STUDY

Undergraduate

HND Digital Technologies for England (Data Analytics)

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Institution code: S82
UCAS code: I107
Start date: January 2026
Duration: Two years full-time, four years part-time
Location: Suffolk New College
Typical Offer: HNC in a relevant subject ,Pass A*-C (T Level)
Institution code: S82
UCAS code: I107
Start date: January 2026
Duration: Two years full-time, four years part-time
Location: Suffolk New College
Typical Offer: HNC in a relevant subject ,Pass A*-C (T Level)

Overview

Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Digital Technologies (Data Analytics) at Suffolk New College prepares you for a dynamic career in the digital sector. This comprehensive course covers essential units such as Professional Practice, Innovation & Digital Transformation, Cyber Security, Programming, Big Data & Visualisation, and Database Design. You will gain practical skills in data analytics, cyber defence, and programming, while exploring the significance of digital transformation in modern businesses. With a focus on real-world applications, students will develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills necessary for success. The course also emphasises continuous professional development and the importance of ethics in data usage.

Course Modules

All modules are mandatory.

Full downloadable information regarding all University of Suffolk courses, including Key Facts, Course Aims, Course Structure and Assessment, is available in the Definitive Course Record.

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This unit explores how technological changes, especially in the digital sector, are transforming the workplace. You will examine the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how it affects work and skills in the digital world. The focus is on professional development, where you will learn the importance of continually improving your skills to stay relevant in a fast-paced, tech-driven environment.
Key topics include problem-solving, critical thinking, and the use of transferable and communication skills in various work settings. The unit also covers the importance of working effectively with others, receiving and giving feedback, and planning for career growth. 

This unit provides you with a comprehensive understanding of digital transformation and how businesses use technology to stay competitive. It explores the integration of digital technology into all areas of an organisation, fundamentally changing how they operate and deliver value to customers. You will learn about key tools and techniques that help organisations innovate and adapt, such as operational agility, leadership, company culture, and enhancing customer experiences. By examining these frameworks, you will gain insights into how digital transformation drives business success and maximises return on investment (ROI).

This unit equips you with essential knowledge and skills to understand and defend against cyber threats. It explores the growing threat of cybercrime, where malicious hackers and cyberterrorists exploit vulnerabilities in individuals, governments, and organisations. You will learn about various cyberattack techniques, including insider threats, and the importance of maintaining cyber resilience. Key topics include cyber defence techniques, incident response, and strategies for hardening ICT infrastructures. You will also assess different types of malicious activities, potential targets, and the role everyone plays in ensuring cyber security. By completing this unit, you will gain a deep understanding of cybercrime, threat actors, and the strategies needed to protect digital environments. 

This unit equips you with essential knowledge and skills in programming and algorithms, focusing on the pivotal role of developers in creating instructions through source code. It explores how algorithms define the steps necessary to solve problems by identifying key data and processes involved. Key topics include the introduction to algorithms, where you will learn how these constructs provide structured solutions; an exploration of programming paradigms, including procedural, object-oriented, and event-driven approaches; and an understanding of security considerations vital to coding practices. Additionally, you will gain hands-on experience utilising an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for effective coding and debugging.

This unit provides you with essential knowledge and skills to understand and leverage big data for effective decision-making. It delves into the systematic exploitation of big data and analytics, revealing opportunities for improved business outcomes. You will explore the significance of data visualisation in making complex datasets comprehensible and uncovering patterns and trends. Key topics include data-driven decision-making, industry software solutions for data investigation and presentation, and the ethical considerations of a data-driven culture. You will also examine the responsibilities of data specialists in ensuring compliance with legislation. 

This unit equips you with essential knowledge and skills in cloud networking, emphasising the interconnected systems that facilitate global communications through various network infrastructures. It examines the critical question of how remote and local networking supports cloud services, allowing users to access data and resources from any location. Key topics include the foundational principles of cloud networking, operational protocols and standards, and security considerations that are vital for cloud professionals. You will explore a range of networking
technologies, including Local Area Networking (LAN) and Wide Area Networking (WAN), to understand their evolution into scalable systems.

This unit equips you with essential knowledge and skills in database design and development, emphasising the critical role databases play in supporting organisational operations and e-commerce initiatives. It examines the complexities of modern database systems, which are essential for managing large volumes of data effectively. Key topics include database design tools and techniques, development software options, and the significance of data integrity, validation, and security. You will explore advanced querying methods across multiple tables, design user-friendly interfaces, and create comprehensive reports and dashboards.

This unit equips you with essential knowledge and skills in data analytics, a vital area for interpreting the vast amounts of data generated in today's digital universe, projected to reach 44 zettabytes by 2020. Understanding and utilising this data is crucial for enhancing organisational productivity. Key topics include data analytics terminology, various types of data analytics, and processes for data exploration and visualisation. You will learn about descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics to derive actionable insights from data.

