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Starts

1 Sep 2025

Study mode

Full Time

Campus

Framwellgate Moor Campus

Duration

2 Years

Level

Level 3

Course code

DIGIF3014A01

Fee Information

Standard Fees of £4291.50 for the first year

Advanced Learner Loan Fees of £8583.00

Please note, these prices are for the current academic year and may be subject to change for our courses starting in future years. Many of our students are eligible for financial support when studying at college, please see Fees and funding for more information.

Age 16-18

FREE (If meet residency criteria and not enrolled at another educational institution).

If you are aged 16, 17 or 18 on 31 August in the year you begin your course, not enrolled at another educational institution and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years, your course will be FREE. Some courses will have other costs associated, such as for materials and trips.

Age 19+

If you are aged 19 or older on 31 August in the year you begin your course, not enrolled at another educational institution and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years, your course could be free dependant on the level of the course and your eligibility criteria. The rules regarding fee reduction are complicated, we would encourage you to contact our Advice, Support and Careers Team on 0191 375 4400, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or connect on live chat (bottom right of your screen).

Student Finance

If you are aged 19 or over and not eligible to get your course free, you could apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from the Student Loans Company to help towards the cost of some, or all, of your fees. If the amount of Advanced Learner Loan available to you is less than the Advanced Learner Loan Fee for your course, you would need to pay the difference. See our Funding Your Study page for more information or visit the Student Loans Company website to find out more.

Course may be subject to change.

Taking your first step into a new career needs the right blend of technical and academic knowledge, skills and behaviours to support you. Employers and Higher Education are looking for highly skilled, job-ready individuals with a strong work ethic.This BTEC Nationals in Information Technology is perfect for those aiming to go onto employment, usually via the steppingstone of Higher Education. Employers and Higher Education providers are looking for highly skilled, job-ready individuals with a strong work ethic.The BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in IT follows GCSEs and is equivalent to 1.5 A-Levels. This one year programme provides a foundation in core aspects of IT enabling you to make an informed choice between Cyber Security or Software Development if you progress to an Extended Diploma with a second year of study. The Computing & IT industry adapts to current needs at an extremely fast pace. Our programmes reflect this and are informed by industry to mirror the skill set required.

Additional Costs

We ask all students to contribute £30 to trips and visits - this is payable in September.We also recommend the two texts below which are developed by the examining body:

  • Revise BTEC National Computing Revision Workbook, Publisher: Pearson, ISBN: 9781292150192.
  • Revise BTEC National Computing Revision Guide, Publisher: Pearson, Author: Mark Fishpool, Christine Gate, Steve Farrell,Richard McGill, ISBN: 9781292150208.

What are the next steps?

You will meet with a course tutor to find out more about the course, discuss which course is right for you and see the facilities. Please bring your GCSE grades/predicted grades or any other relevant qualifications.

Study Aims

This qualification is for you if you want to start a career in the Computing and Information Technology sector. The course is designed for school leavers (aged 16+) and is an ideal qualification if you are intending to progress directly to employment within the digital industry, to a digital apprenticeship or to Higher Education.

Modules Studied

  • Information Technology Systems: You will study the role of computer systems and the implications of their use in personal and professional situations.
  • Creating Systems to Manage Information: You will study the design, creation, testing and evaluation of a relational database system to manage information.
  • Social Media in Business: You will explore how businesses use social media to promote their products and services. You will also implement social media activities in a business to meet requirements.
  • Programming: You will study the underpinning concepts and implications of programming languages to design, develop and test computer programs.
  • Data Modelling: You will study how data modelling can be used to solve problems. You will design and implement a data model to meet client requirements.
  • Website Development: You will investigate website development principles. You will design and develop a website using scripting languages.
  • Computer Games Development: You will investigate the computer games industry and its impact on technological and social trends. You will design and develop a computer game to meet requirements.

Times of Delivery

  • Monday - 9am - 4pm ~Tuesday - 9am - 4pm ~Wednesday - 9am - 4pm ~Thursday - 9am - 4pm ~Friday - 9am - 4pm

Any times indicated are based on current courses and may be subject to change in future years. Full timetables will be confirmed at the start of each course.

Teaching and Assessment

You will have access to a wide variety of resources and course related materials in class and via on our online virtual learning environment. Your study programme will include preparation for employment and an expectation to complete relevant work experience and independent study.Teaching will be a variety of classroom based, self-study and workplace learning activities. Assessment is both formative and summative.Formative assessment of learning will be through a range of methods such as peer assessment, self-assessment and tutor assessment including observations, group work, written assignment, oral presentations and projects and aims to support your learning in preparation for summative assessment.Summative assessment is undertaken through synoptic projects and exams conducted by the awarding body and assignments assessed internally.

Industry Links

The computing and IT curriculum area enjoys extensive links to industry, including:

  • Durham County Council
  • British Telecom
  • Hewlett Packard
  • NVIDIA
  • British Airways
  • Sage
  • Leighton
  • Waterstones
  • CA Group
  • Nissan
  • And many more.
Our employers work with us to support curriculum design, live projects, work placements, guest speaking, educational trips and visits and competitions.All of these activities help to enhance the teaching and learning experience and ensure relevance to curriculum content helping ensure our students gain the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected in the digital sector.

Placement

You will be required to complete a work placement of at least 70 hours (approximately 10 days) for each academic year of study. Wherever possible, we ask you to try and source a meaningful placement, however, if this is not possible, we do have limited opportunities sourced through the College. You will be expected to proactively engage with applying for a placement as they become available. All of our placement opportunities will be posted to your online learning system. You will always perform to the best of your ability and conduct yourself in a professional manner as if an employee of your placement organisation.

Where can it take me?