This multidisciplinary course has been crafted to reflect the diversity of challenges that managers working in modern business organisations face, created by the integration of ICT into their operations.
The course presents all core enabling technologies, such as networking, databases, internet and operating systems, but in a business context. Students benefit from a sandwich year with placements in such prestigious organisations such as IBM and EON. The ICT degree also features the option of obtaining vendor qualifications from Microsoft and CISCO, whose curricula are delivered as part of the degree. Our students emerge as confident hybrid managers with a unique mix of technical and managerial competency, whose skills are in demand in the IT industry and beyond, in areas such as management consulting and education.
Key Facts
- Covers all core enabling technologies, such as networking, databases, internet and operating systems, but in a practical business context.
- A Cisco Systems & Microsoft Academy Centre - one of Microsoft’s top UK, university-based academies and member of Microsoft’s Developer Network Academic Alliance.
- Opportunity to take CISCO qualifications alongside your course to gain an industry-standard qualification that employers recognise and value.
Why Choose Us?
- School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks is internationally recognised for teaching quality, research and extensive industry partnerships.
- Established as one of the leading academies for Apple, Microsoft and Cisco Systems.
- Includes not only core IT themes, such as managing operating systems, switching and routing protocols, data modelling and database design, and application development, but also your personal development as a practically minded business professional.
- Use dedicated facilities for work such as systems analysis, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and business intelligence, and to support the application areas of mechatronics, games technology and computer forensics (with its own fully equipped laboratory).
Download the Course Programme Specification
Entry Requirements
- 280 points. Minimum of two 6-unit or one 12-unit A-Level (GCE or VCE).
- National Diploma with Merit Merit Distinction.
- Advanced Diplomas are accepted.
- AGNVQ overall Merit + GCSE Mathematics C
- GCSE Mathematics and English grade C or equivalent must be offered
- Irish: 280 points in ILC. Scottish : 280 points from 4 Highers. IB: 30 points
Application Details
Full Time: Please make your application via UCAS using course code G420
UCAS Information
The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.
UK, EU and international students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.
You submit an application via the UCAS website with a list of up to five courses. All choices are confidential during the application process so universities and colleges considering an application cannot see your other choices. Applications must be completed by mid-January of the year that you wish to start university.
You can monitor the progress of your application using the UCAS Apply system.
Fees and Finance
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Fees for students from the UK or EU countries?
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|---|
| Start | Mode | Duration | Award | Fees |
|---|
| Sep 2013 | FT | 3 years | BSc (Hons) | £7,500 per year |
| Sep 2013 | SW | 4 years | BSc (Hons) | TBC |
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Fees for students from non-EU countries?
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|---|
| Start | Mode | Duration | Award | Fees |
|---|
| Sep 2013 | FT | 3 years | BSc (Hons) | £10,100 |
The University reserves the right to increase fees broadly in line with increases in inflation, or to reflect changes in government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament.
Additional costs
You must own your own personal computer and have
access to the internet to obtain course and online
material. Apart from this, there are no additional
compulsory costs for this course.
Financial Options and Advice
We have deliberately tried to set fees that reflect the cost of course delivery in order to help our students avoid debt.
Full-time students won't have to pay for tuition fees until after their studies - there are government tuition fee loans available. If you are a full-time student, after leaving university you will start to pay back your loan once you are earning over £21,000 a year, at a rate of nine per cent on any income above £21,000. So if you were earning £25,000, you would pay back nine per cent of £4,000, or £30 per month.
Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis offers key facts on fees, loans and grants:
Financial Support
We offer further information on possible financial support. This includes the type of loans, grants and scholarships available both from the government and from Birmingham City University.
University Approach to Employability
Expertly woven into our curriculum and work experience opportunities, and underpinned by a diligent approach to career preparation and the close involvement of professional bodies, the University views employment as one of the principal rewards for a student's ambition, application and academic achievement. It's why the University is one of the country's top 30 universities* for placing students in graduate-level employment.
