IT Level 3 Applied

Course Overview

IT is at the heart of everyday modern life; at work, at home and in our leisure time. From computer graphics and control systems to communications and problem-solving, IT has an ever-increasing role to play and there is a diverse range of career opportunities available. 

This course is available to study as an Extended Certificate (60-credit course, equivalent to 1 A Level)


You will study emerging technologies, including the internet of everything, virtual and augmented reality, while learning product development methods used across the IT industry. You will complete a project for a real-world brief, taking your application idea through the full product design cycle from initial specification to user testing. The project replicates how technology products progress from ideas to full development in a business setting.

Completing coursework for each unit means you will develop excellent research, written communication and oral presentation skills.  These, along with the teamwork and problem-solving skills you will refine while collaborating on projects, are all highly desired by employers.

All organisations use IT in some way, meaning a wide range of career opportunities are open to you; from financial and economic modelling to computer-aided design and artificial intelligence.  Recent leavers have moved on to degrees in Computer Science, Psychology, Business Studies, Accountancy, Nursing, Games Art and Design, Property Finance and Investment and Information Technology. Others have joined the armed forces, gone on to degree-apprenticeships with organisations such as AstraZeneca or become entrepreneurs and started their own business.

Year 1 Modules

  • Internet of Everything
  • Global information

Year 2 Modules

  • Fundamentals of IT
  • Augmented and Virtual Reality
  • Product Development

group of students sat round a table working on laptops

Key Info

Minimum Entry Requirements

  • Five GCSEs at Grade 4 including:
    • Grade 4 in GCSE English Language or GCSE English Literature
    • Grade 4 in GCSE Maths
    • Grade 4 in GCSE Computer Science or a Merit in Level 2 IT

Assessment

  • 50% Exam
  • 50% Coursework
  • Exam Board: OCR
     

78

Total Students

20

Average class size

 

 

 

 

 

Why choose this course? 

You will enjoy this course if you have an interest in IT and its applications and would like to develop and design real world applications in the field of IT. 

No two years are dealt with in quite the same way because the IT industry changes very quickly, and we try to reflect those changes by keeping the content up to date, engaging, fit for purpose and suitable for the needs of IT students. 

Universities, employers, and industry specialists have been consulted during the courses’ development to ensure students can gain the right combination of knowledge, understanding and skills required for the 21st century.

Skills you'll gain

You will develop excellent research skills when completing course work for each unit, and you will develop good oral and written presentation techniques.  These, along with the team working and problem-solving skills you will refine while collaborating on projects, are all highly desirable employability skills.

After Long Road

This course can lead on to a range of careers. IT related options include:

  • Database Administration
  • Financial and Economic Modelling
  • Computer–aided Design
  • Artificial Intelligence

The course supports many subjects and recent leavers have moved on to degrees in:

  • Psychology
  • Business Studies
  • Accountancy
  • Nursing
  • Games Art and Design
  • Property Finance and Investment
  • Information Technology with Business Studies

Others have gone on to degree-apprenticeships with organisations such as AstraZeneca.

As someone striving for a career in computer science, during this course I can really say I’ve gained a good idea of what IT is like in the workplace. The course always focuses on the impacts of IT in the real world. Through each unit, we gained different researching and data collection skills that are necessary in a business environment and in some units we even got to apply that research into real marketing campaigns.