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  • Information Technology (Foundation Degree)
  • 2013/2014 entry
  • Contact us
  • Assessment

    • A mixture of coursework, examination and project work.

  • Attendance
      • Two–three evenings a week.
  • Duration
      • Two years and two terms part-time.
      • October or January start.
  • Entry requirements
      • No formal entry requirements; however, good numeracy and literacy skills are required, as well as basic computer skills. These will be assessed from the application and, if necessary, by taking a short mathematics and written English test at a selection evening.
      • Foundation degrees are designed specifically for mature students and students with non-traditional backgrounds.
  • Fees and funding
  • Location
      • Central London (October and January start).
      • Stratford (January start only).
  • Teaching

    • Lectures, practical workshops, face-to-face tutorials and tutor-assisted online learning.



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Information Technology (Foundation Degree) - 2013/2014 entry

Information technology is an exciting and rapidly developing area. Develop the knowledge, technical skills and self-directed learning skills needed for a successful career in IT – our graduates go on to work in software engineering, information systems management, consultancy and research. And once you successfully complete the course, you can automatically progress into Year 3 of Birkbeck’s BSc Computing. You can study this course in central London or Stratford.
  • Professional bodies that recognise this course
    • British Computer Society.
  • Course structure

    • October start

      Except where we have indicated that they are 30-credit (full) modules, all modules are 15-credit (half) modules:

      Year 1:

      • Fundamentals of Information Technology
      • Problem Solving for Programming
      • Information Systems Concepts
      • Introduction to Database Technology
      • Introduction to Programming
      • Introduction to Web Authoring using XHTML and CSS. 

      Year 2:

      • E-Business
      • Information Systems Management
      • Mathematics for Computing
      • Understanding the Business World (30-credit full module)
      • Working in Teams.

      Year 3:

      • Software and Programming 1
      • option module (e.g. php, XML, Javascript)
      • Work-related Project (30-credit full module).

      Personal Development Planning is integrated throughout the programme.

      January start

      Except where we have indicated that they are 30-credit (full) modules, all modules are 15-credit (half) modules:

      Year 1:

      • Fundamentals of Information Technology
      • Introduction to Database Technology
      • Introduction to Web Authoring using XHTML and CSS
      • Problem Solving for Programming.

      Year 2:

      • Information Systems Concepts
      • Mathematics for Computing
      • Understanding the Business World (30-credit full module)
      • Working in Teams
      • Introduction to Programming.

      Year 3:

      • E-Business
      • Information Systems Management
      • option module (e.g. php, XML, Javascript)
      • Software and Programming 1
      • Work-related Project  (30-credit full module).
  • Study resources

    • Online learning environment, library, IT laboratories with specialist software.

  • Further study opportunities
  • Careers information
  • Further details

    • IT facilities

      We have three modern computing laboratories in the department with 100 workstations. The two largest labs, seating fifty and thirty respectively have projection facilities and are air-conditioned. Software, which runs on a range of platforms including Unix, Windows and Linux includes:

      • programming languages/environments: C++, Java (J2SE, J2EE), ANSI-C, ANSI-C++, AspectJ, Jakarta Tomcat, Glider, Eclipse, Poseidon, BlueJ, WebMatrix, Netbeans, Python,
      • software design/development: IBM Rational Rose (C++, Java, Visual Studio), VS.NET
      • modelling environments: Matlab, Image Precessing Toolbox, Fuzzy Logic Toolbox, StarLogo, Protege,
      • database management systems: Oracle, SQLserver, MySQL, DB2, Postgres, SQLplus
      • data mining: SPSS Clementine, SQLserver
      • web content development: Macromedia Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Perl, PHP, GIMP
      • XML development: XMLSpy, xt, xmlgrep, oxygen
      • X/Unix: Hummingbird, Cygwin bash, Putty, Hummingbird Secure Shell
      • office tools: Microsoft Office, Open Office, Visio, LaTeX (MikTeX), TextPad, GhostScript/GSview
      • virtual learning environment: Blackboard, Moodle, WebCT
      • browsers: Firefox, Firefox svg, Opera, IE, Chrome
      • email: Thunderbird, OutlookExpress, webmail
      • logic circuit design: Digital Works.

      The department's 100-seat, art-deco lecture theatre has been extensively refurbished. The new wider seats, worktops and ventillation system provide a spacious and comfortable environment for learning and the banked seating and audio-visual facilities, including a 3m x 2.5m projection screen, give an excellent view. We also have our own teaching room accommodating forty people and a conference room for groups of upto twenty-five. All rooms have computer projection facilities. We also have access to the College lecture theatres and rooms situated in close proximity to the department.

      The local area network is a switched gigabit/10gigabit ethernet. The department and College computers are connected to the SuperJANET academic network via the London Metropolitan Network. Departmental computer services and networks are managed and supported by the department's Systems Group.

  • Apply now
  • Key information set

    • Welcome to Birkbeck, London's evening university: Number 1 in London for teaching and student satisfaction (National Student Survey 2012).

      Birkbeck specialises in part-time, evening study. The Key Information Set has been developed for full-time, daytime courses. We are providing some additional information about our evening courses to help you make an informed choice.

      Fees:
      The Key Information Set (KIS) for this degree course shows the annual fee for a 3-year, full-time degree. This is a 4-year, part-time evening degree and the annual fee is lower than the fee shown in the KIS. See 'Fees and funding' in the left hand menu for the correct fee for this course.