Qualification Specification Guide

BCS Higher Education Qualifications

Specification

BCS Certificate in IT
BCS Diploma in IT
BCS Professional Graduate Diploma in IT

Version 5.3
June 2020

This is a United Kingdom government regulated qualification which is administered and

approved by one or more of the following: Ofqual, Qualifications Wales, CCEA Regulation
or SQA

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CONTENTS
1. About BCS ........................................................................................................................... 3

2. Equal Opportunities ............................................................................................................ 3

3. Introduction to the Qualification ........................................................................................ 3

4. Structure and Purpose of the Qualification ...................................................................... 4

5. Entrance Requirements ...................................................................................................... 4

6. Exemptions .......................................................................................................................... 5

7. Accreditation of Prior Learning ......................................................................................... 5

8. Individual Exemptions ........................................................................................................ 5

9. Access to Assessment ....................................................................................................... 5

10. Units ..................................................................................................................................... 6

11. Learning Delivery .............................................................................................................. 10

12. Approved Provider ............................................................................................................ 10

13. Accredited Provider .......................................................................................................... 10

14. Self-Study .......................................................................................................................... 10

15. Course Material ................................................................................................................. 10

16. Summary of Assessment Methods and Grading ........................................................... 11

17. Availability of Assessments ............................................................................................. 12

18. Resources .......................................................................................................................... 12

19. Support Materials .............................................................................................................. 12

20. Regulatory Framework ..................................................................................................... 12

21. Contact ............................................................................................................................... 13

22. Glossary ............................................................................................................................. 13

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 1. About BCS
Our mission as BCS1, The Chartered Institute for IT, 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 the
UK and internationally. We deliver a range of professional development tools for
practitioners and employees. A leading IT qualification body, we offer a range of
widely recognised qualifications.

2. Equal Opportunities
BCS wishes to ensure good practice in Equal Opportunities. Equality of opportunity
extends to all aspects for the provision of BCS qualifications. Further information
about our equal opportunities policy can be found on the BCS website
www.bcs.org.

3. Introduction to the Qualification

Higher Education Qualifications HEQ is accredited by Ofqual 2 is part of the
Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) 3 at Higher Education Levels 4, 5 and
6.

Qualification Name QAN Qualification Title Total

Qualification
Time
Certificate in IT 100/6181/2 BCS Level 4 Certificate in IT 734
Diploma in IT 100/6190/3 BCS Level 5 Diploma in IT 1086
Professional Graduate 100/6191/5 BCS Level 6 Professional 1414
Diploma in IT Graduate Diploma in IT

All BCS qualifications are subject to our quality assurance and validation process is
to ensure that new and revised qualifications are fit for purpose. Qualifications are
reviewed to ensure the alignment of the qualification with agreed design principles,
regulatory requirements and to ensure accuracy and consistency across units and
qualifications. Through our quality assurance and validation process we ensure the
qualification, its units and assessments are fit for purpose and can be delivered
efficiently and reasonably by Centre’s.

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 4. Structure and Purpose of the Qualification
BCS HEQ is a three-stage UK undergraduate degree equivalent program of
learning aimed at students with more limited IT knowledge, qualifications and
professional experience to allow them to progress up to higher levels of
knowledge and competency. HEQ is mapped into the BCS SFIAplus4 skills
framework. HEQ is also one way of gaining entry to higher levels of BCS
membership.

Successful completion of the BCS HEQ Level 4 Certificate in IT will qualify for entry
to the Level 5 Diploma in IT.

Successful completion of BCS HEQ Level 5 Diploma will qualify for entry to the
Level 6 Professional Graduate Diploma in IT.

Depending on entrance conditions this may support entry on to a Master’s

degree course in selected global universities.

The objectives of HEQ are:

• To increase levels of competency and knowledge up to degree level

• To provide access to a Master’s qualification at a partner University
• To provide a route to BCS membership2

5. Entrance Requirements
Standard Route

A pre-requisite of registering for all HEQ examinations is that the student must
become a student member of BCS (unless already a BCS member).

Certificate in IT

There are no specific entrance requirements for the Certificate in IT. However,
each Centre will apply some criteria to assess student competency and ability in
completing the Certificate level. Exemption applications can only be for one unit
out of the total number of three mandatory units of this course.

Diploma in IT

The student must have successfully completed all mandatory units and achieved
the Level 4 Certificate in IT, or been given discretion to continue pending a re-sit
of a unit, or have an appropriate exemption qualification of up to 50% only to be
entered for the Diploma in IT.

Professional Graduate Diploma in IT

The student must have achieved the Diploma in IT, or been given discretion to
continue pending a re-sit of a unit, or have an appropriate exemption qualification
of up to 50% only to be entered for the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT.

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 6. Exemptions
All students are eligible for exemptions. Normally a student will start at Certificate level and
progress through each level in succession, however, in some circumstances exemptions are
offered that allow students to omit certain units (up to 50% of the total number of units) with
exception of the Professional Project at Level 5 and Level 6.

