Higher Nationals in Computing

Minimum of 18 years

Academic

Minimum 48 UCAS Tariff Points, equivalent to 2 x ‘A’ Level qualifications passes at D Grade or

vocational equivalent at BTEC National Diploma (Pass) 

Applicants for whom English is not their first language must demonstrate sufficient proficiency in both writer and spoken English. The minimum is IELTS 5.5 (with a minimum of 5.5 in all skill areas) or equivalent. 

Students with significant relevant work experience can also be considered.

You will be taught at our Central Manchester location and will attend three terms each year. You will attend classes 3 days a week, averaging 15 hours a week. Your classes will be scheduled Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm and you will experience a variety of teaching methods. Most modules are delivered through lectures, seminars and workshops.

• Lectures provide a broad outline structure for each topic to be covered. Lectures offer a good way of covering a lot of information and, more importantly, of conveying ideas to many people at once.
• Seminars enable you to complete directed self-study and to answer questions and solve problems which are set by the lecturer. You will discuss your answers and solutions within the seminar group. Seminars will enable you to explore further the topics introduced in the lectures.
• Workshops follow on from lectures and seminars. They are designed to enable you to work within a small group to perform set tasks (e.g. working on an exercise or case study).

Assessment

To achieve each module you will have to demonstrate competence in each of the relevant learning outcomes identified above. Assessment may take the form of a completed written assignment or report, a project, or a presentation (or combination of any of the above). Some group work may take place, although you will always be assessed on an individual basis.

You will be given formative assessment early on in each module to enable you to identify where your strengths are and which areas you need to develop in order to be successful.
You will then be assessed at the end of each module against the required Learning outcomes. All assessments go through our own Internal Quality Assurance process to ensure that they meet the highest possible standards and give you every opportunity to achieve (see IBCM Assessment and Verification Policy)

Students will be awarded a grade of pass, merit or distinction for each module and an overall grade at the end of the qualification.

All of our assessment and internal quality procedures are regularly monitored and an Assessment Board will be held at the end of each term to verify all decisions made as well as to investigate any issues of concern.

Should you not meet the learning outcomes on your first submission, you will be given one opportunity for a resubmission. If, at the resubmission, you still do not meet the required outcomes, one opportunity to retake the unit can be authorised. This unit can then receive a maximum pass grade.

If a unit is still not passed at this stage it is deemed to have failed. Your assessor will discuss the options with you, such as an alternative unit in the case of optional units, or whether you are able to study the core module again (repeat). See IBCM Assignment submission procedure. Full attendance at lessons for the repeated module is required along with appropriate payment.

There are compensation provisions within both the HNC and HND provision in that students can still be awarded the qualification if they have not achieved a pass in one of the 15 credit units completed, but have completed and passed the remaining units.