The Course

Principal Learning (learning you have to do)
This covers all you need to know about IT at the level you’re studying. You’ll explore technology, and see the role that it plays in organisations, for individuals and in society as a whole. You’ll also learn how to manage and deliver successful IT projects, and be able to apply what you’ve learnt when working on your own projects. Plus, how to work well with other people - in teams, with customers and colleagues.

Additional and specialist learning (options you can choose)
You can take specialist courses in IT as part of your Diploma. It might be in software design, web development or business administration. You can choose to do a GCSE or A level in subjects like economics or languages, which might be useful for a university course. If you want to study computer science, for example, it would be a good idea to take extra maths. You can also pick subjects to do with a hobby like art or history.

Functional Skills (curriculum subjects)
You’ll still do English, maths and ICT as part of your Diploma course. You’ll need them to get your Diploma qualification, and for whatever you go on to do next.

Personal, Learning and Thinking Skills
These are skills like team-working, creative thinking and self-management. You’ll need them for life, study and work, and they’ll help you to be a success whatever you do in the future.

Work Experience
On your Diploma course you’ll get to do at least 10 days’ work experience. It’s a great way to use the skills you’ve learnt in the classroom, and see what work is really like. It could be with a web design agency or an IT support team. You might want to spend time in a bank or with a retailer, just seeing how they use technology every day to help run their businesses.

Student Project
You can do your project about anything you like because you choose the topic, and how you’re going to present your work. You’ll need to show all the things you’ve learnt on your Diploma course, but what you do it on is up to you. It could be a written piece of work, like a report; an investigation or something practical. You could design and build a website for a local event or project, maybe using video or podcasts to promote it.