Why Study/Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Software Engineering (Artificial Intelligence) is an undergraduate programme offered by Media Design School at Strayer (MDS) in Auckland, New Zealand. It is intended for students who want to develop software engineering skills and apply them to artificial intelligence (AI), intelligent applications and data-driven systems.

Key benefits of studying this field include:

• Build a foundation in software development, programming, algorithms and software engineering practices.

• Explore artificial intelligence and machine learning, including how AI techniques can be applied to real-world problems.

• Develop analytical thinking, problem-solving and software design skills.

• Learn to design, build, test and maintain software systems, with AI as a specialist area.

• Develop project experience that can support a portfolio of software and AI work.

• Prepare for further development in software engineering, AI, machine learning and related technology fields.

Programme Structure and Subjects/Topics

The degree is structured over three academic years, moving from software engineering and mathematical foundations to AI applications, machine learning and industry-based work. The following summary is based on MDS’s published course outline.

Year 1 — software engineering and AI foundations

• Maths 1 — 15 credits: linear algebra, discrete mathematics, geometry and mathematical problem-solving.

• Introduction to Software Engineering — 15 credits: object-oriented programming and C++ fundamentals.

• Algorithms and Data Structures — 15 credits: algorithm design, implementation, testing and data structures.

• Introduction to Computer Graphics — 15 credits: computer graphics, 3D graphics programming and the rendering pipeline.

• Micro-services Architecture — 15 credits: service-oriented architecture, microservices, deployment, monitoring and maintenance.

• Probabilities and Statistics — 15 credits: probability, distributions, statistical reasoning and data analysis using tools such as R or SPSS.

• Concepts in AI — 15 credits: search, logic, learning and fundamental AI problems.

• Introduction to Cloud Computing — 15 credits: cloud service models, virtualisation, resource pooling and deployment models.

• Introduction to DevOps — 15 credits: development and operations workflows, continuous integration, testing, deployment and automation.

Year 2 — applied AI, data science and software systems

• Creative Enterprise — 15 credits: entrepreneurship, opportunity identification, teamwork, communication and creative problem-solving.

• Introduction to Data Science — 15 credits: data collection and integration, exploratory analysis, predictive and descriptive modelling, and data-product development.

• Networking and Database Systems — 15 credits: network architecture, database management, relational databases and SQL.

• Project Based Learning Studio: Technology — 15 credits: collaborative projects, agile methods, prototyping, project management and team communication.

• Human Centred Design — 15 credits: understanding human behaviour and designing solutions around people’s needs.

• Applications of Artificial Intelligence — 15 credits: AI applications including natural language processing, speech recognition, machine learning, computer vision, planning and robotics.

• Classification and Regression — 15 credits: statistical models, classification algorithms, regression algorithms and model evaluation.

• Cloud Application Development — 15 credits: designing, developing, deploying and monitoring cloud-ready applications.

• Network Design — 15 credits: cloud infrastructure, distributed systems, virtual networks, scalability and software-defined architectures.

Year 3 — advanced AI and industry practice

• Advanced Tech – Work Integrated Learning — 45 credits: professional experience through an internship/volunteering option or an industry live brief.

• Machine Learning Principles — 15 credits: supervised and unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, model performance and limitations.

• Natural Language Processing and Speech Recognition — 15 credits: language modelling, statistical parsing, machine translation, dialogue processing and speech technologies.

• Deep Learning — 15 credits: neural networks, sequence modelling, computer vision, generative models and reinforcement learning.

• Tools for DevOps — 15 credits: automated development and deployment workflows, testing, code quality and monitoring.

• Data Mining and Visualisation — 15 credits: structured and unstructured data, data preparation, modelling, prediction, classification and communicating results.

• Secure by Design — 15 credits: secure software development, application vulnerabilities, encryption and secure design practices.

• Scaling and Monitoring — 15 credits: scaling software environments, monitoring applications and developing reliable, available and manageable systems.

Disciplines/Specialisations

The programme’s named specialisation is Artificial Intelligence within Software Engineering. Its main study areas include:

• Software engineering and object-oriented programming.

• Algorithms and data structures.

• Artificial intelligence concepts and applications.

• Machine learning and deep learning.

• Natural language processing and speech recognition.

• Computer vision and robotics-related applications.

• Data science, data mining and visualisation.

• Cloud computing, cloud application development and networking.

• Databases and microservices architecture.

• DevOps, software security, scaling and monitoring.

• Human-centred design and technology entrepreneurship.

Programme Highlights

• Three-year undergraduate degree at NZQF Level 7.

• 360 credits, with a published study load of 1.0 EFTS per year.

