Certificate in IT
This is the foundation level of Higher Education Qualifications.
This level is the academic equivalent to Year 1 of a UK university honours degree and is recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as Level 4.
The Certificate in IT focuses on the following core modules (All 3 must be taken/exempted to complete the level):
- Information Systems
- Software Development
- Computer & Network Technology
More information about these modules is available on the Syllabus page.
BCS recommends a minimum of 200 hours study per module and the course culminates in a 2 hour written exam focusing on all three core modules. Completion of the Certificate in IT level means you are eligible to apply for BCS Associate Membership (AMBCS).
Diploma in IT:
This is the Diploma level of Higher Education Qualifications.
This level is the academic equivalent to Year 2 of a UK university honours degree and is recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as Level 5. By beginning the Diploma in IT level course BCS assumes knowledge of the Certificate in IT level modules (or exemption) and focuses on the following (All Students must take the Core Module and 3 modules from the list. Students need to complete the Professional Project if they wish to End their study at this level):
- Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice (Core Module)
- Computer Networks
- Database Systems
- IT Project Management
- Object Oriented Programming
- Principles of Internet Technologies (April only)
(this module has replaced The Internet & World Wide Web and is not available for online registration)
- IT Service Management (April only)
- Software Engineering 1 (April only)
- Principles of User Interface Design (April only)
More information about these modules is available on the Syllabus page.
BCS recommends a minimum of 225 hours study per module. The course culminates in a 2 hour written exam focusing on the one core module and each of the three optional modules of your choice. Completion of the Diploma Examinations level means you are eligible to apply for BCS Membership if you have 3 years' experience as an IT professional.
Professional Project (Diploma in IT Level)
In order to finish study at the Diploma in IT level candidates must complete a project. Recommended minimum study time of 200 hours. Candidates will submit a report on the practical implementation of a computer-based project (as defined below).
• The Professional Project should involve the development of a computer-based solution to a practical problem. These will normally, but not necessarily, involve the candidate in the production of software
• The Professional Project may be part of a group project but each candidate must individually satisfy all the requirements and the report must clearly identify the candidate’s individual contribution
• The size of the report should be approximately 5,000 words excluding appendices
Successful completion of the project and examination enables you to apply for selected degree courses with universities and means you are eligible to apply for BCS Membership (MBCS) if you have 2 years' experience as an IT professional.
Professional Graduate Diploma in IT
This level is the academic equivalent to Year 3 of a UK university honours degree. It is recognised by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) as Level 6.
By beginning the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT level course BCS assumes knowledge of the Certificate in IT and appropriate Diploma in IT level modules (or exemption) and focuses on the following and select any 4 optional modules at their choice (There have no Core modules):
- Advanced Database Management Systems
- Management Information Systems
- Software Engineering 2
- Computer Services Management
- Distributed and Parallel Systems (April only)
- Knowledge Based Systems (April only)
- Network Information Systems (April only)
- Programming Paradigms (April only)
- Realising the User Interface (April only)
(This module has replaced User Interface Design and is not available for online registration)
- System Design Methods (April only)
- Web Engineering (April only)
(This module has replaced WWW - Beyond the Basics and is not available for online registration)
More information about these modules is available on the Syllabus page.
BCS recommends a minimum of 250 hours study per module and the course culminates in a 3 hour written exam focusing on four of the above modules of your choice. Please be aware that practical experience is required to answer some parts of the exam.
Completion of the Professional Graduate Diploma Examinations level means you are eligible to apply for BCS membership if you have 2 years' experience as an IT professional.
Professional Project (Professional Graduate Diploma in IT Level )In order to finish the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT level candidates must complete a project, which will be the academic equivalent of a UK university honours degree project and has a recommended minimum study time of 300 hours. Candidates will submit a report on the practical implementation of a computer-based project (as defined below).
• The Professional Project should involve the development of a computer-based solution to a practical problem. The report must put the problem in context, include a survey of relevant literature, and provide a list of references
• The Professional Project should be an individual piece of work undertaken by the candidate alone. Group projects are not allowed.
• The size of the report should be approximately 10,000 words excluding appendices
Successful completion of the project and examination enables you to apply for selected postgraduate courses at university and means you are eligible to apply for BCS professional membership (MBCS) |
