Computing University-level courses
Computing
fb.com/GBMETcoll @GBMETcoll @greater_brighton_met Greater Brighton Metropolitan College
gbmc.ac.uk
Contents
Introduction 04 Why the MET? 06 Course facilities 07 Living in Brighton 08 Student services and support
Courses 10 The HNC course 11 T he HND course
General information 12 Entry requirements 13 H ow to apply 14 F ees and finance 15 O pen days
Computing University-level courses
Introduction
Why the MET? Celebrating digital excellence and continued innovation for the future.
Industry-led courses Our university-level computing courses have been developed in consultation with employers and professional bodies. Course content has been newly designed to align with the needs of today’s industries and to provide graduates with the most sought-after skills for the future. You’ll learn from our industry-experienced staff, who understand employer expectations. Our industry links offer you invaluable opportunities to hear from visiting speakers. Armed with the expertise developed through their studies, our graduates are well-equipped to launch their careers.
Supportive small-group teaching Nurture your individuality. Transform your future. Achieve your potential. Our core college values are:
Ambition
Our students show tenacity and drive to meet their future goals.
Community
We work collaboratively, producing talent for the local region and beyond.
Creativity
We celebrate our creative spirit and actively encourage our students to explore new ideas.
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Computing | University-level courses
Inclusivity
A supportive environment that nurtures the talent of all our students.
Excellence
We strive for excellence in all that we do, in our work and in the work of our students.
Our supportive learning culture encourages you to reach your full potential through small class sizes and personalised tutor support. Staff are committed to helping you attain your goals by building your confidence in a friendly atmosphere and inspiring you to meet and exceed your aspirations.
Study in the heart of the city
Based on the evidence available, the TEF Panel judged that the higher education provider Greater Brighton Metropolitan College delivers high quality teaching, learning and outcomes for its students. It consistently exceeds rigorous national quality requirements for UK higher education.
Our campus is located in central Brighton, in the heart of the world-famous North Laine and within walking distance of all the city’s main amenities including music venues, independent shops, eateries and the beach. Brighton is a thriving commercial, digital and entertainment centre, surrounded by some of the UK’s most innovative businesses and providing an ideal location to study computing.
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You can find out more about our support services on page 8.
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Introduction
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Computing | University-level courses
Course facilities Computing lab
Classrooms and study rooms
Our computing department benefits from the latest hardware and technologies, including Intel I7 PCs with 16GB RAM and 2TB hard drives. Computing students can log in with full administrator rights. Our own isolated development network means we can test, develop and implement all types of network scenarios, programming environments and servers to exceed the needs of the course.
Our dedicated classrooms are equipped with upto-date resources such as multimedia presentation equipment. You will also have access to library and computer suites with technical support, offering everything you need to work on projects, just as you would in a professional environment. In addition, you will have access to online course documents, resources and study support through the MET’s virtual learning environment.
Living in Brighton Each year Brighton plays host to a myriad of events, including a month-long celebration of digital culture and technology: Brighton Digital Festival.
The city is home to a plethora of boutiques, venues and galleries, with a seemingly endless supply of restaurants, pubs and clubs to enjoy. It is also a hub for innovation. The Brighton Digital Festival is a month-long celebration of digital culture and technology. With a whole host of entrepreneurs and tech start-ups in the city, there are plenty of opportunities for collaboration with professionals in the sector. When you need to reset from the excitement of the city, the natural beauty of the Sussex countryside is only a stone’s throw away.
Accommodation in Brighton Brighton is home to two universities and has a large number of private-sector student houses. There are also private halls of residence which are available to students from any university. In addition, there are many websites which advertise spare rooms in shared houses and flats.
Housemate Finder You can get in touch with other students looking for accommodation with our Housemate Finder Facebook group. Once you have accepted the offer of a place to study at the MET, you will be sent instructions for joining the group.
For more information visit gbmc.ac.uk/where-to-live gbmc.ac.uk 07
Introduction
Student services and support We are proud of our supportive culture and friendly atmosphere. Our dedicated student services and support teams are here to guide you through the many aspects of student life, helping you to reach your full potential.
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Computing | University-level courses
While your time at the MET should be fun, exciting and rewarding, we do recognise that there may be times when you require additional personal and/or academic support. Our specialist support staff are qualified, caring and committed to ensuring you get the most out of your time here.
Learning Resource Centre Our Learning Resource Centre (LRC) is at the centre of college life and provides access to an extensive range of specialist course-related resources, library and IT facilities. The Centre is well-equipped with a collection of over 80,000 books, periodicals, DVDs, music and computers providing access to the internet, Microsoft Office, specialised software, and the college’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to support learning and skills development. Additionally, you will have access to printing, photocopying and scanning. Staff are on hand to support you with using our learning resources both on and off campus.
