Higher Level Apprenticeship in Cyber Security and Digital Forensics

Contact Hours

7 hours' contact time to include practical classes, lectures, workshops or tutorials.

Mandatory Additional Study

Maximum of 3 hours per week average over the academic year.

Personal Study

• 19 hours maximum studying and preparing assessments in your own time per week, including use of online materials.

General Entry Requirements

The general entry requirements below identify the minimum qualifications needed to apply for the programme.Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis on application.

You are required to upload a copy of your qualification certificates to show how you meet the entry requirements for the programme prior to enrolment.

Applications will also require successful completion of the admissions process.

GCSE/ Level 2 Requirements  

• GCSE grade C/4 in English Language, or Level 2 Certificate in Essential Skills Communication, or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification.

AND

• GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics, or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification.

AND  

• 2 at GCSE level (grades A*-C*/9-4), or equivalent in an approved alternative qualification.

Course Entry Requirements

UCAS 

A minimum of 48 UCAS Tariff points including:  

• GCE A level (A2): Typical grade profile DD

OR  

• [RQF] Pearson BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma with overall award profile PPP  

OR  

• Access to HE Diploma (NI): 45% overall   

OR  

• An equivalent in an approved alternative qualification

Accreditation of Prior Learning   

Alternatively, you can provide evidence of your ability to undertake the programme by meeting the requirements for the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) process, either through Accredited Prior Certificated Learning (APCL) or Accredited Prior Experiential Learning (APEL).   Further details on APL can be found in the HE Admissions Process section of our website and the HE Accreditation of Prior Learning SOP.

International Students English Language Requirements  

International applicants, from Non-Native English speaking countries, must have evidence of English Language Level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages:  

• IELTS 6.0 (Academic) (minimum of 5.5 in all skills)   
• PTE Academic 51 (minimum of 46 in each part)  
• Or equivalent UKVI-approved English Language Test  

For further information please contact our International Department at international@serc.ac.uk  

Higher Level Apprenticeship Eligibility

To be eligible for a Higher Level Apprenticeship (HLA), in addition to the entry requirements identified above, you need to:

• be employed or be about to take up permanent paid employment as an apprentice, or be an existing employee moving to a new job role, allowing you to gain appropriate industrial experience, with a Northern Ireland based company (does not include public sector) who is willing to support you as an HLA candidate,
• work a minimum of 21 hours per week (which includes time for ‘off-the-job’ training),
• be the minimum school leaving age in Northern Ireland.

Modules include:

• Computational Mathematics
• Computer Systems
• Programming Fundamentals
• Incident Response
• Web Technologies and Applications
• Network Infrastructure
• Cloud Security
• Network Security
• IoT Security
• Innovative Delivery of Mobile Applications
• Work-based Learning