Deliver higher education qualifications (HEQ)
Our HEQ courses are flexible, affordable and built on a track record of British academic excellence.
Candidates come to us to develop their competence and progress their careers - and employers work with us to drive greater business value from their IT people.
The breadth and diversity of our training provider network is one of our major strengths. Together we ensure our qualification programmes remain accessible and relevant to today's global profession.
Advanced Learner Loan funding
All levels of the BCS Higher Education Qualifications in IT (HEQ) have been accepted for Advanced Learner Loan funding in England.
The HEQ pathway
For our Certificate in IT you'll deliver solid learning across core subjects. The programme comprises three mandatory modules providing an essential education for any budding IT professional.
Three core modules
- Computer and network technology
- Information systems
- Software development
Recommended course study duration: 200 hours per module
The total qualification time (TQT) for this course is 734 hours.
The Diploma in IT comprises a core module and three modules which your candidate chooses from a diverse range of subjects including database systems and software engineering.
Core module
- Professional issues in information system practices
Optional modules (three chosen)
- Big data management
- Computer networks
- Database systems
- IT project management
- Object oriented programming
- Principles of internet technologies
- Smart systems
- Software engineering (part 1)
- Systems analysis and design
- User experience
- Web application development
Recommended course study duration: 225 hours per module
The total qualification time (TQT) for this course is 1086 hours.
Professional project
If your candidate is not going on to study the next HEQ level, they'll need to complete a professional project as part of their Diploma level. We recommend a minimum of 200 hours of study for their project.
Our Professional Graduate Diploma in IT comprises four modules which your candidate selects from a range of topics, to suit their chosen career path.
Optional modules (four chosen)
- Advanced database management systems
- Computer services management
- IT and the environment
- Management information systems
- Network information systems
- Programming paradigms
- Software engineering (part 2)
- System design methods
- Web engineering
Recommended course study duration: 250 hours per module.
The total qualification time (TQT) for this course is 1414 hours.
Professional project
We recommend 300 hours of study for your candidate to complete their professional project which forms part of their Professional Graduate Diploma in IT level.
The benefits of being a BCS approved centre
When you join our training network, you're in safe hands. We bring over 25 years' experience in delivering IT qualifications and are dedicated to the success of your customers and your centre. During the last 10 years alone, we've awarded over 700,000 exams in more than 200 countries.
Align your business with BCS and deliver one of the most extensive portfolios in the industry.
We continue to support your candidates long after they receive their qualification:
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Once your candidate achieves their HEQ at Diploma level and above, they're eligible to join BCS as an Associate (AMBCS) member and access wide-ranging development opportunities.
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Successful Professional Graduate Diploma in IT candidates can apply for Professional (MBCS) membership, placing them on the path to Chartered IT Professional (CITP) status.
HEQ guide
BCS IT qualifications are aligned to professional and IT industry standards, examined at degree level and accredited by the UK regulator Ofqual.
Give your students a head-start to becoming a recognised IT Professional and a pathway towards Chartered status - raising the global standards in the IT profession.
Download our Higher Education Qualification guide and discover why you would want to accredit with BCS.
