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Computing (Online)

Course Code: CMPONL
  • Level: 3
  • Qualification: Access, Diploma
  • Awarding body: Cambridge Access Validating Agency (CAVA)
  • Duration: One year
  • Course type: Distance learning, FREE (Eligibility Applies)
  • Time of day: Flexible
  • When you'll study: Distance learning
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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.

To succeed on this course, you need to be committed to your study and focused on your career choice. This route is designed for adult students (19+). Funding is not available for those aged 18 and under, and we would recommend that alternative vocational qualifications and A Levels are considered, which support progression onto further or higher education and employment.
This Access to Higher Education course requires a level 2 achievement in English and maths. This may be a grade 4 (C) or above in GCSE English and maths, a level 2 qualification, or equivalent. It will not be possible for you to be offered a place on an Access course without meeting our entry requirements.

If you do not currently hold a level 2 qualification in English and maths, then you are invited to undertake a skills test as part of our interview process. Achieving on our skills test is sufficient to meet our entry requirements for Access to Higher Education, however, you are strongly advised to seek further advice from your chosen university regarding completing GCSEs as part of your application.

Your offer for entry onto our Access course may be conditional to a number of factors which may include achievement of level 2 in English and maths, satisfactory performance at interview, evidence of recent study, evidence of relevant work experience, and specific criteria for international students (please see below).

Applicants who would like to apply but find that their qualifications don’t meet the entry criteria are encouraged to contact us on 01752 305300 to discuss a suitable alternative course.

Please check with your chosen higher education institution if GCSE English/maths is required for your progression route. For care/NHS related courses, evidence of experience in health/social care professions is recommended.

For distance learning:

To study this Access course via distance learning, you must have already gained GCSEs in English and maths at grade 4/C or above.

Entry requirements for international students:

City College Plymouth welcomes applications from international students; however, you are strongly recommended to clarify with your chosen university your responsibilities as an international student. You may be required to complete an IELTS or CEFR recognised equivalent test score exam prior to an interview or record IELTS 5.5 on your application. There may also be funding implications relating to your international student status. Please ensure that you are clear on university entry requirements for international students.

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.

Download course PDF

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