NC Digital Media Computing

The NC in Digital Media Computing is valued by candidates and centres for its flexibility. It can be offered full-time, full-time fast-track, part-time (day or evening), distance or open learning, or through a combination of delivery modes. It allows candidates to progress at their own pace over one or two years and for options to be selected to help choose their next course.

The NC appeals to a wide variety of potential candidates, attracting a broader range to further education.

The qualification is mapped to the National Occupational Standards (NOS) and is nationally certificated.

Candidates may also gain a National Progression Award (NPA) in tandem with the NC.

This qualification is suited to:

recent school leavers
young and mature adults returning to full-time study or preparing for a career change
individuals who have previous experience of short IT courses and who wish to extend their interest

Access

Entry is at the discretion of the centre.

For the NC at SCQF level 6, candidates should have:

• NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 5 or three or more NQs at SCQF level 5 or above
• Communication and Numeracy at SCQF level 4

OR

• equivalent qualifications or experience

Candidates will gain the skills, certificated at their particular level, to progress to further study in computing and IT subjects or for current and future employment.

The suite of NCs in Digital Media Computing provide an entry point to qualifications in computing and IT and a pathway of progression towards a range of HN qualifications in computing and related areas including:

• HNC/HND Computer Games Development
• HNC/HND Computing
• HNC/HND Interactive Multimedia Creation
• HNC/HND Multimedia Computing: Web Development and HND Multimedia Computing
• HNC/HND Computer Networking
• HNC/HND Information Technology
• HNC/HND Interactive Media

This qualification could open up opportunities for employment in the computing and IT sector, perhaps in areas such as multimedia, networking, computer games and business IT.

Centres with devolved authority are eligible to seek approval through their own internal approval process.

Centres without devolved authority will have to come forward for approval and should contact the Business Development Team for guidance in completing the combined CA1/SA1 form.

Assessors and verifiers must be able to meet SQA’s general requirements for technical/occupational competence.

Assessment of these NCs is through a series of practical assessments or tasks. Evidence may be a blend of written and/or oral recorded evidence and performance and product evidence. Some assessments may be carried out under controlled, supervised conditions.

Centres may adopt an e-assessment approach. Formative/summative e-assessments are available for the following Units:

• Computing: Digital Media Elements for Applications
• Computing: Office and Personal Productivity Applications
• Computing: Computer Hardware and Systems
• Digital Media: Still Images Acquisition
• Digital Media: Video Acquisition
• Computing: Digital Media Elements for Applications

Group Award code: G8JM 44 (72 SCQF credit points) SCQF level: 4
Group Award code: G8JK 45 (72 SCQF credit points) SCQF level: 5
Group Award code: G9GK 46  (72 SCQF credit points) SCQF level: 6

Structure

At each level, candidates must complete six mandatory Units and six optional Units.

NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 4 — Mandatory Units

PC Passport: Introduction to the Internet and On-line Communications — F1F9 10
Computing: Office and Personal Productivity Applications — F1K6 10
Computing: Computer Hardware and Systems — F1K2 10
Computing: Digital Media Elements for Applications — F1JM 10
Digital Numeracy — F1L1 09
Digital Communication Methods — F1KY 09

NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 5 — Mandatory Units

PC Passport: Internet and On-line Communication — F1FD 11
Computing: Office and Personal Productivity Applications — F1K8 11
Computing: Computer Hardware and Systems — F1KR 11
Computing: Digital Media Elements for Applications — F1KS 11
Numeracy — F3GF 10
Communication — F3GB 10

NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 6 — Mandatory Units

PC Passport: Working with Internet and On-line Communications — F1FF 12
Computing: Office and Personal Productivity Applications — F3SX 12
Computing: Computer Hardware and Systems — F3SY 12
Computing: Digital Media Elements for Applications — F3SW 12
Numeracy — F3GF 11
Communication — F3GB 11

Any other information

Assessment Support Packs (ASPs) are available for all mandatory Units and most optional Units. These are available to download from SQA’s secure site.

• NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 4 (532 KB)
• NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 5 (547 KB)
• NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 6 (371 KB)

• NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 4 (790 KB)
• NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 5 (810 KB)  
• NC Digital Media Computing at SCQF level 6 (785 KB) 

A selection of Factsheets have been created for National Certificates and National Progression Awards (NPAs) within the Computing portfolio. The purpose of these factsheets is for centres to customise with their own Centre Logo/Details and circulate to candidates/potential candidates undertaking the awards.

• NC in Digital Media Computing at SCQF Level 4 Factsheet (37 KB)
• NC in Digital Media Computing at SCQF Level 5 Factsheet (38 KB)