DIGITAL PRODUCTION, DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT T-LEVEL

Level 3 T-level Technical Qualification in Digital Production, Design and Development

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Course Level

Level 3

Duration

2 years full-time

Placement

315 hours

Entry

September

Fees

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Department of Computing
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Get an industry-recognised qualification equivalent to three A-levels

Clear route to progress into a skilled career or university study

The digital revolution continues to have a major impact on the modern world, affecting all areas of business as well as our day-to-day lives. If you are interested in digital technology and see yourself being part of its future development, our T-level Digital Production, Design and Development Level 3 course will help set you off towards an exciting career in this cutting-edge field.

University College Birmingham is one of the first colleges in the UK to offer the new T-level qualification, which combines learning in the classroom with gaining vital ‘on-the-job’ experience. Our two-year digital production course will introduce you to key industry topics such as programming, coding, the use of data and the different platforms of digital delivery. You will also learn about the potential security risks organisations face and how to analyse problems and identify solutions through computer programs, as well as building specialist knowledge surrounding the role of a software development technician.

Equivalent to three A-levels, this T-level course will help you boost your employment prospects by gaining extensive experience on a work placement in a real-world environment, supported by experts in our Hired employability team. By completing this industry-recognised qualification, you could move onto a range of digital development careers, as well as progressing onto higher education or apprenticeships.

Why choose this college course?

  • BOOST YOUR SKILLS – Build key skills and knowledge related to digital production, design and development, as well as enhancing your English, maths and digital skills
  • WORK PLACEMENT – Get to know the world of work and gain essential industry experience through a work placement
  • RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION – Our T-level course has been designed in collaboration with industry to ensure your skills meet employers’ needs and expectations
There are lots of reasons why we think you should study with us, but here are our top 5. View video.

Course breakdown

Topics you will study:

Year 1

Core Component

All students will develop an understanding of:

  • How digital technologies impact business
  • The ethical and moral implications of digital technology
  • Using data in software design
  • Using digital technologies to analyse and solve problems
  • Digital environments, including physical, virtual and cloud environments
  • Emerging technical trends, such as Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR), Blockchain and 3D printing
  • Legal and regulatory obligations relating to digital technologies
  • The privacy and confidentiality of personal data
  • The technical, physical and human aspects of internet security
  • Planning digital projects
  • Testing software, hardware and data
  • Digital tools for project management and collaboration

Year 2

Occupational Specialism (Software Development Technician)

As a software development technician, you will develop the knowledge and skills to:

  • Analyse a problem, understand user needs, define requirements and set acceptance criteria
  • Design, implement and test software
  • Change, maintain and support software
  • Work collaboratively in a digital team
  • Discover, evaluate and apply reliable sources of knowledge
  • Work within legal and regulatory frameworks when developing software

Please note: Units/topics of study are subject to change

You will also have an individual study programme to help you build the skills and experience you need to progress onto higher education or gain employment.

Entry requirements

Our business lecturers are looking for students who are enthusiastic and passionate about business, together with a keen determination to succeed in the digital and business sector, so please contact Admissions if you do not have the specific requirements outlined below.

If you are unsure if your qualification is equivalent or if you wish to check if you meet the entry requirements for this course, please call 0121 214 2919, email feadmissions@ucb.ac.uk or use our live chat.

Academic requirements

  • 5 GCSEs at grade 4 (grade C) including English (Language or Literature) or equivalent.
  • GCSE Maths at grade 5.

English and maths

As applicants are required to achieve English and Maths at grade 4 (grade C) prior to entering this course, University College Birmingham will not offer English or Maths alongside this T-level.

Supporting documents required

School applicants will be required to provide a good school report, which must include attendance. This will be assessed in conjunction with your qualifications and application during the confirmation of your place at University College Birmingham.

Applicant criteria

As this is a 2-year study programme, you will need to be aged 16 to 18 to apply for this course.

Currently, T-level courses are only funded for learners who are under the age of 19 at the point of enrolment. However, the government is currently reviewing the T-level pathway for mature learners, which we hope will be available in the future. If you would like to apply for a related course, please consider Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business).

Placement

T-level courses require you to complete a minimum of 315 hours (approximately 45 days) on placement over the two years. You will be required to work with our hired@UCB team to secure your placement.

Guaranteed progression

Students who achieve 56 UCAS points or more from this qualification will automatically be guaranteed a place on a degree course at University College Birmingham. Some undergraduate courses require additional entry requirements, so applicants are advised to check entry requirements before applying.

Key information

Teaching and assessment

To achieve this qualification, you must demonstrate your achievement of the Core Component and Occupational Specialism Component.

Core Component:

The Core Component is 100% externally assessed. The assessment consists of:

  • Paper A written examination
  • Paper B written examination
  • Employer-set project

Occupational Specialism Component:

The Occupational Specialism Components are also external task-based assignments and are marked externally by Pearson.

Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Learning and Teaching Strategy 2025-2030.

This course is delivered in partnership with the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology (GBSIoT).

Accreditations, endorsements and partnerships

University College Birmingham works with a wide range of organisations to ensure you receive the best possible training and qualifications recognised by industry.

Percentage
70%

of graduate employers say relevant experience is essential to getting a job with them

Work placements

Work placements offer a wealth of benefits alongside your studies, helping you put your learning into practice, develop your skills and understanding of the workplace, boost your CV for your chosen career or enhance your UCAS application for higher education. Our Hired employability team can help find the ideal placement for you.

This digital production T-level course requires you to complete a minimum of 315 hours on placement. In order to demonstrate threshold competence, you will be observed during your industry placement.

We are extremely proud to deliver the T-level in Digital Production, Design and Development which will mark a revolution in technical education. University College Birmingham has excellent IT facilities where students can learn about digital support services and latest technologies, with real-life projects and an industry work placement.

Kanwal Rauf Head of Department of Digital

Career opportunities

The example roles and salaries below are intended as a guide only.

Junior web developer

Average Salary: £25,000

Junior front-end developer

Average Salary: £20,000

Junior software test engineer

Average Salary: £22,000

Android developer

Average Salary: £28,000

Aspiring to a higher level career? Complete this course and you could progress onto our Computer Science BSc (Hons)/FdSc course.

Hired

We are here to support your career goals every step of the way. 

 

Find out more

Discover more about T-levels

Designed in direct collaboration with employers and businesses, T-levels are a great new route into skilled employment, further study or higher apprenticeships.

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