BTEC Level 3 Diploma in IT

The BTEC course is very practical with plenty of opportunities to implement the theory that you learn. It is mainly course-work based, which, means that you have a very clear understanding of your progress throughout the course, to help you plan and achieve your next steps. Taught by subject specialists, with commercial experience, the main elements of the course cover hardware, networking, programming, graphics and web development.

Blending together a mix of theoretical and practical topics in a well-resourced environment, the course covers a wide range of computing topics to allow you to experience the full breadth of the world of computing, helping you to identify areas of interest and your future specialisms.

Hardware & Networking – studied in year one, with the opportunity to build computers and networks

Programming – studied in both years, with the opportunity to design and create interactive games programs

Graphics & Animation – in year two you will have the opportunity to learn the specialist skills required to design and create a variety of graphics and animations

Alongside these more specialist areas you will also learn how IT is used to communicate within organisations and how IT systems are created using techniques within systems analysis and database analysis.

At the end of the course you will be in a position to go on to a higher qualification or into work at a junior level in the IT industry. A range of higher qualifications will be open to you. The natural progression would be Higher National Certificate/Diploma in Computing, which could then be converted to a Degree in Computing with a third year. Many students study extended degrees in Business and IT or computer science. You have the opportunity to achieve your grade C/4 in your Mathematics or English language in year one, which means that you may have the opportunity to progress onto the final year of the extended diploma.