Masters in Information Technology

Applications for MIT for 2020 are closed.

The MIT degree is by coursework and research, using mainly self-study materials for the coursework – with no lectures. It is a two-year conversion programme aimed at students without a degree in computer science or information technology/systems, and may also be done part-time over three years.

The ideal candidate for this programme is someone who uses information technology in his or her job, but who has no formal university qualification in IT. A non-IT honours degree, or equivalent, is the minimum requirement for entry into the MIT course.

Entry requirements: The Masters in Information Technology by Coursework and Dissertation is a conversion course designed for those with a degree in a non-IT field to attain a strong background and a qualification in Information Technology. This course follows a Bachelor Honours or equivalent in any non-IT degree.

All admissions decisions are at the discretion of the university.

Progression: Students should pass a minimum of three courses each year. Should a student fail any course on the second attempt, they will not be allowed to continue with their studies. Students are eligible to register for CSC5004W once they have passed 7 of the 8 courses.

The Computer Science Postgraduate Handbook for 2020 will be available early in 2020. For now, more details can be found in the Computer Science Postgraduate Handbook for 2019.

Send an email to the MIT course convenor for further information.

Curriculum

CSC5010Z MIT: COMPUTER NETWORKS

12 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
Admission into the Master’s degree specialising in IT, or permission from the course convenor.

Course outline:
In the course, a framework for describing the operation of computer networks is developed. Within this framework, we start with the operation of local-area networks, packet-switched networks and the Internet. After this, the module moves to the uses made of these networks, concentrating on business applications. The effect on organisations of introducing such networked applications is also examined.

DP requirements:
40% for assignment component.

Assessment:
Final examination: 70%; Practical assignments: 30%. A sub-minimum of 40% will be required for each of the assignment and exam components of the course.
CSC5011Z MIT: PROGRAMMING IN PYTHON

12 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
Admission into the Master's degree specialising in IT, or permission from the course convenor.

Course outline:
This is a basic introduction to programming in a modern language, namely, Python. Python is becoming increasingly popular as an effective means of introducing programming concepts to those who are new to programming. Students will be taught how to create simple applications in the Python language.

DP requirements:
40% for assignment component.

Assessment:
Final examination: 70%; Practical assignments: 30%. A sub-minimum of 40% will be required for each of the assignment and exam components of the course.
CSC5012Z MIT: HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION

12 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
Admission into the Master's degree specialising in IT, or permission from the course convenor.

Course outline:
Introduction to the discipline of human-computer interaction. This module covers how knowledge from fields such as psychology and graphic design can be used to increase the usability of computer software.

DP requirements:
40% for assignment component.

Assessment:
Final examination: 70%; Practical assignments: 30%. A sub-minimum of 40% will be required for each of the assignment and exam components of the course.
CSC5013Z MIT: DATABASE SYSTEMS

12 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
Admission into the Master's degree specialising in IT, or permission from the course convenor.

Course outline:
A perspective on database management system structure and function is provided. Topics introduced include: architecture of databases; data models; normalisation; front-end systems; security, recovery and concurrency, data and database; administration; object-oriented database systems; client-server and distributed database systems and research topics in DBMS's.

DP requirements:
40% for assignment component.

Assessment:
Final examination: 70%; Practical assignments: 30%. A sub-minimum of 40% will be required for each of the assignment and exam components of the course.
CSC5014Z MIT: CYBERLAW AND ETHICS

12 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
Admission into the Master's degree specialising in IT, or permission from the course convenor.

Course outline:
This module examines the regulations governing the Internet in order that students appreciate the constraints they will face in implementing electronic commerce. Problems concerning legally enforceable contracts, privacy, data protection and intellectual property are also investigated.

DP requirements:
40% for assignment component.

Assessment:
Final examination: 70%; Practical assignments: 30%. A sub-minimum of 40% will be required for each of the assignment and exam components of the course.
CSC5015Z MIT: SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

12 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
Admission into the Master's degree specialising in IT, or permission from the course convenor.

Course outline:
This module aims to introduce a range of techniques within both structured and object-oriented methods, in order to enable you to analyse and design well engineered software solutions. You will be introduced to the practical use of CASE tools in modelling and documenting analysis and design specifications. Different life cycle models will also be discussed.

DP requirements:
40% for assignment component.

Assessment:
Final examination: 70%; Practical assignments: 30%. A sub-minimum of 40% will be required for each of the assignment and exam components of the course.
CSC5016Z MIT: WEB PROGRAMMING

12 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
Admission into the Master's degree specialising in IT, or permission from the course convenor.

Course outline:
This course introduces students to the technology underlying the modern Internet. This includes: the systems used to encode information and how the information is architected; the use of Javascript as a dynamic execution model; modern information encoding approaches such as XML; and the creation of Web applications.

DP requirements:
40% for assignment component.

Assessment:
Final examination: 70%; Practical assignments: 30%. A sub-minimum of 40% will be required for each of the assignment and exam components of the course.
CSC5017Z MIT: RESEARCH METHODS

12 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
Admission into the Master's degree specialising in IT, or permission from the course convenor.

