FAST-TRACK YOUR IT CAREER

Fast track your technology career with our flexible programme of higher education IT qualifications giving you the practical skills, knowledge, and competencies you need to go far in the global IT industry. BCS – Higher Education Qualifications (BCS-HEQ) is an internationally recognized IT Qualification for a career in Computing and Information Technology.

• UK Honours Degree in IT equivalent qualification in just 2 years
• Recognised UK Qualifications at affordable cost
• Many universities internationally recognise the HEQ qualifications for entry onto computing-related degrees and MSc courses.

WORLD RECOGNITION
With its specialist learning and rigorous quality standards, the HEQ programme is recognised around the world by academics, regulators, employers and industry bodies for producing high-calibre IT professionals with exceptional skills. That’s why thousands of people have chosen to launch their IT careers with the BCS HEQ. BCS-HEQ consists of three levels and successful completion of all 3 levels is Academic Equivalent to a UK University honours degree in IT.

CERTIFICATE IN IT
Certificate in IT covers the essential core subjects of Information and Communication Technology. It is made up of three mandatory modules and Academic Equivalent to year one of a University Honours Degree in England.

Modules

• Information Systems
• Software Development
• Computer & Network Technology

DIPLOMA IN IT
Diploma in IT comprises a core module and three modules selected by you to suit your chosen career path. The Diploma in IT is the academic equivalent to year two of a University Honours Degree in England.

Modules
Code Module: Professional Issues in IS Practice

Select Modules (choose 3)

• Computer Networks
• Database Systems
• Object-Oriented Programming
• Principles of Internet Technologies
• IT Project Management
• IT Service Management
• Software Engineering 1
• Systems Analysis & Design
• Diploma Project
• Big data management
• Smart systems
• User experience
• Web application development

PROFESSIONAL GRADUATE DIPLPMA IN IT (PGD)
Professional Graduate Diploma in IT (PGD) comprises four modules, all of which are selected by you to suit your chosen career path. The PGD is the academic equivalent to year three of a university Honours degree in England. Completion of the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT enables you to apply for selected postgraduate courses at university and means you are eligible to apply for full BCS Professional (MBCS) membership status.

Modules
Selected Modules (Choose four)

• Advanced Database Management Systems
• Computer Services Management
• IT & the Environment
• Management Information Systems
• Network Information Systems
• Programming Paradigms
• Software Engineering 2
• Systems Design Methods
• Web Engineering
• Post Graduate Diploma Project (Compulsory final project)

Production of 10,000-word professional IT project to complete your Professional Graduate Diploma in IT. The professional project is an opportunity to demonstrate your competence by developing a computer-based solution to a problem in a practical, real-world setting with evidence of professional quality and value to the user.

HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?

• HEQ exams are paper-based with hand-written answers.
• Exams may include short answers and essay-style questions including scenario-based questions.
• There are two HEQ exam sessions every year – usually held in March and September.
• All exams must be sat in examination conditions at a BCS-approved venue.

WHERE CAN I SIT MY EXAM?
No matter where you are located in the world, we will aim to arrange an exam sitting for you in Nigeria, Ghana, the UK, or any other venue of your preference.

ARE THERE ANY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?

• To be awarded an HEQ at any level, you will need to be a BCS member which will be processed as part of your registration for the course.
• To register for the Certificate in IT level, a student only needs to have passed the secondary school leaving certificates with a minimum of 5 credits.
• To register for the Diploma in IT level, you need to have already achieved the Certificate in IT.
• To register for the Professional Graduate Diploma in IT level, you’ll need to have achieved the Certificate in IT and Diploma in IT.

HEQ EXEMPTIONS
If you already hold a qualification that covers the HEQ syllabus, you can qualify for exemption from individual HEQ modules. You may only apply for exemption from a maximum of 50 per cent of each HEQ level as follows:

• Certificate in IT – only one out of three modules can be exempt.
• Diploma in IT – up to two of the four modules can be exempt.
• Professional Graduate Diploma in IT – up to two of the four modules can be exempt. (Professional IT project – no exemption available).

For your existing qualifications to be considered for exemption against HEQ modules, they need to have been gained within the last five years