Diploma | Information Technology (ASL) : Edexcel

The Additional and Specialist Learning (ASL) component of the Diploma complements the Principal Learning. ASL gives learners the chance to deepen or broaden their studies by allowing them to choose qualifications they are interested in, and which are in line with their employment and educational progression goals.

Specialist Learning consists of qualifications related to the specific Line of Learning of the Diploma and the relevant employment sectors. These qualifications support progression within those employment sectors and/or on to further and higher learning.

Additional Learning consists of qualifications generally drawn from outside the learner’s Principal Learning area. Additional Learning should offer broad progression opportunities meeting individual needs, interests and aspirations. In addition, it can be matched to sector needs and market requirements.

To achieve the ASL component of the Diploma, learners complete any combination of approved qualifications to reach the minimum required guided learning hours (glh). These can be Additional and/or Specialist Learning qualifications. Normally this will be at the same level as the Principal Learning, but learners can choose to take all or part of the ASL at one level higher. Learners may also achieve a qualification which is up to 50% larger than the required glh.

Why choose Additional and Specialist Learning qualifications from Edexcel?

Choose Edexcel, and you’ll have access to all the components of the Diploma through the same awarding body at all the levels and for each Line of Learning.

Additional and Specialist Learning in the Diploma catalogue includes a wide range of new and existing Edexcel qualifications, for example:

BTEC National Awards and First Certificates
BTEC Short courses, which include specialist qualifications available at 60 glh (all levels), 120 glh (levels 1 and 2 only), 180 glh (all levels) and 360 glh (level 3 only)
WorkSkills
GCSEs and GCEs

Benefits of BTEC qualifications for Additional and Specialist Learning

Flexibility and choice: Qualifications from the BTEC National, First and Introductory suites, plus our Short courses, which include Specialist Learning, are all available for Additional and/or Specialist Learning.

BTEC Specialist Learning: Qualifications are currently available at 60 glh (all levels), 120 glh (levels 1 and 2), 180 glh (all levels) and 360 glh (level 3) for Engineering, CBE, SHD and IT, and include units you may be familiar with from other BTECs, including Firsts and Nationals. While working towards the Diploma, learners may achieve several individual qualifications that are valuable in their own right. Other Lines of Learning will be added. These qualifications are also suitable for Additional Learning in other Diploma lines.

For a quick reference guide to the structure and units available, please refer to our Specialist Learning information leaflets, which can be found in the ASL section of each line of Principal Learning. These leaflets contain information for each qualification available under the title at a given level (for example, one leaflet contains information on the Level 1 Award, Certificate and Extended Certificate in Construction and the Built Environment).

Stand alone: Centres which offer BTECs as ASL can also offer them as stand-alone qualifications to non-Diploma learners.

Convenient timetabling: Centres offering BTEC courses can enrol Diploma learners in the same classes as learners taking the BTEC qualification as a stand-alone course.

Funding opportunities: Centres which choose to offer the Diploma can then access funding for their BTEC courses through the Diploma pathway.

Cost saving: Centres which already offer BTEC qualifications can offer most of them for the Diploma using existing resources, including teaching material and staff. In most cases, this means there is no need to undertake expensive retraining or buy new course materials.

Other qualifications: Centres can choose to combine a BTEC with another qualification(s), for example an Edexcel Advanced Subsidiary GCE or a GCSE Short Course.

The full list of approved qualifications for all Lines of Learning and levels is available in the National Database of Approved Qualifications (NDAQ) Diploma catalogue.

ASL curriculum models

The options illustrated are just a few examples of how learners can access either Edexcel Specialist or Additional Learning qualifications or a combination of both.

If you are unable to see the qualification(s) you want under the specific Line of Learning and level, try browsing other lines and levels for more option model ideas and then access the full list of approved qualifications for the required Line of Learning and level on the National Database of Approved Qualifications (NDAQ) Diploma Catalogue. It is recommended that you check all qualifications against barring codes for forbidden combinations. If you have any problems using the NDAQ Diploma Catalogue we have prepared a guide to help you.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3