• Study options include on-campus and online learning.

• No creative portfolio is required for admission.

• The curriculum progresses from programming, algorithms and mathematics to machine learning, deep learning and advanced AI applications.

• The programme includes a 45-credit work-integrated learning component, with internship/volunteering and industry live-brief options described by MDS.

• MDS states that it has partnered with IBM to develop New Zealand’s first bachelor’s degree majoring in Artificial Intelligence. This is an institutional claim and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of IBM employment, certification or placement.

• Students should have a suitable computer for the required software and confirm the recommended hardware before starting.

Career Outcomes

MDS lists several potential career paths for graduates of the AI degree:

• AI Research Scientist — researching algorithms, machine-learning techniques and new AI models.

• Machine Learning Engineer — designing, developing and deploying models for applications such as recommendation systems, predictive analytics and natural language processing.

• AI Data Analyst — using AI tools and data models to identify patterns, support predictions and improve decision-making.

Latest Updates/Special Requirements

• The programme page lists the next start dates as 22 February 2027 and 19 July 2027.

• The latest displayed international first-year tuition fee on the course page is NZD 36,611.95. A search-indexed version of the page showed a different fee, so applicants should rely on the written offer and final invoice rather than an older cached listing.

• The programme is available on campus and online.

• International students must be at least 18 years old at the programme commencement date, including online students.

• The published English-language requirement is Academic IELTS 6.0 overall, with no band below 5.5, or an accepted equivalent.

• A portfolio is not required.

• Applicants under 20 need to meet the academic and relevant subject-credit requirements, or be assessed under an approved alternative pathway. Applicants aged 20 or over may qualify for special entry.

• MDS says quotas may apply to some programmes, so meeting minimum entry requirements does not guarantee a place.

• The exact Indian academic equivalency and accepted subject combination should be confirmed with MDS before an application is finalised.

• The official MDS programme page is the principal source used for this report. A separate programme-specific IPU listing was not verified; no IPU partnership or endorsement is assumed.

International Student Visa Requirements

International students planning to study on campus in New Zealand will generally need to consider the Fee Paying Student Visa. Immigration New Zealand makes the final decision based on the applicant’s circumstances and the visa rules in force at the time of application.

• Offer of place: You need an offer from an approved education provider. The offer must include the course details and the provider must assess your academic capability and English-language ability.

• Tuition fees: You must show that you have paid, can pay, or are exempt from paying the required tuition fees. Immigration New Zealand generally requires evidence for one course or one year of study, whichever is shorter.

• Living funds: For tertiary study lasting one year or more, the published requirement is NZD 20,000 per year. For study lasting less than one year, the published requirement is NZD 1,667 per month. Tuition fees and outward travel must be accounted for separately.

• Financial evidence: Immigration New Zealand may accept bank statements, eligible education-loan evidence, scholarship letters or acceptable sponsorship/financial-undertaking arrangements. It may ask for evidence of the source of funds, especially where there are large or recent deposits.

• Medical and travel insurance: International students must have acceptable insurance covering the relevant period of stay. MDS identifies Southern Cross StudentMax as its preferred/default insurance plan and publishes an approximate 12-month premium of NZD 860.25. Confirm the current premium for your dates and whether another policy can be approved.

• Health and character: You must meet the applicable immigration requirements. Medical examinations, chest X-rays or police certificates may be requested depending on your circumstances.

• Genuine study intentions: You must demonstrate a genuine intention to study and comply with visa conditions.

• Outward travel: You need a ticket out of New Zealand or acceptable evidence that you can pay for one. This must be additional to your required living funds.

• Visa cost and processing: Immigration New Zealand currently lists the Fee Paying Student Visa from NZD 850, with 80% of applications processed within seven weeks. These figures can change and are not guarantees for an individual application.

• Work rights: The visa may allow eligible students to work up to 25 hours per week during study and full-time during scheduled holidays, depending on the conditions granted. Check the actual conditions on your eVisa before working.

• Application timing: Immigration New Zealand recommends applying at least three months before intended travel. Processing can be busy between October and March.

• Visa duration: The visa can be issued for up to four years, but its actual duration depends on the study period paid for, passport validity and the applicant’s circumstances.

• Online study: If you plan to complete the programme entirely online from outside New Zealand, confirm the appropriate arrangements with MDS. A New Zealand student visa is generally relevant to study undertaken in New Zealand, not simply to online enrolment from overseas.

• Post-study work: Do not assume that graduation automatically gives you a work visa. Eligibility depends on the qualification and current Immigration New Zealand rules; check the official post-study work visa criteria before relying on a future work pathway.