Vocational & T Level

Cybersecurity & the Digital Environment T Level (Level 3)

Subject Area

Digital Technologies

Start Date

September 2024

Study Mode

Full-time

Duration

2 years

Level

Level 3

In an era where technology plays a central role in our lives, cybersecurity stands as a crucial safeguard for our digital world. As you look ahead to your future, understanding the significance of cybersecurity and why it's an excellent career choice is essential.

Imagine cybersecurity professionals as the guardians of the digital realm. Their role is to protect sensitive data, networks, and systems from those seeking to exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain or malicious intent. They play a pivotal role in maintaining online privacy and ensuring secure digital experiences.

Students will gain the essential knowledge and skills to work in digital roles by understanding data and digital systems, how software and business interact, security, testing, planning and legal issues.

Entry requirements

A minimum of 3 GCSE subjects at grade 4 in any subject and grade 5 or above in Maths and English.

What will I study?

The Technical Qualification (TQ) is the main classroom-based element of the T Level and will see you learn from a curriculum that has been shaped by industry experts. You will learn the core knowledge that underpins most jobs in the digital industry, and you will also develop occupationally specific skills that will allow you to enter skilled employment within a specific occupation. This qualification has been developed in consultation with employers in the digital industry to ensure you learn the skills and behaviours that will give you the best opportunity to be successful when applying for work.

Core Component
The core component provides a broad understanding of the digital industry and covers digital focused topics including:

Problem Solving
Programming
Emerging Issues and Impact of Digital
Legislation and Regulatory Requirements
Business Context
Data
Digital Environments & Networks
Security
Project Planning
Software Testing

Occupational Specialism
The occupational specialism will allow you to develop the relevant skills in preparation for your career in the digital industry.

Cybersecurity Performance outcome 1: Apply procedures and controls to maintain the digital security of an organisation and its data
Performance outcome 2: Propose remediation advice for a security risk assessment
Performance outcome 3: Discover, evaluate and apply reliable sources of knowledge

Industry Placement

This course provides a great opportunity for you to work alongside industry professionals. You will become part of a team and significantly contribute to ongoing projects in industry. This will allow you to apply and develop your skills, putting the theory you learn into practice.

An important requirement of the programme is that you must complete a 315 hour (approximately 45 days) work placement with an employer in the digital sector, where you will be fully integrated into the business, gaining real-life skills and practical experience, which are vital additions to your CV and UCAS applications for university.

We will help and support you to find the right placement.

Method of delivery

You will attend College four days a week from September to Easter and then five days a week including the work placement. This will continue until the work placement is concluded and then the timetable reverts back to four days a week. Lessons at College are classroom-based and will, where appropriate, include guest speakers from industry and site visits.

How will I be assessed?

Year One - Core Component:

2 written examinations
Employer Set Project (ESP)

In order to achieve a grade for the core component, you must have results for both sub-components (the core (written) examination and the ESP). The combined results from these sub-components will be aggregated to form the overall core component grade (A*–E and U). If you fail to reach the minimum standard across all sub-components, you will receive a U grade. No overall grade will be issued for the core component until both sub-components have been attempted.

Year Two - Occupational specialism component:

Synoptic assignments

You are also required to successfully achieve a distinction/merit/pass grade in one of the occupational specialism components. If you fail to reach the specified level of attainment, you will receive a U grade.

Your next steps

The purpose of this T Level qualification is to ensure that students have the knowledge and skills needed to progress into highly skilled employment, an apprenticeship or higher level study. Following completion of the T Level you may go on to:

Skilled employment within the digital industry for example Cybersecurity, Software Development, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Networking, Games Development, E-Learning, Data Analysis, App Development, Web Development, Business Systems, and Digital Marketing
Higher-level Apprenticeships at Level 4 and above which may progress you into careers such as a Cybersecurity Specialist, Data Scientist or Network Engineer
Higher Education; as UCAS points have been awarded to T Levels, they facilitate progression to higher education on a wide range of digitally related degrees in areas such as; Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Data Science, Software Engineering, Games Development, Augmented Reality, VR or Robotics (all these would be subject to other entry requirements set by each institution).

FAQs

Do I have to find my own work placement?

What can I do after I complete my T Level course?

What UCAS points do T Levels carry?

Do I have to find my own work placement?

We have a Work Placement team based at the College who will arrange this for you with participating employers, ensuring you can gain the knowledge you need.

What can I do after I complete my T Level course?

These courses are designed to provide you with the skills needed to apply for employment in the relevant industry. Alternatively, you can progress to university to study further or you could apply to study an apprenticeship.

What UCAS points do T Levels carry?

UCAS tariff points were allocated to T Levels in 2019, with the top T Level grade equal to achieving 3 A* at A Level. Points have been allocated to the overall T Level grade, and students must achieve at least an overall pass grade to receive UCAS points.

Do I have to find my own work placement?

We have a Work Placement team based at the College who will arrange this for you with participating employers, ensuring you can gain the knowledge you need.

What can I do after I complete my T Level course?

What UCAS points do T Levels carry?

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