Digital Cyber Security T-level

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All organisations, both private and public, rely on information technology and networks for communication and information exchange. But what happens when these systems go down? Cyber threats and technical issues can cause significant disruptions, leading to data breaches, profit losses, and reputation damage. Working in digital security is both exciting and rewarding, as you’ll learn the latest techniques to stay ahead in this ever-changing industry. This course will equip you with the skills to identify and prevent cyber threats, monitor threats in real time, and find innovative solutions to intercept them. This is an exciting time to join the Cyber and IT security industry which this course will prepare you for. If you are interested in becoming an IT or digital technician, this course will provide you with the necessary skills and experience in a career where AI and tech is changing the world of work, and you’ll be at the forefront of managing this change in the industry.

What will I study in Digital Cyber Security T-level?

The core part of the qualification will give you a baseline understanding of the industry. It covers a range of areas, giving you a vital underpinning knowledge of concepts and the skills that you’ll need in this sector. You will spend 12 hours per week in your first year working to develop this knowledge.

The core elements of digital will cover a host of themes including the following:

Problem solving
Introduction to digital support
Emerging issues and impact of digital
Legislation and regulatory requirements
Business context
Data
Digital environments
Security

Additionally, you will cover core digital skills such as understanding and mitigating threats, network design and hardening, and project management. You will spend 3 hours per week in your first year, followed by 15 hours per week in the second year to develop these key skills.

The specialist elements of digital will be covered through developing your skills:

Planning a project
Identifying and fixing defects in a existing system
Designing a solution
Developing a solution
Reflective evaluation

We focus this through security threat identification and mitigation. Including looking at skills outside of the specification such as understanding SQL Injections and other malicious attacks (in a lab-based simulated environment).

You will also complete a 315 hour Industry Placement which gives you valuable work experience and key behaviours to succeed in the industry. You will spend 3 hours per week in the first year to understand and develop these behaviours.

Entry Requirements

At least five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above all from the core subjects including Maths and English. If you have completed GCSE computing we would expect at least a Grade 4 to show interest in the industry.

How will I learn?

The course splits into key knowledge, skills, and behaviours - We introduce a set of topics using an interactive project for students to explore best practices and syntax in a real activity. Each lesson contains a teacher-led lecture element to introduce a new concept followed by solo or group activities to explore this knowledge. This can take the form of a report, practical task, or group discussion.

For example, in our Legislation topics - students are provided with a series of "cases" and put into teams for and against. We then debate in a mock courtroom to understand the complexities of Digital Legislation and finally determine whether the defendant is innocent, or guilty! Alternatively, in Business Context, students look at emerging technology to create and showcase ideas to their peers in a friendly competition to attempt to win their investment.

For this specialism, we also dive into network creation, management and protection as well as practical labs to help understand risks to digital systems and how to mitigate them safely and effectively.

How will I be assessed?

Your T-Level is made up of three components: Core, Specialism and Placement.

Core is made up of two written papers and a practical called the Employer Set Project (ESP). Core papers are sat at the end of first year and are 2-2.5 hours long. The ESP is broken down into several tasks and is assessed over two weeks and is sat in the November of second year. Core makes up 50% of your final grade and focuses on assessing your Knowledge and some Skills from the course such as: The impact of digitification on culture and inclusion; exploring digital in a business context; understanding and applying security principles; and applying root cause analysis and troubleshooting.

Specialism is assessed via an Occupational Specialism Project (OSP). This is a large practical project lasting roughly 30 hours broken down into several assessment tasks and sat over the second half of the second year. Specialism makes up 50% of your final grade and focuses on assessing your Skills and some Knowledge from the course such as: Setting up and managing virtual machines and digital environments; writing appraisals and risk assessments; and communicating with technical and non-technical users.

Placement is a mandatory part of the qualification, covered over 315 hours at a digital work placement. You need to show "good" levels of behaviours throughout your placement through a series of workplace reviews conducted by the college and your employer. Your course allows one day a week (set at the start of each year) and two two-week blocks per year to help support you with time to do this. Placement doesn't affect your grade, but is required to achieve the qualification as a whole, and is used to develop you Skills and Behaviours in the workplace.

