Level 4 Cert HE Software Developer HTQ | South Bank Colleges
Language icon

Apply or Enquire

Apply online

Is this course for you?

We are excited to share our brand new Level 4 Software Developer course. It will be delivered at London South Bank Technical College (LSBTC) in buzzing Nine Elms in partnership with London South Bank University (LSBU) who will manage your application.

Software developers contribute to an increasing number of products in every home and workplace from your phone to your fridge; as a result, software development skills are no longer confined to the tech industry. That is why highly skilled, well-trained, and qualified Software Engineers and Technicians are constantly sought-after by employers in every sector.

This one-year Level 4 in software development is an advanced, technical qualification, co-designed by London South Bank University (LSBU) and leading industry employers. It is an integration of a validated existing BSc IT degree mapped to the occupational standards and skills knowledge and behaviours required by software employers.

This industry-led qualification equips you with the specialised IT and computing knowledge and skills needed for a direct route to Higher Education, including direct entry to London South Bank University’s second year of its Computer Science or Information Technology Bachelor’s degree, but also directly into employment or as a springboard to changing your career direction.

Through immersive working, you will gain professional-level competencies in a range of key areas, including designing, developing, testing and documenting software; analysing and specifying requirements for the implementation of a range of computing and information systems; effectively using formal notations and graphical and numerical representations for data and processes; analysing systems for potential security weaknesses and proposing mitigating measures; and understanding the fundamental principles that underpin computer systems.

Visits to local projects and workplaces are integrated within the course, and students will be able to access some of London South Bank University’s specialist facilities and benefit from the expertise of the University lecturers via master classes and other activities, whilst studying in small groups in a supportive College environment.

What experience and skills will you gain?

The course emphasis is on developing a comprehensive understanding of sophisticated digital technologies, and applying the knowledge and skills gained studying to real world projects in the workplace.

  • Professional Practice

As a new entrant to higher education, this module prepares you for developing an understanding of - and skills for - academic study and the world of work, and the professional and personal skills you will need. You will be introduced to all aspects of university study and being an IT professional, allowing your ideas to be explored and developed throughout your time studying with us and beyond. The topics studied will be used to develop the skills that both a graduate and an IT professional will require and will give you many opportunities to develop your intellectual skills as well as your practical ones. In addition to these topics on professionalism, the module will introduce you to a range of topics relating to computer-based information systems, e-business and how business organisations work. The module is based on some existing model syllabi as devised by professional bodies such as the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) and The Chartered Institute for IT (BCS), but this has been adapted for the needs of LSBU group’s new entrants.

  • Discrete Mathematics

This module will introduce you to the logical and discrete mathematical structures and models, which are commonly used in the field of Computer Science, and which underpin any study of this discipline. The module will emphasise the formulation of problems into mathematical forms, the interpretation of solutions and the identification of problem characteristics to help suggest modelling approaches. Provisions will be made (typically one hour per week) to allow us to bring you, if necessary, to a level of confidence and expertise in those areas of essential basic mathematics that should have been covered at earlier levels.

  • Fundamentals of Computer Science

This module aims to give a comprehensive introduction to Computer Science, its theoretical basis and practical implementation in both hardware and software. The history of computing, the role and the science of algorithms, abstraction, the binary numbering system and its representations, Boolean logic and gates, fundamentals of computer hardware, building computer circuits, the von Neumann model, introduction to hardware, data, and software, the nature of data and its operation.

  • Requirements Analysis and UCD

This module provides the practical tools and techniques required to design, develop, and evaluate effective interactive systems in an ever-changing digital age. User-centred design and usability are recognised as major contributing factors in the success of business and mass market information systems.
The rise over the last two decades of the internet and web along with graphical user interfaces (GUIs), multimedia and ubiquitous mobile devices have led to an almost universal uptake of highly sophisticated interactive systems. User-centred design processed are now a fundamental part of enterprise customer relationship management and consumer media content distribution through apps, online information services and social networking sites. Given the mutability of the field, the module intends to keep pace with current developments as far as possible.

  • Fundamentals of Software Development

This module teaches the fundamentals of computer programming covering variables, datatypes, arrays, algorithms, conditional and iterative code, and the use of functions. Students will learn to write simple programs making use of a contemporary programming language and development environment. To provide students with fundamental programming skills. To give students an understanding of the fundamental concepts of software development such as source code and the compilation and execution of programs. To enable students to become familiar with development tools and environments.

  • Software Development

This module helps you to understand, develop a vocabulary and acquire some simple programming skills using a programming language. It is using the programming skills and knowledge gained during the first semester to extend the complexity of the coding. It will provide a familiarity with Objects and Classes and some experience in simple GUIs. Good development principles and the support an IDE will provide will also be looked at including all important aspects of the application development process in whatever environment or programming language you may use in the future.

  • Campus
    This course will be delivered at London South Bank Technical College - Nine elms
  • What do you need to apply?

    Applicants must hold 5 GCSEs A*-C or 9-4, including Maths and English or equivalent.

    • DD at A Level (64 UCAS points)

    or

    • BTEC National Diploma - MPP (64 points)

    or

    • One of the following T-Levels with a Pass (D or E) (72 UCAS points): Digital Production, Design and Development Digital Business Services Digital Support Services

    or

    • Access to HE qualifications with at least 45 credits totalling 64 Tariff points

    We welcome qualifications from around the world. English language qualifications for international learners: IELTS score of 6.0 or Cambridge Proficiency or Advanced Grade C. (See http://www.lsbu.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/9280/english-language-qualifications-general.pdf for full details of LSBU’s English language requirements)

  • How will you be assessed?

    For all modules summative assessment consists of 100% coursework.

    Your acquisition of knowledge and understanding will be assessed by coursework tasks, including report writing, in-class tests and presentations.

  • Where can this course take you?

    This course could lead to direct employment in a variety of IT and computing roles, including software developer, software designer, software programmer, computer and video games designer, system developer, and technical support; or give you the opportunity to progress straight to Bachelor’s degree-level study.

    After successfully passing the Level 4 Certificate of Higher Education in Software Development you may wish to consider progressing to Higher Education, including direct entry to the second year of London South Bank University’s Computer Science or Information Technology degree. You may also consider one of London South Bank University’s other degree courses (additional qualifications may be required).