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Information Technology (Top-up) BSc(Hons)

Undergraduate Open Days
Undergraduate Open Days

Overview

A year-long course, our Information Technology Top-up degree is designed for those who have completed at least two years of university or higher education in a related subject. The top five job titles advertised in the UK for graduate roles associated with Information Technology courses are Project Coordinators, Systems Engineers, IT support Engineers, Infrastructure Engineers and Network Engineers.*

*Lightcast data – job postings from May 2022 to May 2023 showing jobs advertised associated with a selection of relevant graduate roles.

Why study Information Technology (Top-up) BSc(Hons) at Huddersfield?

Working with sophisticated software, this course aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to help organisations specify, design and implement information systems.

You will be guided by our team to develop your creativity and imagination, with our aim being to help you pursue a career within IT. You have the opportunity to choose from several option modules, thereby tailoring the subject to your individual interests within Information Technology.

As part of your degree, you'll also be supported in undertaking an individual project on a relevant topic, helping you to develop as a professional, and learn to undertake research, manage your time, use your initiative, learn independently and discuss the subject matter convincingly.

We maintain links with local employers, and you will have the support of our University careers service. You will be encouraged to be an independent learner, developing the transferable higher-level skills which are in demand from employers. Previous graduates have gone on to work in a host of renowned organisations from the BBC to West Yorkshire Police, Hermes, Microsoft and BT.

You can view our typical entry requirements in the section below. Entry onto this course is also considered if you have completed the British Computer Society Level 5 Diploma in IT.

Key Information

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally one of the following:

  • An HND/FdSc qualification in Computing
  • A Dip HE in a related subject area
  • A non-honours degree in a related subject area

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Start dates

22 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time

Course Detail

Systems Strategy

In increasingly complex systems it is important to have tools that help make sense of this complexity. Systems’ thinking takes a holistic approach to understanding how systems influence one another. This module aims to introduce the key concepts of the subject area to help you understand problems. It covers a specialised language, methods, and set of techniques that can be used to address highly complex problems that can help in the design of enduring solutions in any system. This module aims to help you make sense of the complexity within systems and how to assess the impact of decisions made beyond the immediate environment.

Information Architecture

This module focuses on the way digital information can be organised to make the content more accessible and more easily understood by users. The module provides you with an introduction to the ways in which information can be organised and structured; for example using metadata, controlled vocabularies, ontologies and classification schemes primarily (but not exclusively) for the Web. Your studies focus on the way these technologies can support formal models of information seeking behaviour.

Individual Project

This module is driven by you. You are asked to select a problem to solve which is relevant to your degree, and of appropriate scope and depth to be tackled within a timeframe of 30 weeks. Carrying out the project enables you to develop and demonstrate your ability to undertake research, manage time, use your initiative, learn independently, discuss and write convincingly on a subject requiring independent learning. A supervisor will support you throughout your project. You’ll use your existing knowledge and be encouraged to acquire additional skills as you carry out your project. The aim of the project is to suggest a solution to an identified problem. Your final report should describe the aims, scope and motivation of the project, the research you have undertaken, and the technical solution provided, including justification for design and development decisions.

Choose two from a list which may include-

Software Architecture

Modern societies are highly dependent on complex, large-scale, software-intensive systems that increasingly operate within an environment of continuous availability, which are challenging to maintain, and evolve in response to changes in stakeholder requirements. The continual increase in the size and complexity of software systems has made software systems some of the most complex human-made systems ever created. As a result, a structured and systematic approach to design is essential for the success of software-based systems. Software architectures are fundamental to the development of technically sustainable, i.e., long-living, software systems, as they are the primary carrier of architecturally significant requirements (ASRs), such as performance, extensibility, maintainability, and influence how developers are able to understand, analyse, test, and evolve a software system. This module will introduce you to the fundamental concepts, core principles and practical skills of modern software architectures as a key activity within successful software engineering.

Advanced Web Programming

The module covers some of the more advanced approaches to developing web applications, examining both client and server-side technologies. You will explore and compare structured approaches to web development and multiple modern web frameworks, together with a range of contemporary development tools. As your understanding of the technologies and approaches develops, you will aim to critically evaluate them and assess the benefits and risks of using a given approach or framework for a given task.

Advanced Front-End Web Development

This module looks deeper into the use of front-end web technologies, HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and their use in building modern-day web applications. The module considers design patterns and architectural issues for complex front-end web development. It also explores applications of web technologies. For example, to build location aware systems, develop mobile applications, and to visualise data. You'll be expected to build a web application and then reflect on the tools, techniques and approaches used in development.

Digital Campaigns and Communications

This module is designed to develop and integrate your knowledge of the concepts, theories and practices associated with digital marketing. It keeps you at the forefront of modern practices bridging the gap between theory and its practical application into developing a strategic campaign and communications plan. You’ll learn how to manage and control a digital marketing campaign, to critically evaluate your own or others’ professional practice as campaign managers, and you’ll be introduced to the concepts project management, resource administration and cost control.

