Digital Technologies Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher Technical Qualification (HNC) – Full Time
Course level: 4
Course code: Q5140
a future HE student (HE)
Is this course right for me?
If you want to work in the digital, computing and IT industry, this new Level 4 higher technical qualification (HTQ) will give you the skills and knowledge you need to apply for a job in the sector or progress to university to study for a relevant degree.
And, if you already work in the industry and want to further improve your skills to boost your promotion prospects, this is the course you need.
HTQs are new qualifications and are developed in conjunction with employers so you can be sure that the skills you will gain are what are crucial to the digital economy and what businesses look for when recruiting staff.
You will further expand your IT knowledge and develop a range of dynamic skills essential for working in the sector – including programming, networking, digital transformation and artificial intelligence – and, as well as technical skills you will also develop a range of employability skills to prepare you for your next step in the industry.
Course details
Entry Requirements:
To access the course you are required to have a Level 3 qualification in a computing-related area such as:
- ICT BTEC National Extended Diploma OR
- Digital Support T Level OR
- Computing A Level
In addition, you will also be required to have GCSE English and maths at grade 4 or above.
- Consideration will also be given to applicants who have a relevant Level 3 apprenticeship or an Access to Higher Education qualification, as well as mature students without the necesssary qualifications who have experience of working in the computing/IT sector.
What will I learn?
During the programme you will study the following modules:
- Professional practice in the digital economy
- Innovation and digital transformation
- Cyber security
- Programming
- Big Data & Visualisation
- Cloud Fundamentals
- Software Development Lifecycles
- Fundamentals of artificial intelligence (AI) & intelligent systems (optional)
What skills will I gain?
During the programme you will:
- Look at several tools and techniques that organisations use to transform and become more innovative in their approach to digital technology.
- Explore the nature of cybercrime and cyber threat actors, investigate roles and responsibilities in relation to information assurance, assess the threats to, and vulnerabilities in, ICT infrastructure; and investigate strategic responses to cyber security threats
- Learn the fundamentals of networking and how to put theory into practice by exploring a range of hardware, with related software, and will configure and install these to gain knowledge of networking systems.
- Analyse an existing system and use this as a basis to design and implement a database
- Learn the core concepts of programming and how to develop algorithms and programmes to solve real-world problems
- Investigate AI fundamentals, including data gathering, validation and processing and how the results can be visualised and explained. You will develop a skill set to study deployed intelligent systems and evaluate technical and ethical challenges and opportunities.
- Define a project, create project plans, set up the delivery of a project, execute and review the outputs, and understand the outcomes and how the project fits into the wider business planning strategy of an organisation.
- Learn flexible and transferable specialised techniques and underpinning knowledge directly relevant to the IT and computing profession in which you are currently working or hope to work in the future
- Develop a range of interpersonal skills essential for success in your working life
- Explore the importance of professional development for career success and the benefits of working towards goals.
How will I be assessed?
Throughout the course you will be assessed in the following ways:
- Assessments after each module
- Report writing
- Presentations
- Live project work
- Case studies.
- Marks from all assessments will contribute to the final grade that you will receive on completion of the course.
What can I do next?
Successful completion of the course will enable you to progress to:
- A job in the computing/IT industry
- Higher level apprenticeship
- Computing Level 5 HTQ (HND)
- BSc (Hons) Computing
- BSc Data Science
- BSc (Hons) Business Computer Systems
- BEng (Hons) Software Engineering
- BSc (Hons) Cyber Security and Forensic Computing
Future careers
Whether you know what you want, or you don’t, get career inspo with our Future Finder.
At City of Wolverhampton College, we boast strong links with leading universities and over 1,000 employers – meaning our courses are all career focussed and relevant.
Like what you’ve seen?
Then it’s time to apply.
Unsure whats right for you?
Visit us at one of our Open Events and see what City of Wolverhampton College has to offer.
