Postgraduate

Description

Information technology is the key source of competitiveness for all sectors: it can open new markets, increase performance and drive productivity. Increasingly, professionals in industry are expected to have a broad range of information technology and business skills. They are also expected to cope with the challenges posed by the latest trends in the software industry, such as remote and collaborative working, standardisation of technologies, and outsourcing. 

We offer a range of postgraduate and post-experience modules with case-study-driven learning, which provide extensible knowledge that can be applied to lead technological and organisational change in the business environment. The modules can be studied on their own as part of a personal programme of professional updating, or as building blocks towards a postgraduate diploma course and then an MSc degree.

This diploma course is the broadest in our programme, you can choose modules from across the range of computing topics and may also include a module (or modules) from The Open University Business School or from our information systems or technology management postgraduate programmes. This is a qualification for the generalist or non-standard specialist, where specific job functions demand a range of skills and knowledge, and where our modules can extend and deepen your knowledge.

If you would like more information about the postgraduate ICT and computing programme, you can visit our website. This site includes additional information about the modules and qualifications, recommended routes through the programme and sample study materials.

Planning your studies

There are no entry requirements for the diploma modules, but you must be suitably prepared for study at professional level. You are expected to have studied to at least HNC/HND level, or to have had equivalent practical experience. Individual module descriptions will tell you more about the requirements.

There are no compulsory modules and you can take your chosen modules in any order. We recommend that you start with only one module in the first six-month study period. After this you will have a clearer understanding of the demands that study will make on you, and can decide whether you wish to take more than one module at a time. If you find that you have time to study modules totalling 30 credits in every study period, you can obtain a diploma in two years.

All postgraduate computing diploma modules (codes beginning with ‘M’) and many of the technology modules (codes beginning with ‘T’) are available with electronic submission and marking of assignments and so can be studied anywhere in the world. You should check the availability of the modules in this diploma you would like to study if you are studying outside the EU.

Modules can count towards this diploma for a maximum of eight years after we have stopped presenting them; we cannot guarantee that the same selection of modules will continue to be available.

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

Career relevance and employability

Nearly 20,000 students from over 7000 organisations have experienced for themselves how modules from our programme can improve their personal effectiveness and increase the performance and competitiveness of their employers.

The modules are designed for practising professionals and managers in the fields of computing, manufacturing engineering and related services, who need to update or extend their skills and knowledge in specific areas, allowing them to gain recognised qualifications to develop their careers.

BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT offers exemption from some of its membership requirements for holders of an appropriate MSc in computing from The Open University. For more details view or download our Recognition leaflet 3.7 Computing. BCS regulations are on their website.

There is more information about how OU study can improve your employability in the OU’s Employability Statement from our Careers Advisory Service. You can also read or download our publication OU study and your career and look at our subject pages to find out about career opportunities.

Modules

For this 120-credit postgraduate diploma, you require:

90 credits from the following optional modules:

Subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules M873, M874, M877, M878, M879, M880, M881, M891, T822, T823

AND another 30 credits chosen either from the above list or from these modules:

Subject to rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules B700*, B713*, B730 (45-credit module but counts as only 30 credits towards this diploma), B822, B823, BZX700*, BZX713*, BZX822, BZX823, T833, T834, T835, T837, T850, T851,T852, T853, T862, T882

* 60-credit module but counts as only 30 credits towards this diploma 

Credit for previous study elsewhere

If you have already completed some successful study at postgraduate level at another institution we may be able to give you credit that you can count towards this Open University qualification. Please see our Credit Transfer site for details. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of modules, so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.

Credit transfer details for this qualification:

• Essential Information Sheets - Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry

On completion

On successful completion of the required modules you can be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry entitling you to use the letters PGD CCI (Open) after your name.

If you obtain 60 credits or more at distinction grade you will qualify for the award of the diploma with Distinction.

Once you have completed the postgraduate diploma, you can gain the MSc in Computing for Commerce and Industry (F05) by taking a 60-credit research project in a topic related to your work or interests.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Qualification Regulations and the Student Regulations.

Qualification Regulations

• Introduction to the Qualification Regulations
• General Qualification Regulations
• Postgraduate Diploma in Computing for Commerce and Industry

Student Regulations

The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.

How to register

To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.

See a full list of modules available for this qualification

Study explained

Credits

- show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.

Costs

- find out how much you can expect to pay.

Financial support

- find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.

Study explained

- all you need to know about studying with the OU.

Your questions

We may have already answered it in our frequently asked questions.

Or contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90 +44(0) 845 366 60 35

Employers' questions

Contact Corporate Enquiries
Visit our website for employers or Email us

Browse the prospectus

• Undergraduate prospectus
• Postgraduate prospectus
• Research prospectus
• Professional skills
• The Open Programme
• A-Z of qualifications
• A-Z of courses

Get a prospectus

The University wishes to emphasise that, while every effort is made to regularly update this site, the material on it is subject to alteration or amendment in the light of changes in regulations or in policy or of financial or other necessity.