Bachelor of Information and Communications Technologies (Data Engineering)

Gain the expertise to turn data into powerful insights.

The Data Engineering pathway provides the high-level technical expertise required to design, build and maintain the complex "plumbing" of the modern digital economy. While data scientists find insights, data engineers build the systems that make those insights possible.

During your studies you’ll master the technologies and practices required to manage massive datasets, ensuring data is accessible, high-quality and secure. The programme covers the full data lifecycle from collection and storage to sophisticated transformation, visualisation and pipeline automation.

Crucially, you’ll explore these technical skills within the unique context of Aotearoa New Zealand, mastering data governance, AI ethics, and Māori data sovereignty to ensure your technical solutions are socially responsible and culturally grounded.

Key highlights

• Build high‑demand industry skills in one of the fastest‑growing areas of ICT
• Gain hands-on experience with industry leading platforms (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
• Work with real data systems used to store, process and analyse large datasets
• Master the “DataOps” required to fuel machine learning and AI models
• Become an expert in responsible data handling, addressing AI bias and data privacy
• Complete your degree in three years full-time with part-time options available for working professionals

What you’ll learn (technical competencies)

• Designing automated ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) and ELT workflows
• Database design and advanced database concepts like SQL, NoSQL, and NewSQL architecture
• Working with distributed computing frameworks like Spark or Hadoop
• Cloud computing and distributed systems
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Data-driven decision making
• Data governance and ethical data practices