Skip to main content
D C G Logo

Derby College Group (DCG)
Telephone: 0800 028 0289
https://www.derby-college.ac.uk
enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk

0800 028 0289

  • Contact
  • Jobs
  • How to Apply
  • About DCG
  • Home
  • Courses & Careers
    Course SearchSubject Areas at DCGCourse Types at DCGCampuses & Course LocationsDCG Success StoriesCareer SearchCareer PathwaysDownload a ProspectusFree – ESF Fully Funded Course
  • Employers
  • Student Support
  • Parents
  • News/Events
    EventsNewsEvent Registration
DCG Courses Foundation Degree in Software Development (FdSc) – 2 years (HTQ)

Foundation Degree in Software Development (FdSc) – 2 years (HTQ)

This two-year course provides the knowledge base for applicants wishing to pursue or advance their career in the fast-moving digital sector as a software developer.

Apply Now

Course Summary

Subject Area: IT, Digital Skills and Computer Science
Course Type: Higher Education
Location: Joseph Wright Centre
Full Time or Part Time: FT
Level: 5
Number Of Years: 2
Interview Required?: Y
Weeks: 32
Hours: 9.75
Start: 29/09/2025
Tuition: £8500 Per Year
Joseph Wright Centre

Apply now at: https://www.derby-college.ac.uk/course/foundation-degree-software-development-fdsc-2-years-htq
QR Code
  • Information for Students
  • Information for Employers
  • Related Careers
  • Success Stories

Course Information for Students

Who is this course for?

This programme is approved through, and forms part of, the University of Derby’s School of Computing and Engineering.

The two-year Foundation Degree reviews all aspects of software design.

The programme is delivered by experienced Higher Education lecturers who have had careers within the Digital and IT sector and who can relate this topic using a diverse range of scenarios.

Although you may only be in classes on two or three days per week, there is an expectation that you will spend the equivalent of a further three days in independent study and undertake a period of mandatory employer engagement to support your studies.

This may involve you being invited in on non-timetabled days or working with employers during weekends to fulfil some elements of the course. Please note that classes can take place over traditional half-term holidays that fall within the identified semester weeks.

The course is regulated by the OfS and the qualification is awarded by the University of Derby.

All students have access to the UDO online platform, the Derby College Group Learning Resources Centre, the University of Derby library, and the College’s Moodle pages. 

Entry Requirements

All applicants will be invited to complete an online interview or site visit at which interviews will take place to discuss their qualifications, experience and any other related topics.

You should have one of the following:

  • 48 UCAS points, with at least 32 preferably coming from a related subject (e.g. ICT or Computer Sciences)
  • Access to HE qualifications

You will also need:

  • GCSE English at grades 9-4 (A*- C)
  • An appropriate competency in maths for higher level study

We also welcome applicants who lack institutional qualifications. All such applicants will be interviewed and may be set an appropriate piece of work upon which a judgement will be made, taking into account their academic potential and relevant experience.

All applicants are subject to approval from the University of Derby. 

You will need to be aged 18 or over at the beginning of the course.

What will you learn?

Modules:

Year 1: There are six modules. These are split over two 12-week semesters. You will complete three in the first semester and three in the second semester.

Level  CodeTitleCore/ Option/ PathwayPre-requisitesCredits
Level 44CM604ProgrammingCorenone20
4CM605Computational MathematicsCorenone20
4CM606Foundations of Computer and IT SystemsCorenone20

4CM608

 

Computer Systems, Data Structures and Data ManagementCorenone20
4CM613Scripting and Web TechnologiesCorenone20
4CM6xxWork Based Project Corenone20

Year 2: There are six modules. These are split over two 12-week semesters. You will complete three in the first semester and three in the second semester.

Level 55CM604Legal and Ethical Issues in ComputingCore 20
5CM605Software EngineeringCore 20
5CM606Data Driven SystemsCore 20
5CM613IT Product DesignCore 20
5CM614IT Services and ApplicationsCore 20
5CC619Team Project Core 20

You will be expected to undertake a relevant work placement or meaningful employer engagement each academic year.

How will you learn?

You will learn on-site at the Joseph Wright Centre. Your studies are likely to be timetabled over three days, with independent study and research expected across the rest of the week.

Attendance is expected to be no lower that 90%. This is linked to Student Finance England maintenance loans which will be put at risk if you drop below this level.