Online resources
Pastoral care Pastoral care is available at each campus, and you can email or arrange a face-to-face meeting to talk through any concerns or life circumstances that might affect your ability to attend or succeed on your course. You will be listened to and, where possible, helped to resolve any issues or referred to the appropriate department or external agency.
Disability and learning support We welcome applications from people with disabilities. We will take all reasonable steps to remove barriers to learning and educational achievement, and to create an inclusive learning environment.
We use GSuite for Education, an online learning environment where students can easily access and store their course materials, share and collaborate with others. Widely available online resources also include video streaming platforms, online academic journals, articles, e-books and specialist subject digital resources.
The apps that form GSuite include: – Drive for unlimited storage and creating – Gmail for use as a separate college email – Classroom for simple submission and feedback – Calendar for organising and planning your studies
GSuite empowers students and tutors to build content together and share in each other’s learning experience. Turnitin is also used for assignment submissions and originality checking. More information or support on using any of these online resources are available in the LRC or on the Student Landing Page.
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We have a team of facilitators who support students with disabilities/difficulties such as physical disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental health difficulty, Autism Spectrum Condition, medical conditions or specific learning differences. We have a Disability Adviser who can help students with support and DSA (Disabled Students’ Allowance) enquiries, and will work with you to ensure that appropriate support is in place.
Our online resources provide you with access to a wide range of course-focused materials, databases, full text journals, articles, e-books and streamed recordings - most of which can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection.
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Courses
The HNC course Higher National Certificate (HNC) Level 4
Entry requirements Interview and normally a relevant Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma or A-Level (or equivalent), plus GCSE Maths at grade C. Full entry guide on page 12. UCAS Code I100
Duration 1 year full-time
Isolated development network for all types of scenarios and servers.
Key features: –U p-to-date course, aligned with the needs of the industry –B rand new computing lab with the latest hardware and servers
HNC modules:
–C ourse has its own server and network
– Programming
–S mall group teaching
– Networking
– Well-regarded Higher National qualifications
– Professional practice
–C entral Brighton location
– Database design and development – Security
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Creative Arts Computing | University-level Undergraduatecourses courses
– Managing a successful computing project This Level 4 course will develop your understanding of a broad range of computing ideas and enable you to contribute to the future direction of the industry. You will be able to create innovative solutions to problems, or improvements to current situations. Computers and computing technology have a wide-ranging influence on the world and this course will put you on a career path that means you could be at the front of the change and innovations in this industry. You will appreciate the current problems or issues that can be caused by our reliance on computers. BTEC Higher National qualifications in computing give high quality professional and technical skills.
– Computer systems architecture – Website design and development
Future careers: – IT specialist – Network consultant – IT project or programme manager – IT business analyst, architect or systems designer – Programmer or software development professional
The HND course Higher National Diploma (HND) Level 5
Entry requirements HNC Level 4 Computing or equivalent.
I really enjoy that the course is practical. We get to experience building our own computer networks.” Liam HND Computing
Full entry guide on page 12. UCAS Code I101
Duration 1 year full-time
Our Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Computing will provide you with the skills necessary to gain accredited certifications from CompTIA – the Computing Technology Industry Association – considered one of the IT industry’s top trade associations. You will also be eligible for associate membership of the British Computing Society, on completion of the course. The course has been designed to embed key employability skills throughout the curriculum.
Analytical, interpersonal and reflective skills are built in to the course content. You will develop valuable hands-on experience with a range of industry-standard equipment, latest generation desktop and server hardware and software. Our experienced teaching staff are passionate about their areas of expertise and are committed to helping you to attain your learning goals and meet your personal aims. On successful completion of this course, you can either enter employment or apply to study one more year at a university to gain a BSc degree.
HND modules: – Computing research project – Business intelligence – Emerging technologies – Network management – Database management systems – Operating systems
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– E-commerce and strategy
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General information
Entry requirements Entry guide for Level 4 courses We have a range of entry requirements and are keen to assess each application individually, recognising that our applicants have a range of backgrounds and qualifications. Each applicant’s assessment will include a review of their grades, interview, and any experience. Typical entry requirements are outlined below, but individual offers may vary.
UCAS tariff points
English as a second language
Different applicants may have UCAS points ranging from a minimum of 48 up to 168, usually with a qualification relevant to the course they have applied for.
