MENU
Home > Faculties > Qualification
Applied Information Technology

Diploma in Software Development

This programme is designed for people seeking to focus on one or more application domains such as application development, web development, games development, and mobile application development.

 

The programme provides students with the opportunity to achieve a qualification in software development that meets industry standards for appropriately qualified information technology employees.

Applied Information Technology, Technology, IT, Whitecliffe IT programme, Programme, Whitecliffe, Technology, Information Technology, Study, Level 6 programme, Diploma in Software Development, Diploma

Outline

The programme provides students with the opportunity to achieve a qualification in software development that meets industry standards for appropriately qualified information technology employees.

Duration

2 Years

Full-time

Key Dates

February 2025 Intake

17/02/2025

 

 

Available Locations

Auckland City Symonds Streets Campus
Wellington Campus

Costs

Fees indicated are for 1st year of study. 2nd Year fees may vary.
All 2025 fees are subject to change and regulatory approval.

Domestic: $7,554 + $300 Student Services Levy

International: $19,500 + $300 Student Services Levy

Upon completion, you will be able to enter employment in development or testing roles, in a range of organisational contexts.

Further study options:

Level 7 Bachelor of Applied Information Technology
Applied Information Technology, Technology, IT, Whitecliffe IT programme, Programme, Whitecliffe, Technology, Information Technology, Study, Level 6 programme, Diploma in Software Development, Diploma

Academic Calendar

2025 Academic Calendars

Download

Key Student Information

NZ Government key information link for students.

Download

Qualification

Diploma in Software Development
NZQA Level 6 (240 Credits)

Where could this programme take you?

Graduates of this programme will be able to:

 

  • Analyse and apply appropriate modelling tools, SDLC and HCI principles, to design and document software solutions in an organisational context
  • Write and maintain complex programs using design patterns, data structures and algorithms
  • Apply a range of software quality assurance techniques to verify correctness of systems
  • Apply data management and storage technologies to support the software application and the development process to match the application domain
  • Integrate security and privacy principles throughout software development to ensure application security and system integrity using current best practices
  • Select, justify and apply architecture, patterns, services, technologies, and tools, to implement the software solution/s using current and emerging technologies
  • Apply IT technical support concepts and practice to securely manage hardware, software and networking resources to support end users and meet security, ethical and organisational requirements
  • Apply professional and ethical practices with integrity to meet the industry wide expectations of a responsible IT professional, in accordance with legal, regulatory and organisational requirements
  • Apply communication, information design, teamwork, personal, and interpersonal skills, to enhance working efficiency and quality outcomes in an organisational environment.

 

Mobile Application Developer
Software Tester
Junior Software Developer
Front-end Web Developer
Back-end Web Developer

Featured student work

Team Six Pack, Francesca Schmidlin, Gizelle Alarcon, Jun Park, Xun Wang and Jhawan Raika-Morgan, Buddy – Smart Baby Device, Project, Diploma in Software Development, Software, IT, Information Technology, Whitecliffe student work, baby monitoring, 2021
Buddy – Smart Baby Device

Team Six Pack - Francesca Schmidlin, Gizelle Alarcon, Jun Park, Xun Wang and Jhawan Raika-Morgan

Diploma in Software Development

Buddy is an innovative and intuitive smart device that revolutionises all the old classic baby monitoring devices. ...
Nathan Doan, Bachelor of Applied Information Technology, Year 2, Information Technology, IT, Whitecliffe student work, Year 2, 2023, Inventory Managment, window application
Inventory Managment

Nathan Doan

Bachelor of Applied Information Technology

This window application helps users can manage inventory. ...
Nicholas Harding, Ignesias Tan, Daniel Tibbotts, Diploma in Software Development, Level 6, IT, Information technology, Whitecliffe student work, Tradie Job Site (TJS), 2021, job management system, trade, TJS protects
Tradie Job Site (TJS)

Nicholas Harding, Ignesias Tan, Daniel Tibbotts

Diploma in Software Development

Tradie Job Site (TJS) is a responsive job management system targeted towards trade staff. ...

Featured Alumni

Pawanjit Singh Ghatora, Master of Information Technology, Data Science, alumni, Whitecliffe College graduate, student

Pawanjit Singh Ghatora - Principal Cloud Architect

"I wholeheartedly endorse Whitecliffe College to those aspiring to venture into data science or enhance their expertise in this field. The program stands as a testament to the college's commitment to ...

