FIT5046 Mobile and distributed computing systems
Faculty of Information Technology
FIT5046 Mobile and distributed computing systems is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Information Technology, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton. It needs FIT5136.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before FIT5046
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After FIT5046
No unit lists FIT5046 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
Prerequisite: For students enrolled in E3001, E3002, E3005, E3010, E3011, E3007 completing the Software Engineering specialisation: FIT2099, FIT3171 and FIT4165.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit provides a high level coverage of mobile and distributed computing. It will focus on the underlying concepts and standards of mobile computing. You will learn techniques to design and develop mobile applications. The unit will also provide you with an understanding of current mobile and distributed technologies such as web services, Internet of Things, context-aware computing, location-awareness, wireless sensor networks and current research trends.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | Flexible |
| Second semester | Clayton | Flexible |
Assessment
- Research Paper PresentationPresentation15%
- Android App DesignWritten20%
- QuizQuiz / Test25%
- Android App DevelopmentArtefact40%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Identify and describe different approaches and methods for building distributed and mobile computing systems;
- 2
Evaluate several models and approaches and select suitable mobile computing solution to a particular case;
- 3
Propose and develop a mobile or distributed system that is appropriate to a problem domain;
- 4
Identify the current research directions in the field and their impacts.
Workload and teaching
- Laboratories24 hours
- Seminars24 hours
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled online and face to face learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated reading and preparation for scheduled teaching activities.
Learning resources
Required resources
The main software used in this unit is Android Studio.
Where it fits
FIT5046 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Jue (Grace) Xie
- Dr Pari Delir Haghighi
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for FIT5046?
You need FIT5136 before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is FIT5046 offered?
In 2026, FIT5046 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is FIT5046?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does FIT5046 have an exam?
No. FIT5046 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include FIT5046?
FIT5046 is part of Computational science and Software engineering.