HNC in Digital Technologies (Cyber Security and Cloud Networking)


  • Start Date: 14/09/2026
  • Course is for: Adult
  • Course Length: 1 Year
  • Funding Support Funding Support:
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Our HNC in Digital Technologies, specialising in Cyber Security & Cloud Networking is paving the way for aspiring professionals like yourself, designed to exceed industry standards.

Our HNCs are co-designed with employers to meet the evolving demands of needed to succeed in industry. So, you not only get the knowledge you need to apply, or progress, but also the practical expertise employers want in only 12 months.

Developed with our partners at Cyber North, the modules are specifically tailored to the digital industry and there is clear progression to the world of work, apprenticeships or an HND course.

The course aims to:

  • Blend foundational digital principles with specialised units in Cyber Security, Programming, and Networking in the Cloud.
  • Prepare you for the challenges of the real-world digital landscape.
  • Provide hands-on experience that directly aligns with what employers are seeking.

This programme is a Level 4 Higher National Certificate (HNC) which could lead you directly into employment or onto the second year of study, on the Level 5 Higher National Diploma (HND).

Modules include:

  • Professional Practice in Digital Economy
  • Innovation & Digital Transformation
  • Cyber Security
  • Programming
  • Big Data & Visualisation
  • Networking in the Cloud
  • Security
  • Networking

Required Entry Qualifications

An appropriate level 3 qualification or A levels.

GCSE English and Maths at grade 9-4 (A*-C) or equivalent.

Mature students may be offered a place without these qualifications.

An interview is required for all applicants.

Your assignments will be written in collaboration with our employers and based around skills needed in the industry.

All assessment will be project based including:

  • Written assignments
  • Practical tasks
  • Presentations.

There will be no exams in these units.

Your tutors have many years of teaching experience across the FE and HE sector.

They also have a background of working in the industry in Data or cyber security.

We are constantly looking to upskill our staff, ensuring currency of delivery and giving you the best possible experience.

Links with local businesses in the digital sector, including Cyber North, mean we can adapt to changes in the industry and access professionals for their experience and advice.

This might include work experience opportunities, guest speakers or visits to digital conferences.

Our Digital Technology curriculum is reviewed by a range of employers to ensure that you will develop the skills required to work in the industry.

The rooms include a range of active network equipment, including patch panels, switches and routers in industry standard racks.

The rooms provide a realistic, practical learning environment for networking configuration and trouble-shooting including lab exercises, firmware patching, cyber security defence and any other hardware related topics.

You can also deploy and access cloud services, existing data repositories for analysis and create back end infrastructure for data led curriculums.

We are always looking to improve our hardware and software to keep rooms and equipment in line with industry standards.

At the end of the year, you can progress into employment or continue your studies and complete a Level 5 HTQ.

Please note: Courses will run subject to sufficient student numbers.

Some units are subject to change depending on industry requirements.

Sometimes planned delivery is subject to change, for example moving to remote learning. If this is the case we will clearly communicate this to you beforehand.

The fee for this course is £5,995.

The fee shown is the fee you will pay per year of study. For example, if the course lasts for one year, this is the full fee you will pay. If the course lasts for one or more years, this is the fee you’ll pay per year of study.

There may be additional costs for equipment, uniforms or study resources which we’ll let you know about at your course interview.

Many of our learners will apply for a Student Loan to help cover these fees. Our friendly team can help you through this process and can be contacted via email at [email protected] or 0191 490 0300 or via Live Chat.

Please note: The fee shown may be subject to change when our fee policy is agreed in Spring 2026. If this happens after you have applied, you will be contacted directly before the course is due to start. All courses will run subject to sufficient student numbers.

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A QUALIFICATION IN HNC IN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES (CYBER SECURITY AND CLOUD NETWORKING)?

  • IT Quality and Testing Professionals
  • IT Network Professionals
  • Cyber Security Professionals
  • Computer System and Equipment Installers and Servicers
  • IT Business Analysts, Architects and Systems Designers

Knowledge

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Telecommunications: Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Median Salary
£42,876

Average Qualifications
Honours, Bachelor's degree

Find Out More

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Telecommunications: Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Median Salary
£46,042

Average Qualifications
Honours, Bachelor's degree

Find Out More

Knowledge

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Telecommunications: Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

Clerical: Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Median Salary
£52,260

Average Qualifications
Honours, Bachelor's degree

Find Out More

Knowledge

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Telecommunications: Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Median Salary
£29,653

Average Qualifications
Honours, Bachelor's degree

Find Out More

Knowledge

Customer and Personal Service: Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Administration and Management: Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modelling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Median Salary
£49,429

Average Qualifications
Honours, Bachelor's degree

Find Out More

Pathways

Marketing and Sales
People in these occupations conduct market research, create advertising content, sell goods, services, or property, and provide customer support.

Skills

Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Skills

Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Learning Strategies
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Mathematics
Using mathematics to solve problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Science
Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
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