Become an IT professional. Achieve a professional IT qualification. Higher Education Qualifications in IT

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1 Become an IT professional Achieve a professional IT qualification Higher Education Qualifications in IT

2 Developed by professionals for professionals Your assurance of quality and best practice One of the toughest choices when deciding on a career in IT is what qualifications to take. HEQ IT qualifications from BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, have been delivered successfully to thousands of students in many countries. HEQ is structured to deliver core learning about IT and its many aspects, including hardware, software, networks and support, as well as topical areas such as cloud computing and green IT. HEQ covers it all so you can tailor your HEQ to suit your chosen career path. HEQ is managed by a board of leading IT academics and professionals. The UK is world-renowned for the quality of its education. In the United Kingdom all the most highly-valued higher education courses are assessed and accredited by Ofqual*. HEQ is assessed and accredited by Ofqual at levels 4, 5 and 6 on the UK National Qualifications Framework (NQF) and, when successfully completed, is equivalent to a UK university honours degree. Internationally-recognised HEQ is delivered in many countries, mainly through private colleges that have been approved by BCS. HEQ may also be gained through a regime of self-study and BCS has a dedicated and skilled team on hand to provide support and help by telephone or . HEQ is taught in English, the international language of IT, and is recognised by many governments in their listing of overseas qualifications. Cost effective While the cost of education rises in many parts of the world, HEQ continues to be attractively priced compared with equivalent courses throughout the world. In many instances BCS course providers offer flexible payment options, depending on circumstances. With all payment made at the time of study, there is no long term debt involved. University degree HEQ is recognised by many universities in the UK and overseas for entrance to a Masters degree program. Visit for a full list. *Ofqual is the UK Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation Become an IT professional

3 HEQ the benefits quality assured flexible structure cost effective study at your own pace internationally recognised complete and relevant degree equivalent BCS approved providers dedicated support team allows entry to Masters program in selected universities Levels of attainment There are three levels of HEQ: Certificate in IT Diploma in IT Professional Graduate Diploma in IT Each level is a complete qualification and leads to the next level. The Certificate level provides a thorough grounding in IT essentials and the two higher levels allow students to choose the modules that suit their career paths. Students normally enter HEQ at the Certificate level and finish with their Professional Graduate Diploma. Exemptions are possible; visit the website for details or contact the BCS support team. Students are awarded a certificate for each level they complete successfully. A graduation ceremony is held in the UK and in selected countries each year. 03

4 Mix and match the modules you study to suit your career path Certificate in IT The first level of HEQ, the Certificate in IT, provides a thorough education in core subjects and prepares the ground for the later levels. The Certificate has three mandatory modules which are essential learning to any budding IT professional. Diploma in IT The Diploma in IT is where you start to focus on your chosen discipline. The Diploma comprises one core module and three modules that you select from diverse subject areas such as database systems and software engineering. If you are not taking the PGD, you must complete a professional IT project to complete the Diploma. Professional Graduate Diploma in IT (PGD) The Professional Graduate Diploma in IT is the final level of HEQ and equivalent to an honours degree. The PGD comprises four modules which you select, allowing you to specialise to suit your chosen career path. You must also complete a professional IT project. Become an IT professional

5 BCS Student membership Join over 70,000 IT professionals around the world and access the resources, tools, skills and opportunities you need to help with your studies and to prepare you for the employment market. Student membership is essential for HEQ students studying both full and part-time courses. As a Student member, you ll have free access to a huge range of information services including our online library where you ll find over 200 IT and business books, research journals and databases. When you re starting out in your career, the right contacts can be invaluable. We offer unique networking opportunities putting you in touch with like-minded people and perhaps helping you secure that all important interview. Once you successfully complete your Certificate in IT or Diploma in IT, you can upgrade to Associate membership and boost your CV with the letters AMBCS after your name. As you progress through your career, your membership progresses with you through Professional (MBCS) membership and ultimately Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status. Please visit membership/fees for the latest information about membership fees. 05

6 How to enrol To enrol for HEQ you will need to follow these steps 1. Identify which HEQ level you will start at; Certificate, Diploma or Professional Graduate Diploma (PGD). 2. If starting at Diploma or PGD, ensure that you meet the entry requirements as defined in the Exemptions List (APL) which is part of the download binder information. 3. Register with an approved course provider. For an up to date list visit 4. Sign up for BCS Student membership visit 5. Complete your course. 6. Book your place for the appropriate examinations. Your course provider can advise you or visit the website. You can: Apply online or Print an application form from your study guide and send it to BCS or Request an application form from BCS Overseas students additional information A. If you are an overseas student and you wish to study in the United Kingdom you will need to obtain a student visa. Please contact the British Embassy or Consulate in your country for advice and guidance on obtaining a visa before paying for your courses. B. If you are an overseas student and wish to study in your own country, visit to check if there are course providers in your area with whom you can register. If you cannot find a course provider near you, please contact BCS for advice. Self-study students additional information BCS strongly recommends that you study with a recognised course provider as this delivers significant benefits. However should your circumstances prevent this, you may undertake self-study. You will need to register your intent to undertake self-study with BCS and also become a BCS Student member to obtain assistance and to sit exams. Become an IT professional

