INTERNATIONAL

Certificate IV in Information Technology (Programming)

CRICOS Code: 108425M
National Code: ICT40120

2025 2026

Description

This course provides you with the basic skills and knowledge in programming and software development. You will create software products to meet an initial project brief or customise existing software products to meet customer needs. The course has a focus on using C#.NET, PHP/MySQL, Java and Python coding.

Duration (incl. holidays)

Semester(s)

Teaching Duration

Print Course Page

52 weeks

40 weeks

International Applications

Campus / Location

Study Mode

Contact Hours

Study Load

Commences

Scheduled

Adelaide City

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.

20 hours per week

Full Time

January, July

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On Campus/Location

On campus/location – learn in a classroom environment that gives you the opportunity to interact with your lecturer and fellow students in person.

Full Time

Full Time classes

Day Classes

Day time classes

Evening Classes

Evening time classes

Course Admission Requirements
(for International Applications)

Academic IELTS score of 6.0 Overall with minimum of 5.0 in all bands or equivalent.
Satisfactory completion of Year 11 or overseas equivalent .

Course Notes

Within 2 weeks of commencement, students will need to purchase a laptop to enable practice at home/on campus. TAFE SA will provide any compulsory software.

Minimum requirements:
• Windows 10 or later
• Minimum 16 GB RAM
• Intel i5 CPU (or equivalent AMD) (Intel i7 preferred)
• 1Tb SSD
• Internet Access
• Webcam and headphones
• Apple MAC notebooks are not compatible with current virtualisation software.

These computing requirements would cost approximately $1500-$2000 and can be purchased online or in store. TAFE SA loaned laptops are unavailable after 5pm and do not have the compulsory software for this course. More specific details will be provided at or after commencement.

Fees

These course fees are for international students only.

Duration

Tuition Fees

Incidental Fees^*

Semester 1

AUD $7642

AUD $300^*

Semester 2

AUD $7643

Fee Totals

AUD $15285

AUD $300^*

Total Course Cost

AUD $15585

* International students will be required to purchase a 1TB SSD portable hard drive, webcam and headset with microphone for an approximate cost of $300.

Note: TAFE SA course tuition and other fees/costs are subject to regular increases and are reviewed annually. TAFE SA accepts applications for courses commencing beyond the current year, course, tuition and other fees/costs for these years will apply once published. TAFE SA and their agents reserve the right to alter, amend or delete any fee, course, admission requirement, mode of delivery, duration or other arrangement without prior notice. If the study duration is extended beyond the period of the student’s visa the student will be liable for visa and related costs, eg medical examinations, OSHC and living expenses.

Overseas Students Health Cover

All overseas students are required to have Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC) insurance for the entire duration of the course. The health cover rate will vary depending on the personal circumstances and duration of stay in Australia. Read more about Overseas Students Health Cover.

Employment Outcomes & Skills Covered

Employment Outcomes

Note: Completion of a TAFE SA course does not guarantee an employment outcome. Formal requirements other than educational qualifications (eg licensing, professional registration), may apply to some occupations.

Qualifications & Skills Covered

Certificate IV in Information Technology (Programming) (ICT40120)
This qualification provides the skills and knowledge for an individual to be competent in a wide range of general information and communications technology (ICT) technologies and practices in different organisational contexts. The focus of the course is on programming. To complete the qualification you are required to complete all 7 core units and 13 elective units.

90%*
of TAFE SA graduates are satisfied with the overall quality of training.

87%*
of TAFE SA graduates would recommend their training.

* 2023 NCVER Student Outcomes Survey findings

Course Units

Below is a list of all units that TAFE SA can offer in this qualification. The selection of elective units you will be enrolled into depends on the campus you attend, and the qualification packaging rules described on www.training.gov.au.

Not all elective units listed below must necessarily be completed to achieve your qualification.

Core

Name	Nominal Hours	Subject Code	National Code
Apply advanced critical thinking to work processes	50	TABSW	BSBCRT404
Apply introductory programming techniques	40	TABLP	ICTPRG302
Comply with IP, ethics and privacy policies in ICT environments	60	TABSZ	ICTICT451
Contribute to cyber security risk management	30	TABSX	BSBXCS404
Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and practices	60	TABFN	ICTICT426
Identify and resolve client ICT problems	40	TABTA	ICTSAS432
Work collaboratively in the ICT industry	30	TABSY	ICTICT443

Elective

Name	Nominal Hours	Subject Code	National Code
Analyse big data	40	FACYP	BSBXBD403
Apply intermediate programming skills in different languages	80	TABWB	ICTPRG443
Apply introductory object-oriented language skills	60	TABGE	ICTPRG430
Apply introductory programming skills in different languages	60	TABTZ	ICTPRG440
Apply skills in object-oriented design	40	TABWA	ICTPRG441
Apply Structured query language in relational databases	60	TABWT	ICTWEB451
Build a user interface	50	TABTX	ICTPRG437
Configure cloud services	60	TABTD	ICTCLD401
Create and style simple markup language documents	40	TABFS	ICTWEB431
Produce server-side script for dynamic web pages	60	TABGW	ICTWEB430
Test software developments	50	TABTT	ICTPRG433
Use version control systems in development environments	30	TABTH	ICTICT449
Write script for software applications	40	TABTW	ICTPRG435

Living in Adelaide

The city created for students

You will never find another city like Adelaide. With welcoming locals, it is the perfect place for you to study, live and enjoy.

A student city

Adelaide is home to over 30,000 international students and has a strong and growing reputation as an education city. In addition to TAFE SA, Adelaide is home to six world-leading universities: The University of Adelaide, the University of South Australia, Flinders University, Carnegie Mellon University, Torrens University Australia and CQ University Australia.

Safe

Adelaide’s crime rates are the lowest in the country and for that reason, Adelaide has previously been named the safest city in Australia.

Beach Culture

Adelaide’s pristine sandy beaches are just a 20 minute tram ride from the city centre. On hot summer days, you can study in the day and take the tram to have dinner at the beach and watch the sunset with friends.

Live centrally

Accommodation is more affordable in Adelaide than in other cities in Australia making it often possible for students to live in the heart of the city or just outside. This means more time is spent studying and less time travelling.

Delicious!

Adelaide is known for its cafe culture, with more cafes and restaurants by population than any other city in Australia. In recent years, Adelaide has also developed a vibrant and varied bar scene. The city is big enough that you will struggle to visit all of the places you would like to drink and eat in during in your first year of study. Our mix of cultures means there’s likely to be a supermarket that sells food from your home country too.

Easy to get around

Adelaide is a flat city so it is ideal for walking or cycling. Its grid layout makes it almost impossible to get lost! There are free trams and buses around the city centre. International students can show their ID to get cheaper tickets.

Festivals

Adelaide is known for its festivals, which are famous around the world. WOMADelaide, the Adelaide Festival of Arts, Fringe Festival and Cabaret Festival are just some of the international arts and music festivals that keep the city buzzing

Everyone agrees – Adelaide is a great place to live and study

Adelaide is recognised as one of the world’s most liveable cities. In 2014, Lonely Planet’s Best of Travel book ranked Adelaide in the global top ten. For the last four years Adelaide has been ranked one of the most liveable cities in the world by The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Beautiful weather

Adelaide has four distinct seasons, with moderate winters and warm to hot summers. In winter you will need woolly jumpers and jackets and in summer, shorts and t-shirts. The heat in South Australia is dry, rather than humid.