Our close links with business and the professions mean that our courses are always relevant, up-to-date and meet the exact needs of the current marketplace. Wherever possible, we involve employers in planning the curriculum, while many of our lecturers come from and maintain their links with industry, ensuring they are up to speed with the latest developments.
Employability will be an integral outcome of your studies.
* Sunday Times University Guide 2012
Employment Opportunities
Our graduates typically find rewarding work as:
- IT professionals responsible for the planning, implementation, management and support of IT infrastructure
- Enterprise solution developers
- Communication network analysts
- Network operating systems administrators
- ICT technical support and management professionals
- ICT consultants
- Business analysts
- Database developers
- Web applications developers.
Placements
We encourage you to further enhance your career prospects by including an industrial placement in your course. This takes place after the second year of study and extends the course duration to four years.
As well as providing the work place experience that many employers are looking for, a placement provides an invaluable opportunity to further develop your practical expertise, earn money and try out a potential career path. The Faculty’s placements team will give you every support throughout the placement process.
Further Studies
The University has a range of either taught (MSc) or research (MPhil and PhD) postgraduate programmes. Details can be found on the postgraduate section of the website.
Full Time
Full Time (Sandwich)
About KIS data
From September 2012, all universities and colleges are publishing standardised information for all undergraduate courses in the form of a Key Information Set (KIS). The KIS data is designed to meet the needs of prospective students and allow for informed decision-making when choosing a university course.
Putting our students first
We pride ourselves on our student satisfaction levels which have risen from 73 per cent to 83 per cent between 2010 and 2012. Our dedication to improving the student experience is illustrated by our award-winning student engagement, our close links with business and industry and our £180 million investment in new facilities.
Employability facts
76% of course leavers are in a professional or managerial position, earning an average salary after six months of £18,000. Graduates of the School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks have gone on to work for companies such as Hewlett Packard, Bell Micro, BT, Cisco, Deloitte, Ericsson, Fujitsu, IBM, Intel Corporation, Siemens and Nokia.
Working with your Students’ Union
Improving student satisfaction is a priority commitment shared by both Birmingham City University and its Students’ Union. In its strategic planning, the Union has pledged to be more accessible, more relevant and provide more opportunity to engage with a diverse student community.
The Students’ Union is already a key stakeholder in supporting an excellent teaching experience at Birmingham City University, through joint projects such as the Extra Mile Teaching Awards and the Student Rep scheme, which allows students to share their ideas on how they are taught.
As Birmingham City University moves towards a two campus strategy where it can better support enhanced learning and student support facilities across a two-mile radius, the Students’ Union will also be better able to implement its commitment to improve communication and engage with its valued student membership.
Course Modules
| Year 1 |
| Module |
Credits |
| Professional Context of Technology |
15 Credits |
| ICT Programming |
15 Credits |
| Web Technologies |
30 Credits |
| Computer Networking Basics |
30 Credits |
| Supporting ICT Clients |
30 Credits |
| Year 2 |
| Module |
Credits |
| Management in Technology Innovation |
15 Credits |
| ICT Programming (2) |
15 Credits |
| Enterprise Databases: Design and Implementation |
30 Credits |
| Switched LANS and WANS |
30 Credits |
| Infrastructure Services |
30 Credits |
| Year 3 |
| Module |
Credits |
| Individual Project |
30 Credits |
| E-Commerce |
30 Credits |
| Network Design and Management |
30 Credits |
| ICT Infrastructure Management |
30 Credits |
Infrastructure Technologies
This theme offers an understanding of logical network environment. It incorporates managing, administering and troubleshooting of operating systems, applications, services and hardware. It primarily follows the Microsoft Certified IT Professional curriculum with the inclusion of open source technologies.
Communication Networks
This theme includes technologies employed in Local and Wide Area Networks. It follows the Cisco CCNA curriculum and introduces protocols, LAN/WAN terminology, TCP/IP and addressing. The knowledge of switching and routing protocols is studied and finally, we cover how networks can be managed effectively.
