T Level in Digital Support Services (IT Technician and Cyber Security) - Level 3
Overview
IMPORTANT NOTICE
We are currently waiting on the outcome of the government's ‘pause and review’ of the Level 3 qualification reform. This may result in a change to qualifications offered at Level 3 for academic year 2025/2026. If this course is affected, the college will make changes to our offer to enable similar outcomes for progression to higher education, higher-level apprenticeships or skilled employment.
For more details, please contact our enquiries line on 0808 100 3626.
Did you know that by the year 2030, 75% of jobs will require digital skills? Digital is everywhere and increasingly influences everything we do. As a result, the world continues to need experts to make sense of technology and its growing impact. There are jobs today that simply did not exist in the past, enabled by technical innovations and the people that create and consume them. The digital future we are part of requires highly skilled individuals to design, implement, maintain and innovate. The demand for technical skills will continue to grow so become part of the digital revolution by studying this T Level and gain the skills employers need!
This course can lead to the following career opportunities:
- Network engineer
- Network support analyst
- Architecture analyst
- IT support engineer
- Desktop support
- Telecommunications analyst
- Technical architect
- IT manager
- Network cable installer.
It can also provide essential knowledge and skills needed to progress on to a higher level apprenticeship or university.
What are T Levels?
If you’re academically minded but have a skilled career route in mind, a T Level will give you a head start into your chosen industry.
T Levels are two-year qualifications that have been designed in partnership with businesses and industry-leading employers so you can develop the skills and knowledge required to kick-start your career straight from college.
- 80/20 Learning - 80% college-based, 20% on a relevant work placement
- Employer endorsed - designed with employers to provide the skills that industry needs
- 1 T Level = 3 A Levels - T Levels are nationally-recognised qualifications, equivalent to 3 A Levels.
As an alternative next-step after GCSEs, a T Level also includes a mandatory 45-day (315 hours) work placement with a reputable employer within your chosen industry.
The qualification splits into core content and specialist content:
- Core content - develop your general understanding of the industry
- Specialist content - covers different topics depending on the pathway you choose.
Specialist content
Towards the end of year one, you will be supported to choose one of two specialist pathways to study during year two:
Digital Infrastructure
Ideal if you are considering a career as a network technician, software developer, IT hardware solutions technician, cloud technician, support technician or similar.
You will learn the following skills on this pathway:
- Applying procedures and controls to maintain the digital security of an organisation and its data by understanding common vulnerabilities to networks, systems and devices and the application of cyber security controls.
- Explaining, installing, configure, test and manage both physical and virtual infrastructure by demonstrating continuous improvement by maintaining the effective functioning of a range of hardware solutions (for example contemporary, legacy) and network in response to change.
- Discovering, evaluating and applying reliable sources of knowledge to support process fault finding.
Digital Support
Ideal if you are considering a career as a network technician, IT hardware solutions technician, cloud technician, support technician or similar.
You will learn the following skills on this pathway:
- Applying procedures and controls to maintain the digital security of an organisation and its data by applying and maintain procedures and security controls in the installation, configuration and support of end user services to ensure confidentiality, integrity and availability.
- Installing, configuring and supporting software applications and operating systems by the application of agile methodologies and work practices in support of continuous innovation and development in a digital environment.
- Discovering, evaluating and applying reliable sources of knowledge by a range of methods of communication and sharing knowledge and their application within a digital infrastructure context.
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FREE Travel Pass
To enable you to attend your work placement, we’re pleased to offer all T Level students a West Notts Travel Pass for free! It's one pass for unlimited bus travel across much of Nottinghamshire and parts of Derbyshire. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Find out more
Start dates and fees
| Start Date | Code | Annual Fee | Actions |
| Sep 2025 | 2899C1655 | FREE | Apply |
What will I study?
Across the two years, you will cover both core and specialist units. The core units will develop your general understanding of the industry. The specialist units will cover more in-depth topics suitable to your chosen specialism (pathway) and career.
Our digital, computer science and IT department features hi-tech, industry standard equipment to support your success. We have state-of-the-art labs and the latest network engineering equipment.
Core units:
- Security
- Testing
- Fault analysis and problem resolution
- Optimising data
- Business context
- Digital analysis / MIS
- Planning and project management
- Managing virtual and physical infrastructures.
Specialist units:
- Digital security
- Physical and virtual infrastructure
- Reliable sources of knowledge
- Software applications and operating systems.
Industry placement:
Across the two years, you will need to complete an exciting 45-day (315 hours) industry placement with a reputable employer. Throughout the summer and your first term, a dedicated work placement advisor is available to support you with building links with suitable employers so you can secure your placement.
This is a great opportunity that will not only give you experience in an external business, but enhance your technical skills and create relationships that could result in an apprenticeship or employment once you've completed your T Level.
Entry requirements
This course is only available to 16-18 year olds.
- Five GCSEs at grade 4-9 including English Language and Maths.
OR
- Successful completion of the T Level Foundation Year – Digital. A one-year study programme specifically designed to develop the skills, experience, knowledge and behaviours to support progression onto the relevant T Level. Ideal for those who are not ready to start a T Level but have the potential to progress onto one. Contact us for more details, 0808 100 3626.
How long is the course?
Two years.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed through examinations, and practical assessments in class and through a project set by employers.
Upon completion you will be awarded an overall grade (Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction*). A T Level is a nationally-recognised qualification and your certificate will reflect this and will display your overall grade.
The certificate will also explain your grade from A* to E for the core component and any occupational specialisms you will receive a Pass, Merit, Distinction or Distinction*.
It will also record whether you’ve achieved the minimum requirements for your maths and English qualifications, completed the industry placement and met any other additional mandatory requirements.
What can I progress onto?
- Skilled employment
- Higher level apprenticeships
- Higher education (university*).
*As we are a partner college of Nottingham Trent University (NTU), you may qualify for various benefits should you choose to apply to NTU after completing your college course. This could include a Progress NTU offer, where you would receive an offer one grade below their standard offer. For instance, a typical offer for one of their courses might require 128 UCAS tariff points. With Progress NTU, your requirements would be 120 UCAS tariff points. For further details, please call us on 0808 100 3626 or discover more about this benefit here.
Career opportunities