The MET accepts a wide range of Level 3 qualifications, some of which may not currently be on the UCAS tariff. These include a range of vocational Level 3 diplomas, NVQs and EU qualifications. The qualification is usually relevant to the course applied for.
Applicants who have English as a second language and do not have a GCSE in English will be asked to take an IELTS assessment or equivalent as part of their offer conditions. They will need to achieve an overall score of 6.0, with 6.0 in the writing element and 5.5 in all other sub elements. The exception to this is students who have English as a second language but have been schooled here, i.e. taken GCSE English—if they have a achieved a grade D/3 they would not need to take the IELTS assessment.
Interviews
English and Maths GCSE
Non-tariff courses
Many courses will require applicants to participate in an interview.
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Computing | University-level courses
Work experience The MET will consider applicants who are currently in work and/or may have completed their education some time ago. To apply, applicants will usually have at least three years’ work experience in the relevant industry.
We strongly advise that applicants will have achieved A*–C (9–4) grade in maths and English or equivalent qualification, to enable them to successfully complete their studies at the MET and enhance their future careers.
For more information about applying and admissions, see gbmc.ac.uk/how-to-apply-university
How to apply Full-time university-level courses
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How to apply
– If you are a UK student or have EU Settlement Status and you are only applying to the MET and no other universities or colleges, you can use our short direct application form - see gbmc.ac.uk/how-to-apply-university
– If you are a current MET student and will only apply to the MET and no other universities or colleges, you can use our short Progression Promise application form - see gbmc.ac.uk/ progression-promise – If you would like to apply to other universities/ colleges as well as the MET, please apply through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) at ucas.com. UCAS allows you to send your application to up to five universities. If you are currently at school or college, please ask your tutor for advice and a reference.
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When to apply
– We advise you to work on your application during the autumn term and submit your application before 26 January (UCAS deadline). If you are applying through UCAS, in order to guarantee that all the universities you apply to will consider your application, you are required to submit your application by their deadline. At the MET, we still welcome later applications as we may still have spaces available on some of our courses right up until the course start date.
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Interviews – Once we have received your application, we will normally invite you to an interview.
Offering you a place
– If we decide to offer you a place, our offer may be unconditional, or it may be on condition that you achieve certain grades in your current studies. If you have applied through UCAS, your offer will be displayed on UCAS Track.
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Accepting your offer
– You must let us know whether you accept our offer. If you have applied through UCAS, once you have received offers from all the universities you applied to, UCAS will require you to accept one of your offers as your ‘firm’ choice and one offer as your ‘insurance’ choice. UCAS will set you a deadline, by which time you must let them know which offers you wish to accept. It is important that you accept via UCAS by your deadline date, otherwise they will assume you don’t wish to accept any offers.
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Admission
– If we have offered you a place, we will ask you to complete an enrolment form and invite you to your induction at the beginning of term.
Deferred entry
–W e are happy to make deferred offers to students who plan to take a gap year before starting their degree course.
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General information
Fees and finance Undergraduate courses Fees Up-to-date fees are published on our website at gbmc.ac.uk. You do not have to pay upfront if you are eligible for a UK student loan.
UK student loans – Study now & pay later UK students and those with EU Settlement Status can apply for student loans from the government to pay for their course fees and living costs while they are studying. – You only pay back when you can afford to After your course, as long as you are earning over a certain amount, gradual repayments will automatically be deducted from your salary, along with your income tax. If you still owe anything after 30 years, the debt will be cancelled. – How to apply for student loans You should apply between February and May to make sure your money arrives by September, but students can still apply until nine months after the start of their course. Apply online at gov.uk/student-finance.
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Bursaries from the MET A number of bursaries will be available from the College for eligible students from low income backgrounds, care leavers, and some students who progress from other courses at the MET. For the most up-to-date information, please see gbmc.ac.uk/degree-level-finance.
Have any questions? 01903 273272 | he-enquiries@gbmc.ac.uk
Open events Our open events are an opportunity to find out more about what it’s like to study at the MET, speak to our expert teaching staff and view our industry-standard facilities. Disclaimer
We host our open events in the spring and autumn terms. To find out more about our upcoming events and to book your place, visit gbmc.ac.uk/open-days
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This prospectus is a general guide to the College, its courses and facilities. Information is correct at the time of publication but the College reserves the right to change details or close courses. Updated information is available at gbmc.ac.uk.
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fb.com/GBMETcoll @GBMETcoll @greater_brighton_met Greater Brighton Metropolitan College gbmc.ac.uk | 01903 273272 | he-enquiries@gbmc.ac.uk Greater Brighton Metropolitan College, Pelham Street, Brighton, East Sussex BN1 4FA Published July 2021
