Computing T Level - Digital Software Development

View The Isle of Wight College's standard entry requirements for full-time college courses (depending on the level of the course to be studied).

To join this course, you will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at grade 4 or above, including Maths and English Language.

If you are progressing from another programme within the college, you will need a Level 2 qualification in a related subject at Merit or above, plus English and Maths at Level 2.

This course is only open to learners aged 16–19, or to learners with a current Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

The T Level in Digital Software Development is perfect for learners who are serious about stepping into the world of professional computing and programming. If you enjoy solving problems, building digital solutions, and working on real industry projects, this course will take your skills to the next level.

This programme is designed for students who want an exciting alternative to A Levels, one that blends hands-on coding, technical theory, workplace learning and exposure to real employers.

You’ll dive into modern programming languages, software design approaches, version control platforms, and industry-standard development tools. You’ll explore the realities of working in tech, including ethics, legal responsibilities, customer expectations, and commercial needs. By the end, you’ll have the skills, mindset and experience needed to step confidently into a digital career or higher-level study.

You’ll gain a deep understanding of digital technologies, programming principles and real-world software development. This includes:

Core Digital Knowledge

• Problem solving and computational thinking
• Programming techniques and best practice
• Emerging digital and technological issues
• Legislation, security and regulatory requirements
• Commercial and business context
• Data, information and digital environments
• Networking, hardware, cloud and virtual systems
• Cybersecurity and threat mitigation

Employer Set Project

You will take part in a substantial employer-set project where you will:

• Solve real development challenges
• Plan and manage a project
• Fix and improve existing code
• Test solutions and produce documentation
• Design and implement new software features

Occupational Specialism: Digital Software Development

You will develop the specialist skills needed to work in the software industry, including:

• Analysing user and system requirements
• Designing software and modelling solutions
• Using at least two programming languages
• Writing, testing and maintaining software
• Using collaborative development workflows
• Managing and supporting codebases
• Applying ethical, legal and secure development practices

This component ensures you reach threshold competence, meaning you're ready to enter the digital sector as a junior professional.

Learning is active, practical and immersive. This course blends theory with real development practice so you can build strong, industry-ready skills.

You will learn through:

• Workshops where you write, test and develop software
• Lectures and seminars that explore digital theory and emerging tech
• Independent study using online tools and real development environments
• Guest speakers from industry and universities
• Employer-set challenges
• Industry placement to gain real work experience
• Collaborative projects using professional workflows and version control

Digital learning tools will be embedded throughout the course, giving you 24/7 access to materials, coding environments and online resources.

An industry placement is a key part of your T Level and gives you the opportunity to apply your skills in a real software or digital environment. All students must complete a minimum of 315 hours (roughly 45 days) with an employer during the course.

You’ll work on real tasks, experience workplace expectations, and gain valuable insight into how digital teams operate. Students are encouraged to find their own placement to match their interests, but the college will fully support you in securing an appropriate employer if needed.

Your placement will help you to:

• Build hands-on experience in a real development setting
• Strengthen your CV and university applications
• Develop professional behaviours and confidence
• Work with developers, analysts and IT professionals
• Apply programming and problem-solving skills to real challenges

This placement experience is one of the most valuable elements of the T Level and gives you a major advantage when progressing to employment or higher study.

After successfully completing your T Level, you’ll be ready to move straight into employment, an apprenticeship, or higher-level study.

Potential careers include:

• Software Developer
• Web Developer
• IT Business Analyst
• App Developer
• Digital Marketer
• Junior Programmer
• QA/Automated Test Developer
• Junior Games Developer
• Application Support Analyst

Further study options:

• HNC Software Development - Study here at the college towards your degree!
• Undergraduate degrees in Computing, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Data Science or related fields
• Higher-Level Apprenticeships (e.g., Level 4 Software Developer)

There may be a cost for purchasing equipment or uniform for this course. Find out about financial support available.