Provisional Qualification: T Level in Digital Support and Security

^{The proposed qualification, awarding organisation, occupational specialism, content and assessment arrangements are provisional and may be subject to change before the start of the course.}

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Protect systems. Solve problems. Experience the digital workplace.

Every organisation relies on technology. Networks need to stay connected. Systems need to remain secure. Data needs to be protected. And when something goes wrong, organisations need people with the technical knowledge to understand the problem and find a solution.

Digital Support and Security is an intensive two-year technical programme for students who want to go beyond simply using technology and develop the knowledge and practical skills needed to support, secure and maintain the digital systems organisations depend upon.

At BOA Digital, the T Level provides one of our most immersive digital pathways. You'll combine substantial technical study with real experience in the workplace, exploring areas such as cyber security, digital infrastructure, networks, data, digital systems, troubleshooting and emerging technology.

What will I study?

The course begins with a substantial Digital Core, developing the knowledge that underpins different careers across the technology sector.

You'll explore how digital systems and organisations interact, how data is used and protected, how digital environments are designed and managed, and how organisations identify and respond to technical problems.

The core also explores security, testing, planning, legislation and regulatory requirements, alongside emerging developments within the digital sector. This means thinking not only about how technology works, but how organisations use it safely, legally and effectively.

You'll be challenged to approach technology differently: not simply asking “How do I use this?”, but “How does it work? What could go wrong? How could I improve it? How do I protect it?”

Cyber Security

Cyber security is one of the occupational specialisms currently available within Digital Support and Security and provides an exciting potential direction for the BOA Digital programme.

You'll explore the principles and practices involved in protecting systems, networks, devices and data from digital threats. This means developing the technical and analytical thinking needed to recognise vulnerabilities, investigate potential security problems and understand how organisations reduce digital risk.

Cyber security isn't simply about technology. People, processes and decisions all affect how secure an organisation is. You'll therefore develop an understanding of the wider security environment and the importance of responding appropriately when systems or information could be at risk.

It's a field that rewards curiosity, attention to detail, logical thinking and the ability to solve unfamiliar problems.

Find the weakness. Understand the threat. Protect the system.

Digital Infrastructure

Another potential specialist route is Digital Infrastructure – the technology that keeps organisations connected and operational.

You'll develop your understanding of the systems, devices and networks that allow information to move around an organisation. You'll explore how digital infrastructure is implemented and supported, how technical problems are diagnosed and how organisations maintain reliable digital services.

This is where technical knowledge becomes practical problem-solving. When a device cannot connect, a network isn't behaving as expected or a user experiences a technical problem, you need to be able to investigate, diagnose and resolve the issue systematically.

It provides a pathway towards the people who work behind the scenes to keep our increasingly connected world running.

Learn through real technical challenges

Take your skills into the workplace

One of the biggest differences between a T Level and many other Sixth Form qualifications is the industry placement.

Every T Level includes a substantial placement of at least 315 hours – approximately 45 days – with an employer. This gives you the opportunity to experience a professional workplace, develop technical and professional skills and understand how the knowledge developed at BOA Digital is applied in a real organisation.

Rather than waiting until after Sixth Form to discover what working in technology is really like, you begin building that experience as part of your course.

You'll encounter professional expectations, workplace systems, deadlines, colleagues and real organisational challenges. That experience can become an important part of your CV and gives you something powerful to discuss when applying for university, apprenticeships or employment.

Digital technology that keeps the world working

Almost every modern organisation depends upon secure and reliable digital infrastructure.

Schools, hospitals, banks, manufacturers, retailers, transport networks, government departments, technology companies and thousands of other organisations rely on people who can maintain systems, support users, protect information and respond when technology doesn't behave as expected.

And as organisations become more connected, the challenge grows. Cloud computing, connected devices, artificial intelligence and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats mean that organisations need people who understand both the opportunities technology creates and the risks that come with it.

Digital Support and Security places you inside that challenge.

How will I study?

A T Level is a substantial programme and becomes the main focus of your Sixth Form studies. Learning combines technical theory, practical application and workplace experience, allowing you to develop knowledge and then apply it to increasingly realistic situations.

You'll work independently and collaboratively, investigate technical scenarios, develop solutions and learn how to approach problems systematically. You'll also spend significant time developing the occupational skills associated with your chosen specialism.

This is therefore particularly suited to students who enjoy technology, practical problem-solving and understanding how systems work, and who want their Sixth Form experience closely connected to the digital workplace.

How will the course be assessed?

The T Level combines assessment of the core technical knowledge with assessment of the occupational specialism. The programme also includes completion of the substantial industry placement.

Where could Digital Support and Security take me?

Digital Support and Security can provide a pathway towards careers in areas such as cyber security, IT support, digital infrastructure, network support and technical services.

The current occupational specialisms are aligned with occupations including Cyber Security Technician, Network Technician, Support Technician and Digital Support Technician, giving the programme a clear connection to technical careers.

The T Level can also support progression to higher or degree apprenticeships, Higher Technical Qualifications, university or skilled employment, depending on your individual pathway and future ambitions.

If you're interested in what happens behind the screen – how systems connect, how networks operate, how problems are diagnosed and how digital environments are protected – this pathway gives you the opportunity to turn that curiosity into specialist technical knowledge and real industry experience.

Don't just use technology. Learn how to support it, secure it and keep it working.

CONNECT. PROTECT. SOLVE.