HNC DIGITAL ADMINISTRATION AND IT

Intro to the course:

Are you looking for exciting new opportunities in employment? 

Are you ready to build on what you already have, or would you like to make some career changes to increase your employment opportunities. 

You can study with us on our full time course over one year (August to June).

This course will help you develop your knowledge and understanding of effective working practices in a modern office or home office environment, while finding out about new and emerging technologies.

Currently there is a high demand for staff with excellent Administration, IT and Digital skills (maintaining company website and social media platforms) with an average annual salary in Scotland of over £28,000 for an office manager, and specialist administrators earning over £23,000 a year.  This course will provide the vocational, employability and knowledge skills relevant in today’s office and home working environment in all sectors.

Who is the course for?

This course is ideal for anyone wanting to develop a career in IT or administration. It will suit school leavers, adult returners, those looking to change/progress in their career or take their first steps into the industry.

You will learn about time management, your own personal development, business and digital technologies in today's working environment through work placement, groupwork, lectures, project work, directed study and from industry professionals on site visits and guest speakers.

What will I study?

You'll learn about business and digital technologies in today's working environment. You will learn through work placement, groupwork, lectures, industry visits and guest speakers and units may include:

• Microsoft Office applications - word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentations
• Office administration
• Digital technologies for administrators
• Communication for business
• Recording financial transactions
• Personal development planning
• Web design
• Visual communication: social media content
• Employment law
• HR Management
• graded unit

The HNC course also includes two Professional Development Awards: PDA in Information Technology in Business, PDA in Office Administration.  

You'll learn about time management, your own personal development, business and digital technologies in today's working environment through work placement, groupwork, lectures, project work, directed study and from industry professionals on site visits and guest speakers.

Next step course options

On completion of the HNC, you can apply for direct entry to 2nd year HND Administration and Digital Technologies or second year entry to a Business degree through our articulation agreements with:

• University of the West of Scotland
• Glasgow Caledonian University 

How will I be assessed?

Ongoing assessment through a range of practical activities, candidate folios, self-evaluation, planning and review using secure SQA assessment support packs.

Why should I choose this course?

This course will prepare you for numerous opportunities in the business, administration and IT sector. You'll learn how to use word, databases, spreadsheets and communication skills for administrative management tasks in a fast-moving business environment. Units may also include human resources, marketing and enterprise. 

You will be taught by our multi-talented lecturers who have with extensive experience of the industry and you will have opportunities to participate in sector visits and learning from industry expert guest speakers. 

Where can this course lead?

The HNC Administration and Information Technology provide the skills and knowledge demanded in a modern administrative environment. They allow for progression to employment of a general administrative nature. The combination of mandatory and optional units provides the range of knowledge and skills required within small to medium sized enterprises, with more specialist skills and knowledge typically demanded by larger organisations

Learners who found employment obtained positions in a number of sectors: 

• finance 
• health care 
• medical practice
• police or uniformed services
• hospitality 
• HR
• IT 
• marketing 
• accounting
• retail 
• legal services

Posts in these areas include: 

• administrative assistant  or administrator
• clerical assistant, personal assistant, executive assistant 
• administrative supervisor, network administrator, HR administrator, organisation administrator 
• contact centre administrator, customer service administrator 
• team co-ordinator 
• receptionist
• retail supervisor 
• finance officer 
• conference officer, office manager

What are the entry requirements?

Any of the following: 

• One relevant Higher 
• Foundation Apprenticeship in related area
• Relevant NQ or NPA at SCQF level 5/6
• Equivalent vocational qualification from other awarding bodies 
• Current work experience in a related field, with recent reference

You should also have a genuine interest in the subject area.

If English is not your first language, ESOL at an appropriate level or IELTS or equivalent with an entry score of 5.5 or above is preferred.

If you do not meet the entry criteria for your chosen course, you may be offered an alternative course in the same subject area

What are the interview arrangements?

All applicants will be invited to attend an informal group interview and information session. 

Fees, finance and funding:

Fees and finances for full time:

There may be help available to assist with your study related costs. Impartial, confidential help and advice on financial matters is available from the Student Funding Team - including Bursaries, Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Loans Company and student support funds.

Click here to find out more about fees, finance and funding options.

Other information:

Graduates of the HNC Administration and Information Technology are eligible for member grade membership of the Institute of Administrative Management (MInstAM). For more information see www.instam.org