. Importantly, you’ll get to focus these skills on a major of your choice!

Whether you’d like to specialise in Cyber Security, Data Science, Information Systems and Business Analysis, Software Technology or Web and Mobile App Development, Macquarie has got you covered. 

If becoming an IT whiz with the support of experienced and accomplished teachers at MQ Uni sounds like your thing, keep reading! 

You can also take a deeper look at the degree for yourself right here!

Top 3 Pros of an IT degree

#1: You develop a wide scope of essential skills

One of the defining characteristics of the Bachelor of IT at MQ Uni, according to Safayatul, is the diverse skills that you’ll be developing as you study. You’ll be upgrading those technical skills with practice in activities like coding, documentation within code and design principles.

On the other side of that coin, you can be certain that you’ll develop essential transferable skills too! This degree will teach you how to best work independently, communicate with peers and how to utilise your problem solving skills efficiently.

Safayatul explained this further, “There’s a lot of technical skills that I can talk about. I’ve learned how to code. I’ve learned how to read code. I’ve learned how to document stuff, like document the code, with proper comments.

“So that can work on designing and presenting your project, looking for resources, looking for data. That’s the tricky part of it, but that’s it.” 

So, there you have it. You’ll be learning to code and how to present your code in no time!

#2: Diverse major options 

As we mentioned, you’ll have the opportunity to choose a major as a Bachelor of Information Technology student. In fact, if you were happy to forgo some of your elective classes, you could even graduate with 2 majors!

The major options include:

    • Cyber Security 
    • Data Science 
    • Information Systems and Business Analysis 
    • Software Technology 
    • Web and Mobile App Development 

Your major classes will take up about 80 credits of your degree (if you graduate with one), so that means all up, 8 of your classes throughout your degree will focus on your specialisation. If you choose wisely, these will very likely be your fave subjects!  

Safaytaul can vouch for the Data Science major which he is in the midst of completing, “Macquarie has a very strong mathematics department and 50% of the work in Data Science is statistics.” 

He added, “Macquarie also has a very strong history in Business so having that strong background in different core research fields gives Macquarie an edge compared to other Data Science degrees.”

So, if you’re considering the Data Science major, you’ll be in very safe hands. 

#3: Passionate and helpful staff 

While Safayatul told us that the Information Technology cohort at Macquarie isn’t always the most social (since everyone will usually be spending their free time cramming in the library), the dedication and passion of the teaching staff make up for it. 

Last year, I was the representative of the Faculty of Science and Engineering. People who are responsible in the faculty, they actually talk about and think about what the students want.

“For example, last time, we had a meeting about having more opportunities for the international students to get job internships. You can see the change in the culture and I think that’s really powerful,” Safyatul confirmed. 

 

Top 3 Cons of an IT degree

#1: Slightly antisocial cohort 

While we already mentioned that the dedicated teachers make up for this deficiency, Safayatul explained that students are so often caught up with classes or racing to finish assignments that it can be difficult to organise social events — especially for the varying clubs and societies.  

I think the Computing Society have like one, two or three events max throughout the whole year… Compared to other faculties, I think it’s much harder to plan when it comes to societies. Because we’re always running for classes or assignments so everyone tries to be in the lab or the library.” 

Still, Macquarie has over 140 student-led clubs on offer so you could always join a club from outside of Information Technology. 

#2: At times your content can feel a tad repetitive (but all for good reason) 

“When you start the degree, it doesn’t make sense… You might think, ‘Why am I learning this? I’ve learned that in my first class, why am I learning this again, I’m here to learn more things,’ but after a certain point, everything connects and you actually start thinking like a data scientist,” Safayatul explained.

It sounds like at some points throughout the degree it may feel a little tedious learning what feels like the same topic over and over again, but Safayatul explained that it’s all essential and eventually everything will make sense once it all connects! 

#3: Safayatul couldn’t think of a third!

He struggled to think of the first two cons let alone the full three. This speaks to the time and dedication that goes into making the course. If you’re considering it, we hope that you connect with it like Safaytaul has. 

Any regrets? 

Safayatul told us that he had zero regrets. Zilch! It seems like the Bachelor of Information Technology at Macquarie was the perfect option for him and has provided him with plenty of valuable experiences.

