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Computing

Course Code: CMPFT
  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Access, Diploma
  • Awarding body: Cambridge Access Validating Agency (CAVA)
  • Duration: One year
  • Course type: FREE (Eligibility Applies), Full-time, Part-time
  • Time of day: Daytime
  • When you'll study: Various days, 9.00am - 5.00pm
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What's it all about?

Diploma title: Computing

Access to Higher Education courses are designed for students aged 19 or over. If you are aged 18 or under, this course may not be suitable for you. Please contact us on info@cityplym.ac.uk or 01752 305300 if you would like any help discussing alternative options.


Do you want to train or retrain for a career in Software Development or the myriad other roles within the Computing and IT industries? This CAVA Access to HE course at City College Plymouth will help you to develop sought after computing skills and knowledge, allowing you to be fully prepared to study computing or IT subjects at university. This one year, full-time Access to Higher Education computing course provides an intensive introduction to computer science, teaching you skills in a variety of areas including programming, web development, maths (for computing) and networking. Those successfully completing this course will be offered a place on our foundation degree level courses in software development or hardware, possibly leading to our University of Plymouth affiliated BSc Applied Computer Science degree here at the College. Progression to a wide range of computing based university courses throughout the UK is also possible upon completion of this course.


IMPORTANT: Please note the College degree courses are a suggested progression route, you must check with your preferred higher education institution to ensure that this course meets their entry requirements.

Course information

You’ll get hands-on experience through a broad range of projects and coursework to develop a solid grounding in the key areas of computer science.
Course Modules contain:
  • web design and creation
  • database design and creation
  • network infrastructure
  • computer science basics
  • python programming
  • java programming
  • systems analysis skills
  • cyber security
  • mathematical processes for computer science
  • + many other core computing skills.
NOTE: Alongside your main studies, the Access course is designed to ensure you achieve a maths and English qualification at the appropriate level for entry to higher education. This will be discussed at the interview.
Grade C (4/5) in maths or English is commonly required for course entry, however experience counts, so please contact us to check course entry eligibility.
To succeed on this course you need to be extremely committed towards your study as the course teaches three A Levels of vocational computing content in one year. As such, this route is designed for adult students (19+). Funding is not available for those aged 18 and under, and we would therefore recommend that alternative vocational qualifications are considered which support progression on to further or higher education and employment.
All assessment is evaluated through delivery of both written and creation-based coursework.
The course currently contains one exam in python programming, with all other coursework being practical-based.

Those completing this course may be offered progression on to degree level courses at the College in Software Development or Computer Systems Development. This course will also prepare you academically for study at a range of universities on related computer science degree courses.

Please note fees are quoted for one year only.

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Future careers

What you could earn:

Elected Officers and Representatives

£98,255.43

Potential salary

£16,785.13

Entry level salary

£42,395.99

Average salary

3

Annual openings in Plymouth

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