Employer demand for digital technology skills and knowledge is increasing, and non-digital technology companies are becoming more reliant on digital technology specialists as business requirements evolve. Skills shortages in key areas of the digital economy mean there are many different IT careers available for people with the relevant qualifications and experience. Key growth areas within the IT and computing industry include social and digital media, data protection, cyber security, games design, website development and cloud/mobile technologies. The south-east of England is home to many global IT companies, so you will be well placed for job opportunities and career prospects.
What you'll learn
Please note that as programmes are reviewed regularly, the following module list may vary:
- Professional Practice in the Digital Economy (15 credits)
- Innovation and Digital Transformation (15 credits)
- Cyber Security (15 credits)
- Programming (15 credits)
- Big Data and Visualisation (15 credits)
- Networking in the Cloud (15 credits)
- Database Design and Development (15 credits)
- Software Development Lifecycles (15 credits)
How you'll learn and be assessed
Teaching and Assessment
This course is delivered online and will consist of ‘live’ (synchronous) workshops and seminars along with learning materials which you will be guided through and able to complete at a time convenient to you. You will learn through research, independent study, directed study and workplace scenarios. By participating in vocational activities, you will develop key behaviour and transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, research, and analysis. Plus, you’ll be supported by a friendly, committed, and qualified team of lecturers who have both professional and teaching experience.
You will be assessed through a mixture of written assignments, group assessment, peer assessment, portfolio assessment and practice-related coursework. You will also be supported with a wide range of learning resources made available via Activate Learning’s Online Learning Environment (ALO), including access to textbooks, articles, and multimedia content.
Support
You will have a range of support made available to you, including academic and pastoral support, learning support and access to additional support funds (if eligible). Please see our Support Pages for further information.
Additional study support
Whether you have a recognised disability, specific learning difficulty, or not, you will be eligible to access additional learning support in all the following areas:
- assistive software training
- IT upskilling
- essay planning and structure
- proofreading and editing written work
- bibliographies and referencing
- time management and personal organisation
- revision and exam tips
- presentation techniques
Progression
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be perfectly positioned to further your learning by moving on to study an HND through one more year of full-time study, progress onto study at university or onto employment.
Career opportunities could include becoming a software developer, software tester, software engineer, applications engineer, programmer, or IT architect to name a few.
Entry requirements
You’ll need to have a GCSE grade 4 or above in Maths and English. Other L2 qualifications (such as Functional Skills) in English and Maths may be accepted.
In addition, you will have either:
- An A level at grade D, or
- Relevant Access to Higher Education Diploma, or
- Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business or related subject, at a Merit overall, or
- T Level at Pass in a related subject
However, if you are thinking of returning to education but do not possess all the formal entry qualifications, your application may be considered through our Recognition of Prior Learning procedure. You will need GCSE English and Maths. In addition, you should be able to demonstrate experience and achievement in a range of digital technologies-related activities. We would also look for evidence of continuous professional development and learning. You should provide details of your experience and any courses you have completed along with your reasons for wanting to pursue this course of study in the Personal Statement section of the application.
If you want to find out more about our recognition of prior learning procedure or have any questions about the course, please do talk to us.
Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate that their level of English is acceptable by achieving a score in a recognised test such as:
- Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B
- PTE Academic 51, or
- IELTS 5.5 (reading and writing must be at 5.5)
Additional information
Tuition Fees
Fees for September 2025 entry are £6,500 per year for UK students.
Please note: Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry only and may increase in subsequent years for new students in line with an inflationary amount determined by the Office for Students.
There are a variety of funding options available to help finance your studies. If you are a UK (Home) student, you don’t have to pay your tuition fees up front; the government provides loans to cover your full tuition fee. You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan to help cover living costs. Alternatively, your fees may be paid by your employer, or we could arrange a payment schedule if you are paying your own fees.
Additional costs
Students are advised that they will need access to a laptop or PC. We recommend that you budget £100 a year additional costs such as for stationary to undertake your studies. You can borrow textbooks and access journals from the recommended reading lists from our Learning Resource Centres either physically on campus or in the majority of cases online. If you choose to purchase textbooks, they may cost up to £60 each.
How to apply
Applicants should apply online through the Activate Learning website.