Even so, this would be an ideal time to remind you that everyone has a different experience at uni. Maybe you won’t be a fan of the positives that Safayatul has told us and vice versa. So, keep that in mind when you’re tossing up your options. 

What do you wish you had known before starting a Bachelor of IT at MQ Uni? 

#1: You’ll need to work independently and take initiative

This is generally an expectation in a lot of uni degrees but sometimes it can catch you off guard when you’re used to the comfort and support in high school and then you’re suddenly thrusted into the uni life. Safayatul told us that as long as you’re resourceful and can work independently to get your head around the content, you’ll be good to go. 

In a lot of units you are expected to possess the basic knowledge of the topic. If we go into Python, it was expected that you learn by yourself and come to the classes having done homework and prep work,” Safayatul explained. 

But there’s no need to fear! Safayatul gave us the lowdown on how to get around it. 

“You don’t have to panic. A lot of students will panic and ask, ‘Where do I learn Python?’ but there are plenty of certain websites or places where you can find your own version of things.” 

So, there’s plenty of online resources out there if you’re worried about getting your head around the complicated software. Oh, and your tutors will be helping you too. 

#2: Be prepared for lots of hours spent studying 

You shouldn’t look at this one as a negative. It just means that you’ll graduate with a well-rounded understanding of Information Technology if you spend the appropriate amount of time getting your head around things!

Of course, everyone is different, perhaps you’re predisposed to the IT world and will take to it like a duck to water! Either way, Safayatul did tell us that, “It’s a lot of hard work, that’s how it should be explained.” 

What makes this degree different from the ones offered at other universities? 

#1: Appealing rankings in business and maths

Safayatul told us that one of the main reasons he felt most drawn to Macquarie as an aspiring Information Technology student was Macquarie’s strong standing when it came to areas like business and maths.

It was between Macquarie’s rankings and postgrad options that seals the deal for him, I think Macquarie is very strong in business and mathematics marks. It will help when I go to the next phase of my academic career. My plan right now is to do a Masters of Research… for either finance, investment banking or startups.” 

#2: Compulsory placement programs 

A distinct feature of Macquarie’s Bachelor of Information Technology (and all of their degrees for that matter) is their PACE (Professional and Community Engagement) initiative which aims to provide undergrad students with the opportunity to engage and participate in local, regional and international organisations

As a Bachelor of Information Technology student, this PACE subject is the Computing Industry Project which is offered in your third year and is designed to polish off your professional skills so that you can gain the experience and add some pizzazz to your resume. Win, win!

What inspired you to choose a Bachelor of IT at MQ Uni?

“I love logic. In high school I was a fan of physics and I asked myself, ‘Why do I love physics?’ And the answer was because I love logic. That’s why I chose this computing IT degree.” 

If you’re someone that loves the logic-based subjects at school, the ones where your answer is only ever right or wrong, maybe the Bachelor of Information Technology would be a great fit. 

When it came to choosing his Data Science major, Safayatul told us that it was “because it’s a field where not a lot of people work. And I’m very good with recognising patterns so I thought I could use that and go into the industry.” 

What are the possible career paths?

Bachelor of IT MQ - Careers

The great thing about a Bachelor of Information Technology at Macquarie is that you can be certain that the skills you’ll develop will be highly sought after when it comes to securing your dream career. In fact, the Bachelor of Information Technology can be a pathway into all sorts of different industries.

Whether you’d like to find a position in banking and finance, transport and infrastructure, government agencies, energy companies or deference organisations, the choice is yours! While this will depend a bit on what major you choose, the practical skills and theoretical knowledge that you’ll develop in your core Information Technology units will prove invaluable when it comes to your career search.

So, get keen for a world of professional opportunities once you graduate from the Bachelor of Information Technology at Macquarie Uni!


Gemma Billington is a Content Writer at Art of Smart and an undergraduate student at the University of Technology Sydney. While studying Journalism and Social and Political Sciences, Gemma enjoys spending her time at the gym or reading about Britain’s medieval monarchy – ideally not at the same time. She currently creates and administers social media posts for Central News and writes for the student publication, The Comma. After completing her undergraduate degree, she hopes to study a Masters of Medieval History and is very excited about the prospect! 

 

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