Course outline:
This module is intended to provide students with the insight and techniques required to allow them to write a successful postgraduate research project - the final module leading to the Master's Degree. Topics to be covered include: Introduction to IT Research; Ethics in Research; Conducting a Literature Review; Finding a Research Question/Goal; Project Management; Research Proposals; Experimentation; Prototypes; Case Studies; Surveys; Conducting Observations; Testing in IT Research; Modelling; Usability Analysis; Introduction to Statistics; The Writing Process; Research Presentations; and The Masters/PhD Thesis.

DP requirements: 40% for assignment component.

Assessment:
Final examination: 70%; Practical assignments: 30%. A sub-minimum of 40% will be required for each of the assignment and exam components of the course.
CSC5004W INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MINOR DISSERTATION

90 NQF credits at HEQSF level 9

Convener:
Dr M Densmore

Course entry requirements:
CSC5010Z, CSC5011Z, CSC5012Z, CSC5013Z, CSC5014Z, CSC5015Z, CSC5016Z and CSC5017Z or permission from the convener.

Course outline:
Upon successful completion of the coursework component (CSC5010Z, CSC5011Z, CSC5012Z, CSC5013Z, CSC5014Z, CSC5015Z, CSC5016Z and CSC5017Z), students will be required to register for this minor dissertation course and complete a one year research project under supervision of an appropriate computer science academic staff member.

Assessment:
The minor dissertation must be presented for formal examination. The coursework and minor dissertation each count 50% towards the degree; each must be passed separately for the award
of the degree.

What you need to know to apply

Note: If any of your previous degrees are in computer science, the MIT degree is not for you. Please consult the postgraduate degree information more options on postgraduate study.

The MIT programme comprises two components. The first is coursework (courses with assignments and exams), which can be done in a single year but is best done over two years (four modules per year) if you are a part-time student. The second component is a minor dissertation, done in the final year. Students do not need to be resident in Cape Town for this degree, as the coursework is online and all work is submitted online. However, students are expected to come to UCT for exams at the end of each semester.

Past minor dissertation topics include:

The MIT degree is open to students with the equivalent of a South African Honours degree (SAQA level 8) who have NOT taken computing or IT subjects in their previous degrees. Level 8 SAQA is typically attained after passing 4 years of university degree studies, and certainly never any fewer than 4 years of university degree studies. There are no other specific requirements for applicants.

In certain cases, applicants with only a 3-year degree at SAQA level 7 (but this excludes a BTech) can apply via the Recognition of Prior Learning (ROPL) route. But this is only possible if they can show that in the course of their work experience they have produced, on their own, a document similar to an IT Honours project.

Fees

Fees for individual courses are listed in the fees handbook, published each year. Relevant courses include CSC5010Z - CSC5017Z (coursework year(s)), and CSC5004W (dissertation year).

Annual fee increases, international fees, and registration fees will also apply. Please consult directly with the Fees Office and/or the International office for any questions.

Funding

UCT has information on funding for postgraduate students. Please download the latest funding booklet. UCT may have internal funding for honours students, but it is only available to those who have applied to the NRF first.

Information about some other postgraduate scholarships can be found at:

MIT students have in the past qualified for scholarships during their dissertation year.

FAQs

You do not need to have IT work experience to register for the Conversion Masters in Information Technology.
Assignment submission is not a problem if you are outside Cape Town, as long as you have Internet access. You obtain all your assignment questions on the Internet and submit all your assignment solutions via the Internet as well. We have a Sakai tool for this which we also use for chat room and forum support of each other during the year.
If you have a degree in Informatics or Information Systems you do not qualify for this degree, as this is a Conversion Masters. It is only available to people with a degree in a non-computing field.
If your previous degree is a BSc or a BSc Hons or a BSc Eng, then you will obtain an MSc(IT) on successfully completing the degree. Otherwise you will obtain an MPhil(IT).
MIT students do not need to submit a research proposal as they must first complete the coursework before they can move on to the minor dissertation. For your dissertation work, we do not guarantee that you will be able to work on the topic of your choice. You will be expected to contribute to projects specified by our research staff. For more information please consult the staff web pages to learn more about their research and available topics.
This is a non-resident course, and international students are not required to provide proof of insurance or a student visa. All assignments and teaching material will be available online. You will, however, be required to be in Cape Town for examinations at the end of each semester.
All students have access to university resources, including the library (both digital and brick) and computing labs. Students may also elect to sit in on computer science courses.
It is not possible to enrol in this course mid-year.
We are unable to admit applicants without prior degrees or with BTech only, even if they are experienced IT professionals. In these cases we suggest pursuing a Bachelors in IT, IS or CS, or in some cases, a Postgraduate Diploma. Please keep in mind that a PGDip in an IT-related field will disqualify you from this program.

How to apply

1. Apply on the University of Cape Town's central applications system for the appropriate degree:

Level of Qualification: Masters
Faculty: Science

Academic Qualification:

If your previous degree is in the Science Faculty, then choose Master of Science (by coursework & dissertation)(90 Crsewrk/90 diss)

If your previous degree is not in the Science Faculty, then choose Master of Philosophy (by coursework & dissertation)(90 Crsewrk/90 diss)

Specialisation or Major: Information Technology (do NOT choose Computer Science)

2. Apply to the CS Department by following this link: https://forms.gle/kBWHfzYgaM3n5sNe7

Note: A research proposal is NOT required until coursework is complete.

School of Information Technology

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