Digital Technologies Foundation Year

Study level: Foundation year
Digital Technologies students discussing over a laptop in a large classroom

Our Foundation Year courses offer an introduction to your chosen subject and are an ideal route to degree level qualifications, helping you develop the necessary skills for further study.

Year of entry

Location

CU Coventry (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

I100

Start date

May 2023
July 2023

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
Contact us

Course overview

Digital technology pervades our society and studying it can lead to an exciting and fulfilling career. The digital sphere isn't just about improving efficiency. It improves business prospects, can shape the development of a company and can influence the way people operate.

Innovations in technology have improved operations in companies and governments of all sizes and through IT, small businesses can quickly become successful on a global scale.

This foundation course in Digital Technologies is designed to prepare you with the knowledge and professional skills needed for progression onto our BSc (Hons) Cloud Computing degree.

Why CU Coventry

We offer a style of education which is flexible and designed to fit around your life, allowing you to benefit from a modern, forward-thinking higher education institution, reinforced by the quality and reputation of Coventry University. We aim to provide career-focused courses, wherever possible, coupled with placement opportunities to help prepare you for the world of work. We are dedicated to making higher education accessible and enjoyable to everyone, so we keep our fees low and made it a policy to cover one module at a time, allowing you to become a specialist in each topic before moving onto the next.

Accreditation and Professional Recognition

This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:

BCS logo

BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT

Modules within the programme include units based on the Chartered Institute for IT (BCS) ITQ Level 3 award. Upon successful completion of these elements, you’ll have the opportunity to take the examinations to complete this professional qualification. This is not, however, a condition of academic credit; assessments for the professional qualification will be independent from that undertaken for the academic award. Should you decide to take the professional qualification with BCS, there is an initial affiliate membership fee. Please visit the BCS website for further details.

How can we help?

How can we help?

Chat with an advisor now or leave a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

What you'll study

This course covers professional and academic skills and will introduce you to the fundamentals of hardware, workshop, software and the internet. You will also be supported in developing a range of transferable skills in areas including research, project and laboratory skills, academic writing and communication.

Modules

  • This module is aimed at creating a culture of careful learning and self-reflection, and you’ll be encouraged to take ownership of your own development and to recognise its strengths and weaknesses. You’ll be introduced to a range of skills that will aid you throughout the course and further study, such as time management, planning and resource management and interpersonal skills.

    Additionally, you will learn employment skills such as digital proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint etc.), team management, communication, planning and more. We will also cover plagiarism, referencing, library skills and professional standard skills, alongside lectures on ethics, health and safety and technical skills, so that you receive thorough, 360 degree training.

    Compulsory

  • This module is designed to provide you with the basic skills required to safely build, troubleshoot and upgrade computers. You’ll take part in workshop practices, gain health and safety awareness as well as develop technical skills. You will also develop invaluable knowledge on desktop and portable computer hardware, graphics and displays, motherboard connectors and printer technologies. By the end of this module, you will understand the basics of modern day technologies and internet fundamentals, ready for progression onto the next module.

    Compulsory

  • Developing your written communication and presentation skills, the aim of this module is primarily to work on your problem-solving skills using computer programming. You will be introduced to the foundations and concepts of programming using server-side and client-side scripting programming languages. By the end of the module you will be able to use programming language to implement functions. You will demonstrate your knowledge with a presentation.

    Compulsory

  • In this module, you’ll explore the way the internet was started and how information moves around the World Wide Web. You’ll become proficient in key internet terminology, such as HTML and CSS, gain a full understanding of IP addressing, DNS, SSL, TOR and basic internet privacy. In addition to a digital portfolio, to showcase your new skills, you’ll be required to develop and present a basic website.

    Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

At CU Coventry, students learn through a variety of modes. The foundation year programme is focused on applied learning geared to high intensity teaching and study throughout the programme, requiring full commitment from students. The delivery of course content is a blend of lectures, tutorials and online mediums.

Unlike traditional institutions, there are no end of year exams. Instead, learning is assessed through coursework and phase tests, which is more reflective of our learning model. You can expect up to 20 hours of learning activities per week, made up of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, online classes and independent learning.

Assessment

The learning outcomes of modules, assignments and projects will be clearly stated. Your work will be marked according to how well you achieve these learning outcomes and your final feedback will refer to each outcome, as well as providing an overall percentage grade.

Assessment methods vary and include, practical class and project performance, written practical reports, project thesis, oral presentations, tutorial tasks and assessments which take place at the end of each six-week block.

Course Breakdown:

  • Coursework
  • Interactive Assessments

Job ready

On completion, you will be able to:

  • Develop a range of academic skills including referencing, research methods, academic rigour etc.
  • Use a range of IT tools and applications to facilitate the design and completion of a given project.
  • Work safely and effectively in a computer workshop environment.
  • Understand the foundations of computer hardware, networking and software.
  • Develop basic skills in dealing with modern-day technologies and equipment.
  • Understand internet fundamentals and develop skills in web development.
  • Develop personal, professional and employability skills to work with initiative, independently and as a team member.

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2022/23 entry.

40 UCAS tariff points. All Foundation courses require 5 GCSEs at 4 - 9 including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking into account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Chat with UK admissions

40 UCAS tariff points. All Foundation courses require 5 GCSEs at 9-4 including Maths and English, and at least one A2 level or a BTEC equivalent qualification.

If you don’t fulfil the entry criteria your application may be considered on an individual basis, taking in to account any work experience, other qualifications and/or any training you have completed. Speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on how to apply and travelling to and living in the UK.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course. 

Chat with International admissions

Tuition Fees

We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK £6,800 per year Not available
International £15,300 per year Not available

  • We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

    If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

All our facilities are located at Mile Lane. Our building has been designed to enable collaboration, creativity and innovation to flourish, and includes (subject to availability):

  • Indoor and outdoor social spaces, including a café
  • A library that includes loan laptops, over 115,000 eBooks and a silent study area
  • Open access IT suites and 83-inch teaching screens
  • Engineering lab, science lab and a moot courtroom
  • Student support and careers advice teams

Careers and opportunities

If you successfully pass your Foundation Year, you will be guaranteed a place on an Honours Degree course at CU Coventry, subject to meeting specific entrance criteria.

The strength of the course lies in preparing students, who are looking for an alternative to a traditional university experience, for progression on to a related degree course within CU.

Learn more about our Cloud Computing BSc (Hons) degree.

How to apply

  • Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the CU Group. A copy of the 2022/23 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the CU Group will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at CU Coventry.

    Tuition fees

    The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.

    For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.

    Accreditations

    Many of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the CU Group maintaining the same high standards of course delivery. 

    Facilities

    Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.

    Placements and study abroad opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.

    Additional costs

    This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas.

Your next steps

Student life
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