How it Works
On this IT and E-Commerce course, you can work towards a Level 4 (120 credits) diploma, a Level 5 (120 credits) diploma, or combine both for a Level 4 & 5 (240 credits) diploma. It’s designed to give you the practical know-how you need to feel confident in the IT industry.
You’ll study online, and you can begin whenever you’re ready. There’s no rush and no strict schedule to stick to. Each module at both Level 4 and Level 5 is supported by 40 hours of guided online learning. On top of that, you’ll also get access to optional materials worth around 30 to 50 additional hours, such as practice activities, recommended reading, digital resources, and self-check tasks.
To finish the course, you’ll submit 6 online assignments at each level. Each assignment is roughly 2,000 to 3,000 words, so you’ll have space to really show what you’ve learned. Once you pass, you’ll receive your diploma. After that, you can top up your qualification to a bachelor’s degree with a number of UK universities.
During the course, you’ll get 1-2-1 tutor support and webinars, plus access to social learning forums and other materials that make completing the diploma feel much more manageable. If you want to see what support is included, check the Student Resources page. You can also read through the academic standards we meet and the organisations we’re involved with, so you know you’re getting a solid learning experience.
Course Modules
Level 4 Module Listing
Computer systems and software: Learn how hardware and software work together, and why that integration matters.
Computer programming: Use a range of tools and techniques to plan, build, and test programmes, working through the system life cycle.
Relational database systems: Understand how database systems work, including key ideas around data analysis and modelling.
Software engineering: Explore why software engineering is needed, and the main approaches and methods used in the real world.
Systems analysis and design: Build an understanding of information systems concepts and how they connect to business needs, including the way organisations transform and share information.
E-commerce applications: Look at the role of e-commerce today, including how businesses set aims and objectives and how requirements shape design choices.
Human computer interaction: Learn the core ideas and models behind human-computer interaction. You’ll also review existing HCI principles and use them to plan your own prototype multimedia user interface.
IT and society: Examine how technology influences society. You’ll consider emerging trends, and also look at management concerns and possible conflicts around security and data handling.
Information systems theory and practice: Explore project management elements that support successful planning, development, and rollout of IT projects.
Management information systems: Focus on how information systems concepts support business goals, particularly around information processing and data processing.
Level 5 module listing
Technopreneurship: Develop the knowledge and skills to start a technology based business. You’ll cover entrepreneur characteristics, plus planning, marketing, and finance.
Network Security: Understand common security problems in network environments and how to prevent, identify, and respond to incidents.
C.Net Programming: Learn the fundamentals of ASP.NET programming using C#. This will help you create interactive, dynamic web pages using server-side programming techniques.
System administration: Start by looking at the main areas of system administration, including the role of an administrator and the core components involved.
Business to Business (B2B) E-commerce: Study Business to business e-commerce, including Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), online transaction processing, inventory management, and supply chain management.
Business to Consumer (B2C) E- Commerce: Learn how business to consumer e-commerce works. This covers topics like mobile e-commerce and ticketing, marketing psychology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) for image recognition, and social commerce.
Assignment Unit titles:
For the Level 4 course, the assignment unit titles are:
Information technology and IT ethics
Mathematics and statistics for IT
PC maintenance and operating systems
Computer graphics editing and database concepts
Logical IT Networking
Web Design
For the Level 5 course, the assignment unit titles are:
Technopreneurship
Network security
C#.NET programming
System administration
Business to business (B2B) E-commerce
Business to consumer (B2C) E-commerce
Am I eligible for this programme?
To join our Level 4 IT and Computing course, you need to be at least 18 years old and have completed full secondary education, which means you should have a minimum of 2 A-levels or an equivalent qualification.
Not everyone has 2 A-levels, though. If you don’t, you might still be able to enrol using your work experience, for example if you have an NVQ Level 3. If you want to confirm what would work for you, call our team at: 0333 772 1158
For the Level 5 IT & E-Commerce course, you must have already completed the Level 4 diploma in IT and Computing.
Career Progression
A Level 4/5 Diploma in IT and E-commerce through Online Business School can lead to plenty of options in digital and technology roles. The focus is on practical skills and how things work in real businesses, which means you’ll be prepared for roles like:
E-commerce Specialist
Web Developer
Digital Marketing Executive
Data Analyst
Business Analyst
Online Store Manager
You can also move forward into a full bachelor’s degree by completing a top-up year at a university. If you’d rather strengthen your CV in another way, you can look into industry-recognised certifications too.
Overall, the Level 4/5 qualification gives you a strong foundation for building a career in the fast moving IT and e-commerce sectors.
University Progression
After you complete your online Level 4 & 5 IT and E-Commerce course, you may be able to continue with a third-year top-up degree. This is commonly called a “BA top up”, and it’s available through a variety of UK universities.
You can apply to any university that offers the BA top up, and you can decide whether you’d like to study your degree online or attend on campus.
If you choose to top up to a full undergraduate degree with an accredited UK university, the costs are:
Middlesex University
BSc (Hons) Information Technology and Business Information Systems (Top-up) – ON CAMPUS – £9,250 (UK)/ £14,700 (INT/EU)
University of Derby
BSc (Hons) Computing and Information Technology – £5,250
University of Huddersfield
BSc (Hons) Information Technology (Top-up) – ON CAMPUS – £9,250
NOTE: UK/EU students might be eligible for student loans for the top-up part of their studies. For more details, visit www.slc.co.uk.