There are several vocational and professional qualifications that may enable students to
gain entry at a higher point in the HEQ program, or to gain automatic exemptions in
specific units.

BCS allows two routes to exemption for HEQ:

• Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)

• Individual Exemption

7. Accreditation of Prior Learning

A list of qualifications approved under the APL scheme is maintained by BCS and is
available on request. The qualifications included in the APL list have been subject to a
detailed review and approved by the BCS to ensure that the qualifications are at a suitable
level and contain suitable content for exemption to be granted.

Exemption will be granted only based on the qualifications approved, if the qualification
has been completed, passed and sufficient and appropriate evidence has been
supplied to BCS.

8. Individual Exemptions
In certain circumstances BCS may grant individual exemptions based on other
qualifications and experience not listed in the APL scheme. An individual exemption is
granted solely at the discretion of BCS on a case by case basis.

9. Access to Assessment
BCS seeks to provide equal Access to Assessment for all students, ensuring that there
are no unnecessary barriers to assessment and that any reasonable adjustments for
students preserve the validity, reliability and integrity of the qualification.

All assessment will be through the medium of English and consideration will be given to
requests from BCS approved Centre’s for reasonable adjustments to be approved for a
student. The decision will be based on the individual needs of the student as assessed by
suitably qualified professionals. In promoting this policy, BCS aims to ensure that any
student is not disadvantaged in relation to other students and their award accurately
reflects their attainment.

For further information about our access to assessment policy can be found on the BCS
website https://www.bcs.org/contact-us/accessibility/

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 10. Units
10.1 Certificate in IT

All 3 mandatory units need to be passed to gain the qualification.

Mandatory Units
Unit Title Ofqual Unit Guided Assessment Method
Code Learning
Hours
Information Systems Y/503/6232 200 Written Examination

Computer and Network Technology H/503/6234 200 Written Examination

Software Development D/503/6233 200 Written Examination

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 10.2 Diploma in IT

1 or 2* mandatory units and 3 units from a choice of 9 optional units

Mandatory Units
Unit Title Ofqual Guided Assessment Method
Unit Code Learning
Hours
Professional Project in IT * K/503/6008 200 Practical Demonstration /
Assignment

Professional Issues in IS R/503/5998 225 Written Examination

Practice

Optional Units
Unit Title Ofqual Guided Assessment Method
Unit Code Learning
Hours
Big Data Management*** M/618/1898 225 Written Examination

Computer Networks Y/503/5999 225 Written Examination

Database Systems A/503/6000 225 Written Examination

IT Project Management J/503/6002 225 Written Examination

IT Service Management ** L/503/6003 225 Written Examination

Object Oriented Programming Y/503/6005 225 Written Examination

Principals of Internet Technologies F/503/6001 225 Written Examination

Principals of User Interface Design ** H/503/6007 225 Written Examination

Smart Systems*** T/618/1899 225 Written Examination

Software Engineering 1 R/503/6004 225 Written Examination

Systems Analysis and Design D/503/6006 225 Written Examination

User Experience*** H/618/1896 225 Written Examination

Web Application Development*** D/618/1900 225 Written Examination

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 *The Professional Project is only required if the student wishes to finish at Level 5.
** This module will be retired in 2020 and the last examination session will be held in November 2020, with
a final opportunity for re-sit in May 2021.
*** Syllabi and sample paper available from Spring 2020. First examination session May 2021.

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 10.3 Professional Graduate Diploma (PGD) in IT

1 Mandatory unit and 4 units from a choice of 12 optional units.

Mandatory Unit
Unit Title Unit Code Guided Assessment
Learning Method
Hours
Professional Project in IT M/503/6009 300 Practical
Demonstration/
Assignment

Optional Units

Unit Title Unit Code Guided Assessment Methods

Learning
Hours
Advanced Database H/503/6010 250 Written Examination
Management Systems
Computer Services K/503/6011 250 Written Examination
Management
Knowledge Based T/503/6013 250 Written Examination
Systems **
Management A/503/6014 250 Written Examination
Information Systems
Network Information F/503/6015 250 Written Examination
Systems
Programming J/503/6016 250 Written Examination
Paradigms
Software Engineering 2 L/503/6017 250 Written Examination

Realising the User L/503/6020 250 Written Examination

Interface **
System Design Methods R/503/6018 250 Written Examination

Web Engineering Y/503/6019 250 Written Examination

IT and the Environment R/503/5810 250 Written Examination

** This module will be retired in 2020 and the last examination session will be held in November 2020, with
a final opportunity for re-sit in May 2021.

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 11. Learning Delivery
HEQ IT qualifications are delivered through approved Centres and through Self- Study.
There are two levels of approved Centres, Approved and Accredited. Details of which can
be found on the BCS website https://www.bcs.org/get-qualified/international-higher-
education-qualifications-heq/find-an-approved-training-centre/.