7 Study investment By choosing to take Higher Education Qualifications in IT, you make a major investment in your future. Consequently you need to commit a significant amount of time. For the Certificate in IT and the Diploma in IT programs, each module requires a minimum of 200 hours and 225 hours study respectively. The final level, the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT program, requires a minimum of 250 hours per module. In addition to the written examinations, at the Diploma in IT and Professional Graduate Diploma in IT levels, a professional project submission is required. Only one project is required in total so if you complete all three levels you do not need to submit a professional project at the Diploma in IT level. Your knowledge of each module is tested in a 2-3 hour written examination before you can achieve a pass. Examinations are held twice yearly, in March and September. 07

8 HEQ Syllabus, key dates and fees 2012/13 Certificate in IT Comprises three mandatory modules. Information Systems Software Development Computer and Network Technology Diploma in IT Comprises one mandatory module and three student selected modules. A professional project is also required (may be exempted if you are going on to study the Professional Graduate Diploma). Professional Issues in Information Systems Practice (Core Module) Computer Networks Database Systems Object Orientated Programming IT Project Management Systems Analysis and Design Principles of Internet Technologies* IT Service Management* Software Engineering 1* Principles of User Interface Design* Professional Graduate Diploma in IT Comprises four student selected modules and a professional project. A professional project is also required. Advanced Database Management Systems Management Information Systems Software Engineering 2 Computer Services Management IT and the Environment # Distributed and Parallel Systems* Knowledge Based Systems* Network Information Systems* Programming Paradigms* Realising the User Interface* System Design Methods* Web Engineering* * March exam only # September exam only

9 Key dates September 2012 Closing date for exam entry 15 Jul 2012 Closing date for project proposals 30 Apr 2012 Closing date for exam resits entry 31 Jul 2012 Closing date for professional projects submission 31 Aug 2012 Exams period Sep 2012 Results release date 21 Dec 2012 April 2013 Closing date for exam entry 15 Jan 2013 Closing date for project proposals 31 Aug 2012 Closing date for exam resits entry 31 Jan 2013 Closing date for professional projects submission 28 Feb 2013 Exams period TBA Results release date TBA Fees Written examination entry (fee per module) Certificate in IT 40 Diploma in IT 45 Professional Graduate Diploma in IT 85 Non-standard exam venue surcharge (per student) 60 Professional project submission Diploma in IT level 75 Professional Graduate Diploma in IT level 105 Exemption fees Qualifications on the APL list no charge Modular exemption (fee per module) member non member Certificate and Diploma in IT Professional Graduate Diploma in IT Full exemption Certificate in IT only All other combinations Other Fees Individual module/ Professional project certificate (issued on request) 26 Replacement Exam Certificate / Transcript 26 Late entry / Venue change 31 Exam re-arrangement (less than 6 weeks to exam) 31 Appeal or Remarking (fee returned if upheld) 65 BCS Student Membership Fees Annual Student membership 30 Entire course fee (4 year duration) /Q/BRO/0512

10 BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT Our mission is to enable the information society. We promote wider social and economic progress through the advancement of information technology science and practice. We bring together industry, academics, practitioners and government to share knowledge, promote new thinking, inform the design of new curricula, shape public policy and inform the public. Our vision is to be a world-class organisation for IT. Our 70,000 strong membership includes practitioners, businesses, academics and students in 120 countries. We deliver a range of professional development tools for practitioners and employees. As a leading IT qualification body, we offer a range of widely recognised IT qualifications. For further information about HEQs visit our website or contact your local course provider or BCS office. UK / Worldwide First Floor, Block D, North Star House North Star Avenue, Swindon Wiltshire, SN2 1FA United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) Sri Lanka Ms Niranjala Weerasinghe BA (Col) MBCS CPM BCS, Regional Manager 3, Maitland Crescent Colombo 7 Sri Lanka Tel: (+94) (+94) Fax: (+94) regionalmanager@bcslk.org Mauritius Mr Mohamed Iqbal Boolaky FBCS CITP BCS, Regional Manager BCS Regional Office 14a Ganachaud Lane Castel Eau Coulee Mauritius Tel: (+230) regionalmanager.mru@hq.bcs.org.uk BCS The Chartered Institute for IT First Floor Block D North Star House North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1FA T +44 (0) F +44 (0) Online enquiries Website BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, is the business name of The British Computer Society (Registered charity no ) 2012 If you require this document in accessible format please call +44 (0) /Q/BRO/0512