This HND BTEC Computing course is taught by Bolton College on behalf of the University of Bolton.

This Level 5 HND in Computing can help you turn your interest in technology into a rewarding career opportunity. It’s designed to develop your knowledge and skills across a range of computing and information technologies essential to businesses in this evolving economic sector. The course also aims to help you gain key transferable skills that employers highly value.

Throughout the course, our team of dedicated experts will guide you as you gain knowledge and understanding, as well as practical, professional and subject-specific skills. Your studies will focus on the core knowledge required by all computing professionals, such as programming, networking, database design and development, security, professional practice, business intelligence and how to manage a successful computing project. You’ll build on this learning with optional units that concentrate on developing your understanding and skills in areas such as games development and advanced programming, where you can use your imagination and creativity to modify and manipulate software to create animations and cutting-edge interfaces.

We’ll help you learn essential skills from problem-solving, supporting individual computer users and organisations, and maintaining and managing their online systems. You’ll undertake an individual research project, where you’ll explore and examine a relevant and current topical aspect of computing in the context of a business environment. Overall, we’ll support you as you develop cognitive, intellectual and thinking skills and gain valuable key, personal and transferable skills ready for employment or further study.

• The course provides opportunities for you to progress towards achieving eligibility for professional body membership and vendor certifications with organisations such as the BCS, CompTIA, CISCO, Microsoft, Oracle and AXELOS.
• The computer suites at Bolton College offer up-to-date, high-specification equipment and software.
• We’ll encourage you to undertake a work placement during the summer break. This is recommended but is not a course requirement.
• Upon successfully completing this programme, you’ll be awarded a Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing.
• Bolton College scores highly in student satisfaction surveys for its HE provision, and we take pride in being able to offer you the opportunity to learn from our industry-experienced staff.

• This course offers essential subject knowledge that you’ll need to progress successfully within or into the world of work or onto further study.
• Our approach to teaching and learning is student-centred, so we’ll work with you on an individual basis, providing tailored help and support throughout your studies.
• You’ll have the opportunity to develop and enhance crucial skills such as communication, teamwork, organising and planning, numeracy, problem-solving, flexibility and adaptability, action planning, self-awareness, initiative, personal impact and confidence, environmental sustainability, and social, public and ethical responsibility.
• You’ll have the chance to participate in project trips to gain first-hand experience in the industry and gain knowledge and insights from guest speakers during class time.

Holders of the Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing are eligible for Associate Membership of the BCS. The BCS represents IT professionals both in the UK and internationally and is a member organisation of CEPIS (Council of European Professional Informatics Societies).

• 48 UCAS points. Please see our guide to the UCAS Tariff for examples of how to achieve these points.
• Any subjects are acceptable at Level 3.
• You should also have two GCSEs at grade C or above or grade 4 to 9 (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics.
• This course is also open to applicants who have extensive appropriate work experience in the IT sector. If you don’t possess the academic qualifications listed above but have extensive appropriate work experience, we’ll be delighted to consider your application.
• You’ll be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
• If English isn’t your first language you’ll also need IELTS 6.0 with no less than 5.5 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

If you apply or enrol on this course, Bolton College and the University of Bolton will share the information you provide. You'll also receive communications from both organisations.

For valued members of the University of Bolton Group and progressing students, we try to make our application process as simple and as fast as possible.

If you have carefully considered your course and institution choices and decided that this course is the best option for you, you may apply free of charge to the University. By selecting the appropriate link from the list shown below, you will be taken directly to our online application form. Please read the user guidance before completing this, and ensure you upload all supporting documents such as certificates and your personal statement when you apply.

When you are asked to add a contact email address, please ensure you add your college/university email account address as well as your personal address. If you do not add your college address as your contact address, we will be unable to identify you as a partner and offer you the benefits of being part of our group.

NOTE: You cannot apply both through UCAS and directly to Bolton. Submitting an application to any university through UCAS during the same academic year will void any direct application you make to Bolton.

For courses starting in September, please be aware that we are required to share your information with UCAS if we accept you on this course. We will create a simplified UCAS acceptance record on your behalf and return this to UCAS. By submitting your application directly to the University of Bolton, you agree to these terms.

If you are ready to apply directly, please select your chosen start date from the list below.

Before applying, please read the entry requirements section of this page.

If your course runs at multiple locations or has various start dates, please be sure to select the correct application link from the list below.

Before beginning your application, you should have the following information to hand:

• Details of the educational establishments you attended and dates

• Your certificates for the qualifications you are using to gain entry to the course – you will need to enter the completion date and upload copies

• Details of any employment history, including name, address, dates and role

• Personal statement – this can be either input into the relevant field or uploaded separately

• Details including email addresses of two referees, at least one of which should be someone who can provide an academic reference

Please make sure any documents you wish to upload in support of your application are in pdf or jpeg format. Personal statements may be word documents.

Please ensure your data is correct at each stage of the application before you proceed to the next page. If you use the back button at any time during the application, you should check the validity of the data you have already inputted.

If you experience difficulties during the application process, contact the Undergraduate Admissions Team on 01204 903394 or UGadmissions@bolton.ac.uk

• Apply online: Bolton College Pearson BTEC HND Computing - Bolton College - 19 September 2022

We look forward to receiving your application and you continuing your academic journey with us!

The varied nature of this HND programme means that we use a wide range of teaching and learning methods. In order to ensure you acquire and develop the appropriate concepts, knowledge and skills, we combine timetabled classes with student-centred and independent learning. You can expect to attend lectures, practical sessions, workshops, tutorials and informal group study sessions. There will also be opportunities to go on site visits to view state-of-the-art projects, and attend guest lectures by specialists from industry, professional bodies or other academic institutions.

There are significant opportunities to spend time with the tutors and technicians during timetabled classes, practical work and tutorials. However, we’ll still expect you to devote a significant amount of time to personal study. For example, this time might be spent engaging in general background reading, revisiting practical work, attending technical meetings and lectures provided by professional bodies or working on assignments.

We use a range of assessment methods, depending upon the learning outcome in question and the type of module content being assessed. You’ll have opportunities to test your understanding of subjects informally before you complete the formal assessments that count towards your final mark or grade. Each module/unit will normally contain at least one piece of practice or ‘formative’ assessment for which you’ll receive feedback from your tutor. Practice assessments are developmental and any grades/marks you receive for them do not count toward your module/unit mark or grade.

There is a formal or ‘summative’ assessment at the end of each module/unit. Methods include a range of coursework assessment such as exams, essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, and final year major project. The grades from the formal assessments count towards your module/unit mark or grade.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Programming
• Networking
• Professional Practice
• Database Design and Development
• Security
• Managing a Successful Computing Project (Pearson Set)
• Computer Systems Architecture
• Website Design and Development
• Computing Research Project (Pearson Set)
• Business Intelligence
• Advanced Programming
• Network Security
• E-Commerce and Strategy
• Game Design Theory
• User Experience and Interface Design

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.