12. Approved Provider

A course provider becomes an approved provider (Centre) when a successful review
has been completed by BCS. At this level, BCS is concerned only with the course
provider’s ability to deliver the course satisfactorily, based on documentary evidence.
An approved Centre may only be approved to deliver certain level and units based on
their choice and their ability to do so.

13. Accredited Provider

An Accredited Provider (Centre) is one that has undergone further scrutiny to review
teaching methods, course structure and soundness of the business.

14. Self-Study
All students have the option to take HEQ Examinations based on a course of self-study.
Limited support is available from BCS for students undertaking this method of learning.

15. Course Material

Course Material is supplied by the Centre.

The syllabus and a unit description with a recommended reading list are provided on
the BCS website. Much of the reading material is available directly from the BCS book
supply service.

Past examination papers with model answers and examiners comments are available to
student members and Course Providers.

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 16. Summary of Assessment Methods and Grading
The Assessment methods for these qualifications are:

For L4 Certificate in IT -
Written examinations under exam conditions. The pass mark for each module is
40%.

For L5 Diploma in IT & Level 6 Professional Graduate Diploma in IT-

Written examinations under exam conditions. The pass mark for each module is
40%.
Written Assignment

Please note: Whilst BCS would not normally want to make changes to either grade
thresholds or grading algorithms there is potential for them to change in order to maintain
standards.

Professional Project (Diploma in IT Level)

The Professional Project should involve the development of a computer- based solution
to a practical problem. This will normally, but not necessarily involve the student in the
production of software.

The Professional Project may be part of a group project, but each student must individually
satisfy all the requirements and the report must clearly identify the student's individual
contribution

The size of the report should be approximately 5,000 words excluding appendices and
be submitted with an authentication form.

Professional Project (Professional Graduate Diploma in IT Level)

The Professional Project should involve the development of a computer- based solution
to a practical problem. The report must put the problem in context, include a survey of
relevant literature, and provide a list of references

The Professional Project should be an individual piece of work undertaken by the

student alone. Group projects are not allowed

The size of the report should be approximately 10,000 words excluding appendices and
be submitted with an authentication form.

The Professional Project in IT for both the Diploma in It and the Professional Graduate
Diploma in IT are each graded, Pass, Credit or Distinction.

The Overall Grading for the Certificate in IT, Diploma in IT and the Professional
Graduate Diploma in IT is Pass

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 17. Availability of Assessments
The examinations are held twice a year and are undertaken in normal examination
conditions with one or more duly appointed invigilators.

Exam Centre locations are not fixed and are at the discretion of BCS. BCS will endeavour to
locate examinations at standard examination centres. A list of standard examination centres
in the UK and overseas is available on the BCS website. Occasionally it may be necessary to
book a special exam venue and in that instance a surcharge will be payable to BCS, details of
which are on the website https://www.bcs.org/get-qualified/higher-education-qualifications-
heq/register-for-an-exam/.
.

18. Resources
The following resources are available on the BCS website https://www.bcs.org/get-qualified/higher-
education-qualifications-heq/past-papers-and-exam-reports/:

• Sample papers
• Specimen answer pointers
• Past assessment papers
• Examiners report of past assessments

19. Support Materials

The following resources are available on the BCS website https://www.bcs.org/get-qualified/international-
higher-education-qualifications-heq/

• Regulations
• General Guidance Notes
• Guidance Notes for the Professional Project in IT
• Submission Guidance for the Professional Project in IT
• Guidance notes for Authenticators
• A list of examination venues in the UK
• A list of examination venues overseas
• Candidate venue instructions
• Examination techniques
• Timetable of examinations

20. Regulatory Framework

HEQ is subject to the regulatory requirements of the territories where it is taught. For
the UK, this is regulated by Ofqual2. For Sri Lanka, this is the TVEC5.

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 21. Contact
BCS Customer Services are committed to providing you with professional service and support at all times
through a single, dedicated point of contact. With a flexible and proactive approach, our team will work
together with you to ensure we deliver quality solutions that are right for you.

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT

3 Newbridge Square, Swindon SN1 1BY, United Kingdom

T: +44 (0) 1793 417417

W: https://www.bcs.org/contact-us/

22. Glossary

1. BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT has several levels of membership. It

represents the IT profession as a group to Government and other institutions. It
promotes professionalism and continuous development to its membership.

2. Ofqual regulator of general and vocational qualifications in England and vocational

qualifications in Northern Ireland. Responsible for maintaining standards, improving
confidence and distributing information about qualifications and examinations.

3. The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) helps students to make informed

decisions about the qualifications they need. They can compare the levels of
different qualifications and identify clear progression routes for their chosen career.

4. SFIAplus is a BCS proprietary extension of an industry initiative Skills Framework

for the Information Age (SFIA), a model for describing and managing
competencies for ICT professionals. The SFIA is maintained by the SFIA
Foundation.

5. TVEC is the Tertiary & Vocational Education Commission in Sri Lanka. It is

part of the Ministry of Skills Development and Vocational Training.

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