Advanced Analytics

Modern enterprises often derive significant business insight from applying advanced analytical techniques to massive volumes of data. In this module you will critically evaluate the technologies, techniques, and issues involved in the development and delivery of advanced business intelligence and data analytics systems, particularly those designed to achieve business intelligence and insight using “Big Data”, i.e., a wide variety of data that is high volume and/or high speed. You will be provided with one or more technical environments in which to develop your skills in the design and development of suitable business intelligence tools, and offered a wide range of large, complex and/or dynamic data sets which help illustrate the key technical challenges of dealing with advanced analytics. Learners will be provided with one or more technical environments in which to develop their skills in the design and development of suitable business intelligence tools, and they will be offered a wide range of large, complex and/or dynamic data sets which help illustrate the key technical challenges of dealing with advanced analytics.

You’ll be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops and practical sessions and an average of 16%* of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online). The course emphasis is on the development of sound practical skills, alongside an understanding of theory.

Assessment is varied and includes primarily coursework, quizzes, in-class tests, presentations and demonstrations. There are opportunities for group working, in addition to individual assessments.

Your module specification documents will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to the modules in your course.

Written feedback is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the academic year in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results.

*based on the course structure for 2025 entry as at December 2023.

Further information

The teaching year normally starts in September with breaks at Christmas and Easter, finishing around May/June.

Timetables are normally available one month before registration. As this is a full-time course, you may have to attend every day of the week.

Your course is made up of modules and each module is worth a number of credits. You will study modules to the value of 120 credits. These credits can come from a combination of core, compulsory and optional modules but please note that optional modules may not run if we do not have enough students interested.

  1. The University of Huddersfield has been rated Gold in all three aspects of the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. We were the only university in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West to achieve Gold ratings in all three aspects of the TEF among those announced in September 2023. In fact only 13 Universities, out of the 96 that were announced in September 2023, were Gold in all three ratings.

  2. Further proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.

  3. We are first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 22 since 2008 (2023 data).

  4. We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

At Huddersfield, you'll study the Global Professional Award (GPA) alongside your degree* so that you gain valuable qualities and experiences that could help you to get the career you want, no matter what your field of study is. On completion of the Award, you'll receive a GPA certificate from the University of Huddersfield, alongside the specialist subject skills and knowledge you gain as part of your degree, which may help to set you apart from other graduates.

Giving students access to the Global Professional Award is one of the reasons the University won ‘Best University Employability Strategy’ award at the National Graduate Recruitment Awards 2021. Find out more on the Global Professional Award webpage.

*full-time, undergraduate first degrees with a minimum duration of three years. This does not include postgraduate, foundation, top-up, accelerated or apprenticeship degrees.

Computing


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Important information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a course you have applied for

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Cancellation of a course you have applied for

Although we always try and run all of the course we offer, we may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants to ensure you have a good learning experience. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and we will contact you to discuss other suitable courses with us we can transfer your application to. If we notify you that the course you have applied to has been withdrawn or combined, and you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

We will always try to deliver your course and other services as described. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below:

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have a range of options to choose from and we will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to the core curriculum of a course or to our services if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change in this context is a change that materially changes the services available to you; or the outcomes, or a significant part, of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), classes, type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum.

For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators; to meet the latest requirements of a commissioning or accrediting body; to improve the quality of educational provision; in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback; and/or to reflect academic or professional changes within subject areas. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but this may not always be the case. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will carry out suitable consultation with affected students. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

Termination of course

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed and we will notify you as soon as possible about what your options are, which may include transferring to a suitable replacement course for which you are qualified, being provided with individual teaching to complete the award for which you were registered, or claiming an interim award and exiting the University. If you do not wish to take up any of the options that are made available to you, then you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the course without liability to the University for future tuition fees and you will be entitled to a refund of all course fees paid to date. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by a framework of regulations, policies and procedures, which form the basis of your agreement with us. These include regulations regarding the assessment of your course, academic integrity, your conduct (including attendance) and disciplinary procedure, fees and finance and compliance with visa requirements (where relevant). It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to abide by them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan, where you will also find links to the full text of each of the regulations, policies and procedures referred to. You should read these carefully before you enrol. Please note that this information is subject to change and you are advised to check our website regularly for any changes before you enrol at the University. A person who is not party to this agreement shall not have any rights under or in connection with it. Only you and the University shall have any right to enforce or rely on the agreement.

Equal opportunities

The University of Huddersfield is an equal opportunities institution. We aim to create conditions where staff and students are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, age, race, caste, class, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, family responsibility, trade union activity, political or religious belief, or age. Please visit our website to see our Equal Opportunities and Diversity Policy

Data protection

The University holds personal data on all enquirers, applicants and enrolled students. All such data is kept and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Legislation. The University’s Data Protection Policy and Privacy Notices are available on the University website.

Students’ Union membership

Under the 1994 Education Act, students at all UK universities have the right to join, or not to join, the Students’ Union. There is no membership fee. If you choose not to join you have the right not to be disadvantaged; however, you are not entitled to vote, take part in elections, or hold any office. The following arrangements apply in order that non-Union members are not disadvantaged: Non-members are welcome to take part in the activities of Affiliated Clubs and Societies on payment of the appropriate subscription. However, they may not vote or hold office in the society or club. Union members may be offered a discounted subscription. Non-members are free to use Union facilities on the same basis as members. Welfare, catering and shops are available to non-members as well as members. Union members may be offered a discounted price.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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