Activate Learning in collaboration with Oxford Brookes University has designed this final year to provide a progression route for individuals with a higher national diploma or foundation degree in a digital technology or computing subject awarded in the UK that aim to obtain a BSc (Hons) in Digital Technologies. This top-up year equips students with the professional skills and techniques required to pursue a career in the digital technology and IT sector.
Course Details
Study Mode
Full Time
Part Time
Start
14/09/26
17/09/26
End
07/06/27
08/06/28
Day of week
Monday and Tuesday
Monday
Duration
1 Year
2 Years
Guided Learning Hours
320 hours per year
160 hours per year
Self Study Hours
880 hours per year
440 hours per year
Fees
£7,700 per year
£3,850 per year
Home/EU students.
International students not accepted.
Digital technology is a fast paced and exciting discipline that thrives on innovation and has the potential to change the world. Every area of our lives, from medicine and healthcare to industrial applications, transport, communications, and entertainment, is dependent on digital technology.
As a result, digital technology is now one of the fastest growing areas for employment in the world. To be an effective practitioner in this area requires the ability to stay up to date with rapidly changing technologies and the competence to apply these technologies effectively.
Modules
The table below provides a summary of which modules are delivered at each level for both full-time and part-time modes of study. All modules are compulsory.
| Module Title | Level | Full-time | Part-time | |
| 1st year | 1st year | 2nd year | ||
| Digital Technologies Project | 6 | X | X | |
| Software Engineering | 6 | X | X | |
| Software Project Management | 6 | X | X | |
| Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things | 6 | X | X | |
| Artificial Intelligence | 6 | |||
| Foundations of Data Analytics | 6 | |||
Digital Technologies Project. 30 Credits
An individually supervised project to investigate a chosen problem to form an extended study of a topic selected from a suitable area of the student’s programme of study and that involves the solution of a practical business-related problem. The project is intended to culminate the course giving the students an opportunity to present the breadth and the depth of knowledge gained in their specialist topic.
Software Engineering. 15 Credits
This module is an advanced course on software engineering. It will consider various aspects and processes of software engineering from a theoretical standpoint to give students a strong set of tools and techniques to employ.
Software Project Management. 15 Credits
The module covers current practices, skills and techniques applicable to project management and quality assurance for software projects. Practical activities will be supported through the use of cloud-based labs utilising the Microsoft Azure platform both on an individual basis and also as part of a group enabling virtual team working.
Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things. 15 Credits
For Cloud Computing, the aim is to explore the key issues and concepts of Cloud Computing and gain an understanding of the applicability of cloud-based approaches.
For the Internet of Things (IoT) the aim is to provide knowledge and information about the latest trends and developments in the IoT. Recent advances in the enabling technologies and programming frameworks suitable for an IoT environment will be introduced and consideration will also be given to the management of large volumes of distributed data and to the privacy and security of the data.
Artificial Intelligence. 15 Credits
This module aims to give students a grounding in the key themes in Artificial Intelligence and an awareness of the current state of the art. The teaching of the theoretical aspects of the subject in the lectures will significantly contribute to the attainment of academic literacy. The associated practical sessions will give the opportunity for the students to improve both their academic literacy and their digital and information literacy as they engage with practical exercises related to the topics.
Foundations of Data Analytics. 30 Credits
The broader aim of the module is to present an overview of core data analysis and visualisation concepts, methodologies and tools, that focus on real-life/industry-based data sets with practical exposure to data analysis programming libraries.
The course aims to provide students with a balanced set of knowledge and skills, emphasising the personal, interpersonal and project skills necessary to make these skills applicable to the modern workplace. The Digital Technologies project will provide students with the opportunity to put into practice the range of theory and practical skills that have been acquired during the academic year.
Online teaching and learning opportunities
The distance learning delivery mode is designed to be flexible, allowing students to adapt their learning to the approach that best suits their circumstances and learning needs. Each 15 credit module has 150 learning hours associated with it, and of these, students should normally expect that 36 (3 hrs x 12 weeks) are tutor-led.
All students are provided with the programme resources via the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), known as Activate Learning Online (ALO). This canvas-based system also facilitates the running of online lessons, seminars, workshops, and tutorials. The underpinning pedagogy of the programme allows students to experience synchronous tutor led teaching whilst also developing their ability to control their own learning and study through asynchronous resources. Modules are delivered via interactive sessions with mentored independent study. The delivery mode enables students to experience asynchronous teaching supported and developed through synchronous tutor-led sessions on a weekly basis during their time on the programme.
