Frequently Asked Questions
 

 

Why choose Charles Sturt University?

Why should I study with Charles Sturt University?

Charles Sturt University (CSU) is not your average university. It is a multi-campus university with established traditions and a proud record of higher education in Australia for more than a century. As the largest Australian provider of distance education to overseas students, Charles Sturt University is at the leading edge of the delivery of information technology services. It operates one of the most heavily used mainstream web servers in Australian universities, receiving almost 15 million inquiries to its homepage each year. The Masters Degrees are delivered via a sophisticated Distance Education model that includes the following components:

• Online subject forums: All students have access to dedicated subject forums. Everyone on the Forum studies the same subject in the same timeframe; the Forums allow students to interact with other successful professionals to share ideas, debate issues and learn from each others' experience.
• Program materials: A comprehensive range of study materials is delivered via a mixture of paper reference manuals and / or E-Learning. Students also have access to online research libraries and services.
• Study guides: A comprehensive week-to-week schedule will be provided to assist students in covering the program materials provided. Assignments and online tests: These are designed to test the mastery and application of program materials. Telephone and email support: All courses receive support from their subject coordinator, who monitors the corresponding online forum and can be contacted via phone or email.
• Interact environment: CSU, as one part of its involvement with the Sakai Foundation, has commenced use (in 2008) of its Interact platform. As well as including the materials and facilities above, Interact also includes wikis, blogs, podcasts and a range of other modern means of communication. Academic staff and students are empowered by this platform which has been built in support of their learning and teaching.

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Do other universities offer this type of Masters Degree?

While there are a number of other Universities and Institutions that offer IT industry certification training as an additional option, we are not aware of any other institution in Australia (or the world) which offers a program where achieving EMC Expert Level storage technology certifications is recognised as an integral part of the Masters Degree.

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Does studying via Distance Education provide the same quality of education offered by a traditional campus?

Numerous studies have shown that distance learners perform as well or better than their on-campus counterparts. In his book, "The No Significant Difference Phenomenon" by Thomas L. Russell, he cites 355 research reports, papers, and summaries dating back to 1928 that found no significant difference between distance learning and in-class learning. Where a difference was identified, it generally favoured the distance-learning student. Distance education students frequently comment on the fact that this mode of learning provides greater flexibility in managing complicated lives that need to consider the demands of work, family as well as the learning process.

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Credit & Program Accreditation

What credit can I get for EMC Proven Professional Expert level certification?

If you have a current EMC Proven Professional Expert Level certification in one of the various streams then you are eligible to receive the maximum credit of 50% as part of the entry into the Master of Information Technology degree. This reduces the number of standard courses that you need to complete from 16 down to 8.

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Is the Master of Information Technology program accredited?

The Australian Computer Society (ACS) accredits the MIT at full professional level this is the highest level. There are also reciprocal recognitions of this accreditation by international professional societies such as the British Computer Society.

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Is the Master of Information Technology program recognised internationally?

Unlike many countries in which there is an unconnected system of qualifications, Australia has a single national and comprehensive system of national qualifications which are the basis of the Australian Government Qualifications Framework (AQF). AQF qualifications are endorsed by Australian governments, so an AQF qualification is recognised all around Australia and by other countries. Australian degrees have historically been recognised internationally though this recognition may not apply to each and every institution in a particular country.

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Career & Studying

Will having a Masters degree really make a difference in my career?

In our increasingly competitive IT marketplace, employers put greater value on education than ever before. There is limited data about the Australian IT market but according to the U.S. Department of Commerce, university graduates earn an average of 98% more income than non-university graduates. Those with a master's degree earn 170% more. And the gap is widening. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities will grow fastest for professionals with a university education.

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How quickly can I complete my Masters degree?

The normal amount of time in which the MIT degree is completed is two years of full-time study on campus or twice that for distance learning students. But the time it actually takes will vary depending on several factors, including whether or not you receive credit and whether you elect to go through an entire program without taking time off between courses. If necessary, students can take anywhere up to 4 years to complete their program. EMC Expert Level certified applicants will receive the equivalent of eight courses in credit. This is the maximum (50%) that can be granted in credit and will mean that you may complete your remaining studies for the degree, studying two courses per semester, in two years.

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Can I take longer than normal to complete my Masters degree?

The ‘normal’ amount of time in Distance mode is based on studying two courses per semester. However, you may reduce this to just one course per session whenever you want to, thus allowing more time for your other commitments and obligations.

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How do I juggle work, family and study?

There is no question that studying while trying to juggle the demands of work and family is challenging. How well you cope depends largely on how well you manage your time. If you undertake the recommended two courses per semester, you will be advised to spend on average, eight to twelve hours a week studying. The thing to keep in mind is that most of the subject material will be available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no matter where you roam and that there are many opportunities to do background reading etcetera that can be fit into schedules without too great a sacrifice of time.

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Assessments & Exams

How will assessment work?

All courses have continuous assessment (assignments) and most also have an examination. Distance education students have the option of submitting assignments electronically through specially developed online technology, called EASTS. (Electronic Assignment Submission and Tracking System) Assignments can be submitted earlier than their due date. Extensions may be granted in certain circumstances.

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Where will I be expected to take examinations?

Distance education students may attend examinations at locations in most metropolitan and regional centres throughout Australia or in one of our examination centres in most major cities around the world. Examination centres are arranged so that under most circumstances, a student is not required to travel more than 120km to attend an examination. As part of the enrolment process you will be asked to nominate your examination centre nearest you.

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What happens if I’m out of the country at exam time?

With sufficient notice, CSU Examinations branch can arrange for you to sit for your examination just about anywhere in the world (war zones and political unrest problems excluded). However, if you are called away at short notice, academic regulations permit the sitting of a supplementary examination at a later date.

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