BTEC Higher Nationals are designed to provide a specialist vocational programme, linked to professional body requirements and National Occupational Standards. The qualifications provide a thorough grounding in the key concepts and practical skills required in their sector and their national recognition by employers allows progression direct into employment. BTEC Higher Nationals offer a strong emphasis on practical skills development alongside the development of requisite knowledge and understanding in their sector. Learners are attracted to this strong vocational programme of study that meets their individual progression needs whether this is into employment or to further study on degree or professional courses.
A key progression path for BTEC Higher National Certificate and Diploma learners is to the professional qualifications offered by the British Computer Society (www1.bcs.org.uk)
The BTEC Higher National Certificate and Diploma also offer a progression route to the second or third year of a degree or honours degree programme, depending on the match of the BTEC Higher National units to the degree programme in question.
The BTEC Higher Nationals in Computing have been developed to focus on:

• providing education and training for a range of careers in computing
• providing opportunities for facilities managers to achieve a nationally recognised Level 4 vocationally specific qualification
• providing opportunities for full-time learners to gain a nationally recognised, vocationally specific qualification to enter employment in computing or to progress to higher education vocational qualifications such as a full-time degree in computing or a related area developing the knowledge, understanding and skills of learners in the field of computing
• providing opportunities for learners to focus on the development of higher-level skills in a computing context
• providing opportunities for learners to develop a range of skills and techniques and attributes essential for successful performance in working life.

This qualification meets the needs of the above rationale by:

• equipping individuals with knowledge, understanding and skills for success in employment in the computing industry
• enabling progression to an undergraduate degree or further professional qualification in computing or a related area
• providing opportunities for specialist study relevant to individual vocations and contexts
• supporting individuals employed or entering employment in the computing industry
• developing the individual?s ability in the computing industry through effective use and combination of the knowledge and skills gained in different parts of the programme
• developing a range of skills and techniques, personal qualities and attributes essential for successful performance in working life and thereby enabling learners to make an immediate contribution to employment
• providing flexibility, knowledge, skills and motivation as a basis for future studies and career development in computing.

DURATION:

March 2010 and before starters:
September and January Starters are expected to complete the course within 28 months and the results are confirmed up to 6 months late.
March and June starters are expected to complete the course in 34 months and the results are confirmed up to 6 months late.

May 2010 and beyond starters:
September and January Starters are expected to complete the course within 12 months
March are expected to complete the course in 18 months
June starters are expected to complete in 15 months