The core higher education academic year will be for a duration of 33 weeks for the purposes of maintenance loans. You will receive a proportion of this time as direct delivery, with any additional time – as deemed appropriate by the programme team and the awarding body – for activities such as induction, tutorials, research, directed study and reading weeks.  The direct delivery time for this course will be 30 weeks.

What will you need to bring with you?

Course fees are £7000 per year.

It is advisable that you have access to your own laptop for research and assignment writing. 

Additional trips and visits are usually provided as part of your study programme. However, there may be social or team building opportunities which would incur additional costs. As a University of Derby affiliate, you would be able to access the same events and activities that are offered to Higher Education students there.

How will you be assessed?

You will be assessed using a variety of methods which may include practical and theory exams, reports and assignments, presentations and project work. The assessment methods are designed to review your understanding and knowledge relevant to the sector.

Where next?

The Foundation Degree provides the perfect progression platform for further study on a Top Up Degree.

You may also wish to progress to employment within the sector as a software developer. 

This qualification is awarded by the University of Derby. www.derby.ac.uk

Who do you contact for more information?

For more information, contact Derby College Group on 0800 0280289 or enquiries@derby-college.ac.uk

Disclaimer

In line with the Consumer Act and our Student Protection Plan, we reserve the right to close a course – if there are insufficient student numbers to make the course financially viable.

Course Information for Employers

Information for Employers

If you are an employer and would like to know more about the apprenticeships and professional training we deliver or how you can get involved in co-creating and co-delivering the curriculum, please contact us via email on businessenquiries@derby-college.ac.uk, call us on 01332 387 421 or visit our employer pages here.

Career Information

Sorry - no lmi data
More Careers Information at: https://www.derby-college.ac.uk/career-pathways
QR Code

DCG Success Stories

Discover how our students have achieved success. Their hard work and dedication to learning has enabled them to succeed in rewarding careers or progress onto higher education.

role model

We encourage progress and aspirational outcomes by guiding people onto learning pathways that lead to positive destinations. Our students have gone on to achieve great things since leaving the College. We would like to share some of their inspiring success stories with you.

View Role Models

online application form

Get Started...

Use our online application form to apply for this course.

Apply Now

Course Information Last Updated On: July 11, 2025 10:10 am

Modal title

  • Overview
  • Knowledge & Skills
  • Employment & Salary
  • DCG Courses
career thumbnail

Overview

An overview of the career

Knowledge and Skills Required

Skills

These are the skills that are commonly needed in this career.

SkillImportance
Knowledge

These are the ten most import areas of knowledge commonly needed for this career.

KnowledgeImportance

Employment Data

Annual Job Openings

Currently Employed

Annual Earnings

This shows the current annual learnings for this career.

Starting Salary

Average Salary

High Salary

PercentileSalary
Age of the Workforce

This is the breakdown of ages who work in this career.

Age GroupPercentage
Education Level of the Workforce

This is the education level of the workforce.

Education LevelPercentage
Employment Forecast

This is the projected number of jobs available.

YearNumber Employed
Employment Proportion by Sex

This shows the proportion of males and females who work in this career.

Male/FemalePercentage

Suitable Courses

Suitable Courses

D C G Logo
  • Derby College Facebook
  • Derby College Youtube
  • Derby College Instagram

Courses

  • Course Search
  • Career Search
  • Subject Areas at DCG
  • Career Pathways
  • Course Types at DCG
  • Campuses & Course Locations at DCG
  • Download a Prospectus
  • Chart Your Future

Students

  • Student Support
  • Student Services
  • Login to inTouch
  • Report an Absence or Lateness
  • Moodle VLE
  • Think Alumni
  • Student Bursary

Staff

  • Staff Intranet
  • Remote Desktop
  • Systems Hub
  • Email

DCG

  • Governance
  • Policies and Papers
  • Why work for us?
  • Meet the Governors
  • Who’s Who
  • Website Accessibility Statement
  • Data Protection
  • Freedom of Information
  • Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Statement
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Environmental and Sustainability at DCG
  • DCG-Annual-Accountability-Statement-2024-25
  • DCG Strategy and Regulation – Accountability Statement 2025-26

Study with Us

  • DCG Success Stories
  • DCG Covid Safety

Student Life

  • Derby College Students Union

More

  • Covid Safety
  • Apprenticeship Vacancies
  • Open to the Public
  • Term Dates
  • College Calendar 2025-26

Quick Links

  • Contact Us
  • How to Apply
  • Make a Payment
  • Report an Absence or Lateness
  • Jobs at DCG
DCG Logo Derby College Group
Manage Consent
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}