This unit provides you with essential knowledge and skills in business intelligence, a critical area for leveraging data to drive decision-making and adapt to changing market conditions. As organisations increasingly rely on data to improve efficiency and performance, understanding and utilising business intelligence tools and techniques is vital for success. Key topics include data acquisition, processing, and conversion into meaningful information. You will explore tools and technologies such as data mining, data integration, data quality, and data warehousing, as well as the
business intelligence methodologies that support these functions.

This unit equips you with essential knowledge and skills in the Internet of Things (IoT), a transformative area that connects physical objects—such as devices, vehicles, and drones—through electronics, software, and sensors to collect and exchange data. IoT aims to make objects smart and data-capable, driving advances in communication, computation, and connectivity to unlock new opportunities for integrating the physical world with
digital systems. Key topics include the classification and terminology of IoT, the hardware and software components that enable IoT, and the tools and frameworks used to design IoT-enabled applications. You will also explore the challenges and solutions associated with IoT, including network complexity, security, privacy, and testing.

This unit equips you with essential knowledge and skills in emerging technologies, which have the potential to disrupt industries, transform society, and solve significant problems. Computing plays a central role in driving these technologies, enabling rapid development and innovation across diverse fields. Emerging technologies aim to challenge the status quo by improving efficiency, solving problems, or creating entirely new scientific disciplines through the convergence of systems, technologies, and ideas. Key topics include the classification and terminology of emerging technologies, a review of the most impactful and promising innovations, and the trends that shape their development. You will explore how these technologies influence software development and understand their broader implications for organisations and individuals.

This unit provides you with essential knowledge and skills in risk-based testing (RBT), a method that prioritises tests based on the likelihood and impact of system failure. By focusing on the most critical risks, RBT helps ensure efficient use of testing resources and is widely used in the software industry to improve the reliability of applications. Key topics include classifying and evaluating software risks, using risk matrices, and developing comprehensive RBT procedures. You will learn to strategically prioritise tests within a Test Plan, manage test cycles, and carry out security testing and coverage analysis to reduce risk. They will also document and evaluate the effectiveness of testing procedures for a medium-sized application.

This unit equips you with essential knowledge and skills in applied analytical modelling, a key area in data science that uses mathematical techniques and diverse tools to uncover and interpret meaningful patterns in data. Applied analytical modelling is critical for businesses looking to derive insights from data and gain a competitive edge through predictive and prescriptive analysis. Key topics include data preparation, the fundamentals of analytical models, and the development of predictive or prescriptive models using advanced algorithms to process large datasets. You will explore how these models can be applied in areas such as stock control, financial risk, and fraud analysis, helping organisations improve performance and make informed decisions.

This unit provides you with essential knowledge of how information systems are critical to organisational success. As information is the most valuable resource for any business, the effective gathering, protection, and analysis of data are crucial in today’s global and fast-paced economy. Reliable and efficient information systems enable organisations to adapt to change, support core business functions, and remain competitive in the marketplace.
Key topics include the role of information technology (IT) systems in driving business improvement, the development and continuous review of IT strategies, and how IT systems enhance productivity across various business areas. You will explore how organisations leverage IT to gain a competitive advantage and meet the demands of a globalised economy.

This unit equips you with essential knowledge of sustainability challenges in the digital technologies sector, a field at the forefront of addressing issues such as resource depletion, ethical practices, economic impact, and climate change. As defined by the Brundtland Commission, sustainability means meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. In the digital technology sector, achieving
sustainability requires a multidisciplinary approach, involving collaboration with engineers, scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders

This unit provides you with essential pitching and negotiation skills, critical for securing new contracts and achieving favourable business deals. Effective pitching not only drives sales and networking opportunities but also enhances the ability to negotiate in various business transactions, helping to secure better terms. These skills are highly transferable, adding value to businesses across multiple industries.

How to Apply in Clearing

To study this course on a full-time basis, you can apply in Clearing. You'll need to provide evidence of your academic qualifications, and showcase your skills, qualities and passion for the subject.

Apply Now in Clearing Further Information on Applying
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Entry Requirements

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Career Opportunities

On successful completed of this HND you can apply for the following careers

  • Data Analytics
  • Cyber Security
  • Software Developer
  • Business Intelligence Analyst
  • Cloud Solutions Architect

Fees and Funding

UK Full-time Tuition Fee

£6,168*

per year
UK Part-time Tuition Fee

£1,028**

per 20 credit module
International Full-time Tuition Fee

£6,570

per year

*Maximum tuition fees chargeable to Home-fee students are set by the UK Government normally in the autumn or early winter in the year prior to the year of entry (e.g. autumn 2025 for entry in 2026/27). The University of Suffolk reserves the right to increase tuition fees for 2026/27 if the UK Government increases the maximum annual fee. **Please contact Student Centre for further information on part-time fees.

Further Information

At University of Suffolk, your tuition fees provide access to all the usual teaching and learning facilities that you would expect. However, there may be additional costs associated with you course that you will need to budget for.

UK fees and finance UK bursaries and scholarships International fees and scholarships