Our range of leisure and hobby courses keeps growing, with even more fun and exciting courses starting throughout 2024.
Level 3
Access Diploma in Computing
COURSE OVERVIEW
The Access Diploma in Computing is a one-year intensive course designed to give you the knowledge and skills to move into Higher Education. The Computing qualification has been designed to give you an understanding of four broad streams, each of which is taught by a subject specialist.
One suite of units focuses on IT business systems and communication together with using a database application. Another set of units focuses on programming, coding in C#, and designing, creating and testing your programs. You will also learn about the features of user-centred design (UCD) and the application of HCI and UX principles in designing a system.
In Networking, you will learn about different network topologies and data transmission, the security issues surrounding computer systems, applied digital forensics, and the latest developments in technologies.
The final suite of units will provide you with academic skills to prepare you for studying at higher education. You will write a research report on a computing topic of your choice using formal academic voice. You will also study maths and data analysis units to refresh your skills for university, as many Computer Science and Software Engineering courses look for mathematical skills.
The course will seek to develop you as an independent, confident individual and will look to give you the skills to support your progression to degree level.
FURTHER INFORMATION
You must be over 19 on the 1st September and must have a GCSE grade C (Grade 4 or above) in Maths and English Language. You will also be invited to an interview with a course leader, to discuss your individual needs and progression routes.
Universities prefer Access applicants to have gained a reasonable amount of relevant work experience and/or life experience, when they apply for a degree level course.
It is also important to ensure you will realistically be able to manage the course workload alongside any other commitments in your life. Being a mature student is extremely challenging but also highly rewarding if taken up at the right time and with the right plans and support in place. You will need approximately 30 hours per week (term time) to manage the course workload.
Successful completion of this course will allow you to enter most institutes of Higher Education, including HNC and HND pathways here at Chichester College.
The course will allow you to explore many aspects of computing and will enable you to study a range of courses at degree level. The most popular courses for previous students include:
- Cyber Security
- Computer Science
- Software Engineering
You will be fully supported with your university applications by your course leader and the College’s Progression Plus team. This will include an introductory and personal statement focused workshop, drop-ins available with the Progression Plus team, personalised feedback on your personal statement, and a unique academic reference provided by your course leader.
Your course is assessed through a combination of exams, practicals, workbooks and reports giving you an opportunity to develop in a range of assessment skills that are commonly found in HE. The course is credit based and each unit has a number of credits attached to it; 45 of the 60 credits will be attached to graded units on a Pass, Merit or Distinction basis.
Every assignment will have a set deadline that needs to be met. There will be a one to one or sometimes small group tutorial opportunity before submission. The tutorials should be prepared for by producing a plan for the assignment, noting any questions you need answering and where appropriate bringing some draft work that can be reviewed by the subject lecturer.
If you are under 25 and haven’t achieved a Level 3 qualification before you may not be charged any fees for the course.
If you are over 25 the fees for 2023/24 are £3,384.
When you receive your offer, you should apply for an Advanced Learner Loan from Advanced Learner Loan – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . Student Finance England ‘write off’ this Loan when you complete your HE course, so you do not have to repay it.
All Access to HE courses are worth 60 credits. 45 of these are from graded units and these are the units that count towards your university offers for UCAS points. The graded units on the course are assessed as either Pass, Merit or Distinction and are as follows:
- IT Systems Security
- Computer Networks and Data Communications
- Applied Digital Forensics
- Designing and Building a Multiple Page Website
- Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Ideals and User Experience (UX) Prototyping
- Setting Up and Populating Tables in a Database Application
- Querying Data in a Database Application and Producing Reports
- Implementation of Programming Projects
- Independent Academic Study (Computing)
The remaining 15 credits are achieved from ungraded units which you are required to Pass:
- IT Business Solutions
- Giving a Presentation to an Audience
- Business Communication
- Arithmetic
- Data Analysis Using IT
Student feedback
“Firstly, I wanted to say thanks for all your tuition & guidance this year. I had been putting off going back into education for years, but you and everyone else made it easy to adapt to and get on with. I’ve definitely learnt some skills that will stand me in good stead for the upcoming years. I’ve been accepted into Brighton Uni to study Computer Science for a degree, (which is what I wanted to aim for), so touch wood, everything’s going as intended.”
“Thanks for all the help, it’;s really appreciated!”
“Thank you for all your help the past year, it was very nice meeting you so I’d be happy to stay in contact with you :)”
“Loved the course and would love to give it positive feedback.”
Moderator feedback
“Tutor feedback to all students was constructive, developmental and clearly mapped to the assessment criteria for the task(s).”
“The students have all been very well-supported by the college. Well done to the Computing Team and other members of the college for their contribution to this success in very challenging circumstances for students and college staff.”