Enterprise Systems
This theme introduces fundamental principles of internet systems and web site production; data modelling and structures; relational theory and algebra; database design, implementation, queries, optimization, security and administration; data extraction, interaction and presentation. The concept of enterprise systems is developed and applied through the development and examination of an e-commerce solution.
Application Development
This theme introduces fundamental programming skills for the development of systems for information, communications and technology.
Business
This theme provides professional development, and an introduction to the business macro-environment sector. It offers an understanding of market-led innovation planning and management. It also develops teamwork skills in evaluating and effectively communicating information in both written and oral form.
Assessment Methods
We use a range of assessment methods throughout the course, including continuous assessment, in-class tests, examinations, laboratory exercises and project work. We find this helps us to appraise your all-round ability and gives you the best opportunity to excel.
Scott Brant
Scott Brant’s dilemma was this: how to get a degree without any sponsorship when he still needed to work full-time? And the answer? A Foundation Degree through his local, easy-to-get-to franchised college, Birmingham Metropolitan College. After three years of part-time study, Scott’s now enrolled here on the final year of the BSc programme – and making the most of every minute.
“University is what you make it”
“To make it live up to your expectations you need to work hard and put 110% in, to really get the most out of the resources available to you as a student,” says Scott. His recommendation is to make sure you go the extra mile. “Most people can complete the syllabus, but consider doing additional qualifications within the university or extra-curricular activities to boost your personal and professional profile, which will be an excellent differential between you and other candidates in the market.”
Take every opportunity
It’s certainly worked for him. “Within the course there have been excellent opportunities to develop myself both professionally and personally,” he explains – and he’s been sure to make the most of them. He’s recently boosted his understanding of the industry presenting findings at a European conference and visiting companies like Microsoft, IBM and Cisco.
Fantastic facilities and supportive staff
Scott’s quick to recognise the role that staff have played in his success so far. “You get a great deal of support outside of lectures, with staff in the Learning Resource Centre being really friendly and helpful. If you need additional support they also have staff that can help with academic writing and specific curriculum support. I really enjoy the campus environment, which is a modern building with a short walk from the city centre. In addition it has a wide range of resources, which include hundreds of computers which include Macs and also a large networking area which both physical and virtualised networking environments. The learning resource centre in the campus is also focused on technology.”
And the next step…
Scott’s hard work has landed him a fantastic new job on a graduate scheme with a multinational beverage company, as the single ICT graduate for this year, “with technologies that I’ve been learning about for the last four years, which is really exciting”. The company also offers plenty of on-the-job and professional training courses – and the chance to study for a Master’s Degree, around his work. “It’s something I am really looking forward to both on a personal and professional level,” says Scott, who’s clearly got the learning bug!
The Institute of Engineering and Technology - towards Incorporate Engineer status
The programme is accredited by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) as satisfying the academic requirements towards becoming an Incorporate Engineer (IEng) but accreditation depends on the final year project being completed and passed without compensation.
Enquiries
Prospective students from the UK or EU
- Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions for answers to a range of questions about our courses and studying here.
- If you need further help, you can contact the Course Enquiries Team online by using the Course Enquiry Form.
- Alternatively, call us on +44 (0)121 331 5595.
Prospective students from non-EU countries
- International enquirers from non-EU countries may enquire via the International Enquiry Form.
- Alternatively, call us +44 (0)121 331 6714.
Prospectus
For an overview of our undergraduate courses and range of other information order a printed Prospectus or download a PDF of our 2014/15 Prospectus (16MB).
Further Information
For general enquiries, please contact the School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks as follows:
School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks
Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment
Birmingham City University
Millennium Point
Curzon Street
Birmingham
B4 7XG
Tel: +44 (0)121 331 5400
Email: enquiries@tee.bcu.ac.uk
If you haven't already, visit the School of Computing, Telecommunications and Networks website for more information.