Any trips?

Digital T-Levels have several educational and progressional events and trips throughout the course. This includes varies on fresh opportunities each year but will include a visit to RMC Retro - "The Cave", and visits to University providers for learning workshops and bespoke open days. Each of these trips is roughly £35 (some more expensive and some cheaper) and there will be up to three offered each year of the course.

Are there any costs involved?

There is a course booklet that students should keep hold of with a small cost attached from our printing department. Course textbooks are available from the Library or for purchase on Amazon and highly recommended to succeed in this course. A computer/laptop isn't a requirement but access to one at home would be useful for revision and different tasks, study spaces are available for use at the college.

FAQs

What can I do after my T Level?

After the course our students find themselves open to lots of roles from full time employment, apprenticeships, or university to study Cyber Security or Computer Science. We have about a 50% split of students going into the workplace or off to university depending on their preferences, recently one of our students secured an apprenticeship with Lockheed Martin overcoming 2499 other applicants!

Can you tell me about the industrial placement?

The industry placement is 315 completed over your two year course, the earlier you can complete these hours - the better! We deliver "employment ready" workshops in the first term, including practice interviews with hiring managers from big organisations, CV workshops and employability skills to prepare you for your time in the workplace. We then have placement days once per week where students are able to attend their placement, or spend time working on their CVs and contacting different organisations they are interested in working with. On top of this, we have two 2-week block placements where students are expected to work towards their placement hours each year.

To support you gaining your hours, we also have access to CISCOs Networking Academy, where students are able to complete courses and earn hours towards their 315 requirement. We have a team of people to help you find a placement, and it’s important that you liaise closely with them to start your placement as soon as possible.

How much time will I spend on my T Level?

T Levels are very practical qualifications. A good amount of time is spent in lab sessions in our leading edge facilities working on skills that will help you in the digital industry. However, there is a considerable amount of theory and knowledge that underpins these skills - equivalent to that of 3 A Levels, so you need to be ready to put in a good amount of effort both inside and outside of the classroom.

We have 18 hours of lessons per week, with an expectation of 10 hours self study per week to support your own learning.

Can I study an A-level alongside a Digital T-level?

The Digital T Level is equivalent to 3 A Levels and, as such, is sufficient for all progression routes, whether into higher education or apprenticeship/employment. So there is unlikely to be a need to study additional courses alongside the T Level.

If you have a specific request, please do discuss this with us. We always try to find a solution which provides the best programme of study for you and your progression.

How is the course assessed?

The Digital T-level course is made up of three key parts.

Core – The academic part of the qualification graded A to E. You will learn the under-pinning knowledge in this part of the course and study a range of topics. This is assessed by two 2.5-hour exams and an Employer set project (ESP) This Employer Set Project is set by the exam board but they have consulted with employers. This consists of are a series of tasks completed under exam conditions.
Occupational Project – This is generally completed in the second year and is the vocational part of the qualification graded Pass, Merit, Distinction. Leaners specialise and complete a series of controlled assessments under exam conditions. These can range between 35 and 65 hours in total.
Industry Placement - There is no grade for the placement but learners need to complete the required hours over two years with up to two employers.

What if I don't get the grades to join the Digital T Level?

To help with this, I like to use the "Rubik's Cube" test:

Imagine a friend or family member asks you to help them because they're struggling to complete a rubik's cube. How you would help them is a good indicator of which course is better for you. Do you A) take the cube off them and complete it in the fastest, most efficient way possible to give them back a finished cube? Or B) sit them down and show them how to solve the cube, explaining the steps and methods used to do it?

If you said A, you'll love our Software Development course. B is a good indicator for the Cyber Security course. There is a secret option C, if you're the kind of person who takes all the stickers off or paints the cube the "right" colours, you'd also like the Cyber course.

Disclaimer - you don't have to be able to complete a rubik's cube to come onto the course, but the approach is what's important here.

If you don't have the grades - don't panic just yet! We have a great foundation year option where you can start to work on your digital skills whilst also having some time for those pesky Maths and English requirements. Students who show the required Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours in our Level 2 Foundation Year will transition nicely onto our T Level the following year.