Dumitru (Dan) Hayworth, Bachelor of Applied Information Technology, alumni, Whitecliffe College graduate, student

Dumitru (Dan) Hayworth

“During my time at Whitecliffe I built my first website and learnt a ton of programming languages such as C#, JAVA, Python, JavaScript, powerful IDEs, MySQL Workbench, Visual Studio Code, and PyChar ...

Admission Requirements

Admission requirements

Applicants must

  • Turn 17 within their first year of study at Whitecliffe
  • Achieve 42 credits at NCEA Level 3 including:
    • 14 credits in Digital Technologies or Computing, and
    • 10 credits in Maths, and
    • 10 credits in English at NCEA Level 2 or above.

OR one of the following:

  • Achieve a minimum of 50% in the online assessment
  • Have a Certificate in IT Essentials
  • Have a Certificate in Information Technology
  • Have a Diploma in IT Technical Support
  • Have a Diploma in Web Development and Design

International applicants must

  • Turn 18 within their first year of study at Whitecliffe
  • Provide academic and work experience documentation
  • Have achieved prior to enrolling an IELTS Academic overall score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 or equivalent (whitecliffe.ac.nz/english-proficiency-outcome)
  • Submit a Statement of purpose
  • Have a Diploma in Web Development and Design or equivalent
  • Meet New Zealand visa entry requirements
    whitecliffe.ac.nz/international-students

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Requirements:

This programme has Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) requirements, we recommend you follow the specifications listed as these will support you to be successful in your studies.

Required IT Specifications:

  • Have access to Windows computer/laptop/tablet.

Recommended IT Specifications:

Minimum Hardware requirements

  • Mac – Intel processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later
    OR
  • MacBook Air with M1 Chip
    OR
  • Intel® or AMD processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster processor with SSE 4.2 or later
  • 8 GB RAM (Recommended 16 GB)
  • 250 GB SSD or higher hard drive with 10GB free space minimum
  • Wireless capability 802.11n dual-band
  • Up-to-date antivirus software

Minimum Operating System

  • Windows 10 (64-bit) version 1809 or later; LTSC versions are not supported (a must for IT Students)
    OR
  • Apple macOS Mojave (version 10.14) or later
  • Internet and data plan.

Not Supported:

  • Chromebooks
  • Windows X or Windows S OS
  • Tablets (except Windows Surface Pro or iPad Pro)

Faculty Members

The vast majority of our team have extensive experience within their respective industries. This is key in helping us ensure our graduates have the real-world skills they need for a successful career and bright future.

Amal Das, Lecturer, Information Technology, Whitecliffe

Amal Das

Lecturer

Applied Information Technology

Amal is a Microsoft as well as Cisco Certified Trainer with wide experience in all aspects of the ...

Elaine Xu, Lecturer, Information Technology, Faculty, employee, staff, Whitecliffe, team, member

Elaine Xu

Lecturer

Applied Information Technology

Elaine joined the School of Information Technology at Whitecliffe in May 2024, where she teaches ...

Pinal Shah

Pinal Shah

Lecturer

Applied Information Technology

Pinal Shah is a seasoned educator, researcher, author, and creative professional with over 15 yea ...

Dr Muhammad Azam, Head of School, Applied Information Technology, IT, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member

Dr Muhammad Azam

Head of School

Applied Information Technology

Muhammad is an experienced computer engineer with a demonstrated history of successfully completi ...

Dr Shahbaz Pervez Chattha, Programme Leader, IT, Applied Information Technology, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member

Dr Shahbaz Pervez Chattha

Programme Leader

Applied Information Technology

Shahbaz Chattha is an expert Computer Engineer with a demonstrated history of successfully comple ...

John Williams, Lab Assistant, Applied Information Technology, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member

John Williams

Lab Assistant

Applied Information Technology

John has been an IT Trainer for over 30 years. John joined Whitecliffe as a Lab Assistant in 2023 ...

Dr Simon Yusuf Enoch, Lecturer, Applied Information Technology, IT, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member, Wellington Campus

Dr Simon Yusuf Enoch

Lecturer

Applied Information Technology

Simon holds a PhD in Computer Science (specializing in Cybersecurity) from the University of Cant ...

Jun Han, Lecturer, Information Technology, Certificate in IT Essentials, Manukau campus, Faculty, Whitecliffe employee, Whitecliffe staff, Whitecliffe team, Whitecliffe member, teacher

Jun Han

Lecturer

Applied Information Technology

Jun Han teaches our Certificate in IT Essentials on our Manukau campus. She joined Whitecliffe la ...