Practical sessions will be delivered through cloud-based technologies such as but not limited to Microsoft Azure.
Outside of the scheduled teaching, the remaining hours associated with a module are split up roughly along the lines of a third of the module time being involved in directed work, or independent study, with the remainder used to prepare for assignments, background reading, research etc. The actual breakdown varies on a module-by-module basis.
Assessment
Coursework provides the majority of the assessment on this course, only one module (Artificial Intelligence) is assessed by an exam paper.
Several modules will include an element of team working, enabling students to collaborate with their peers, developing an awareness of their own abilities as reflected by feedback from others. Teamwork will also be used to assess the students’ acquisition of personal and interpersonal skills.
The assessments on this programme have been designed to develop learning of technical skills, shaped by the underlying theory, and requirements of the industry. Feedback on the assessment tasks will be provided in a timely manner, emphasising achievement of the learning outcomes of the modules and the programme. Students will be encouraged to relate the assessment tasks with professional activities, and to relate their achievements with professional standards. Where appropriate, self and peer- assessment will be used to encourage students to involve themselves in their own professional development.
Activate Learning is committed to inclusivity and diversity in its teaching. By the very nature of the discipline, virtually all of our teaching material is available in an accessible format and where possible we follow best practice guidelines and make our electronic material available before the lectures. We also use electronic references and ebooks to further enhance accessibility. Inclusivity and diversity is also embedded in what we teach. As such all new students have a lecture on inclusivity and diversity as part of their induction and important inclusivity and diversity topics such as the need for accessibility and internationalisation and how to achieve them are taught on a variety of modules throughout the programme.
As a student, regardless of whether you are studying full-time, part-time, online or on-campus, you are part of an inclusive learning community that embraces diversity. You will have access to a wide range of learning opportunities including interacting with others in a safe, collegiate, facilitative, and dynamic learning environment. Teaching, assessment, and study support will provide equal and equitable opportunities for you to optimise your potential and develop the academic, personal and employability skills for successful progression to employment and/or further study.
Prior qualifications necessary for entry to the programme, including English language requirements:
- Foundation Degree in Computing or Digital Technologies.
- HND in Computing or Digital Technologies.
- Direct entry after having completed level 5 e.g. DipHE at university level in a computing related subject
Students for whom English is not their main language also need to show that their English is at a high enough level to succeed in their studies. The minimum English language requirements are specified at http://www.brookes.ac.uk/international/apply/undergraduate/requirements.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
We welcome applications from people with a wide range of experiences and backgrounds.
If you do not meet the formal entry requirements above but have relevant work experience, training, or alternative qualifications, you may still be eligible to apply through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process.
This process allows us to recognise the learning you have gained through professional practice, previous study, or other experiences when we assess your RPL application.
If you need any further advice or guidance, please see our How to Apply for a Higher Education Course, or send an enquiry through our Contact Us page.
Admissions Information
Our Admissions Policy outlines our commitment and responsibilities to applicants, while the Admissions Procedure for Higher Education explains the application and enrolment process.
All applicants are also encouraged to read our Higher Education Terms and Conditions, which provide important information and reference the relevant policies and procedures that apply to applicants and enrolled students. These can be found at the bottom of our Higher Education Policies page.
Graduates from the programme will be ideally equipped to contribute to the activities of IT departments in large, multinational corporations. This may include technical development roles, including software design, specialist product support and project management.
Your career path will depend on what area you specialise in, but jobs directly related to your degree would include application, data or systems analyst, software development, web design and cyber security.
Please note: Tuition fees are published for the first year of entry and will remain the same for continuing students e.g. if you are studying a BSc (Hons) part-time across two years, the tuition fee will remain the same for both years.
Paying your tuition fees
The most common way to pay tuition fees is through accessing a student loan which can be done by making an application to the Student Loans Company
*Fee information for European Union (EU) students: If your course starts on or after 1 August 2021, you will no longer be eligible for financial support from Student Finance England unless you meet one of the following criteria:
- you are able to benefit from the citizens’ rights agreements
- you are an Irish national living in the UK or Republic of Ireland – benefits of Irish nationals under Common Travel Area guidance arrangement will continue
If you have any queries related to funding, please email adviceandadmissions@activatelearning.ac.uk
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Please read these important documents before applying for this course.