A-Level Programme - Information Technology (AAQ)

This qualification has been developed by Pearson in consultation with universities and sector experts to ensure that you'll gain the knowledge and skills required to progress into higher education.

This subject differs from computing; you'll prefer this is you want practical, more rounded business applicable skills. You'll prefer computing if you want to learn to programme or code. You could do both!

What will I do on this course?

In this subject, you will study the following mandatory units:

• Information Technology Systems; Explore how hardware and software interact, system components, ethical and legal issues, and emerging technologies like AI.
• Cyber Security and Incident Management; Dive into cyber-attack types, vulnerabilities, defence strategies, and forensic investigation techniques.
• Website Development; Design, build, and test websites that are usable, functional, and purpose-driven.
• Relational Database Development; Learn to design, build, and test database systems to organise and manage data effectively.

You will need:

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs achieved, including English and Maths, with at least three GCSEs at grade 5 or above as well as any additional GCSE requirements necessary for your chosen subjects.

For this specific subject;

• GCSE grade 5 in Maths

How long is this course?

2 years

When does this course start?

01/09/2027

How many hours / days per week is this course?

Full-time courses at CWA are generally 3 - 4 days per week (though you may be in for an extra day if you are resitting English and / or Maths). The college day is typically longer than a day at school and students will need to plan their individual study in their free time (including individual study hours which are recorded at college in the Learning Resource Centre or other study areas). Work experience will be a key component of your course and most students will complete a minimum of 60 hours per academic year (on top of their college hours), depending on the course they are studying. CWA has a dedicated team of work placement co-ordinators to support you with this.

* Some of our courses may have additional costs to cover trips, unform and equipment. These costs will be confirmed to you at enrolment.

Fee information

Though this course is free for those aged 16-18, there may be additional costs related to the programme, such as additional equipment and uniform, educational trips and work placement costs. Full details will be sent to applicants before enrolment.

Find all the information you need about course fees and financial help below.

Information on Fees and Financial Help

What qualification will I achieve?

Pearson Level 3 Alternative Academic Qualification BTEC National in Information Technology (Extended Certificate)

How many UCAS points can I achieve from this subject?

Our alternative academic qualifications which form part of our A-Level programme qualify for UCAS tariff points to apply for university in the same way as A-Levels. For this subject, you could achieve up to 56 UCAS points (the UCAS tariff points from your other subjects will be added to this, too!) depending on how you are graded:

You can find more details and examples on the UCAS tariff points calculator here.

How is my course assessed?

This subject is assessed through assessments and exams.