This course is accredited by the British Computer Society and offers world class academic qualifications to those who are seeking a career in IT or to recognize their IT skills. These courses cover a wide range of IT topics acknowledging your practical experience and academic ability.

Diploma Level 5

Course content
The Diploma in IT level is the academic equivalent to Year 2 of a UK university honours degree. Starting this course is dependent on your knowledge of the Certificate in I.T level modules.

You will study 4 modules:

Module 1: Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice (Core Module) Module 2: Software Engineering 1 Module 3: Principles of Internet Technologies Module 4: IT Service Management ...Plus a Professional Project

Course description

Module 1: Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice (Core Module)
The aim of this unit is to understand the context – ethical, social, legal, financial and organisational – in which professional Information Systems Engineers work.

The following topics are covered: Professional institutions; Organisations and their structure; Finance; Management accounting; Legal obligations: Intellectual Property; The internet; Professional codes of conduct and their limitations; Human resource Management.

Module 2: Software Engineering 1
The aim of this unit is to apply the knowledge of a disciplined approach to the development of software and to the management of the software product lifecycle. 

The following topics are covered: Software engineering; Software engineering key practices; Software development models and methods; Validation, verification, and testing; Software engineering tools and environments; Project management.

Module 3: Principles of Internet Technologies
The aim of this unit is to develop an understanding of the Internet and WWW.

The following topics are covered:  The internet and WWW; Process, standards and protocols; Website Development; Security and Performance.

Module 4: I.T Service Management
The aim of this unit is to:

Examine the relationship between computer based information systems, management and organizations.  Review concepts of management and organisation in the context of Information Technology.  Describe traditional information support systems for managers.  Understand the major issues concerning the management, development and operation of computer based information systems.

The following topics are covered: Information systems; Management Information Systems; Systems and management concepts; Managerial decision making; Cultural dimension of information systems development; Principles of professionalism; Acquisition of software, hardware, media and consumables; Installation and site planning, security and external threats; Application and systems requirements.

How the course is assessed

The course is assessed through a 2 hour written examination on the one core module and each of the three optional modules.

Professional Project
In order to finish the Diploma in IT level you must complete a project (minimum study time of 200 hours). The submission of a project proposal is now mandatory.

Note: If advancing to the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT level, candidates are not required to complete a Professional Project at this level.

Length of course
A minimum of 225 hours of study per module is required plus 200 hours for Professional project.
Completion of the Diploma examination level means you are eligible to apply for BCS Membership (MBCS) if you have 3 years’ experience as an IT Professional.

Certificate Level 4    Diploma Level 5    Diploma Level 6