The T-Level in Digital Support and Security is a two year, 3 A-Level equivalent course delivered primarily at further education colleges. It is broken down into two years with four components: ## Route Core (RC) Exams Two exam papers covering a wide range of topics in the digital/IT sector. These exams are computer-based and last two hours and fifteen minutes each, making up 60% of your grade. ## Employer Set Project (ESP) A set of individual tasks that are designed to simulate a project that you may be asked to undertake in an IT job role. These tasks will require you to demonstrate a broad understanding of the IT space and the context in which an IT business operates, they are worth 40% of your grade for your first year. ## Occupational Specialism (OS) The Occupation Specialism (OS) is a very different beast. There are three specialisms, I will be covering the **Digital Support** specialism as it is the course that I deliver. Over the course of approximately two and a half months you will be expected to: * Plan, design, and deploy an data management and user control system. * Respond to support tickets, resolve issues, and create relevant documentation. * Demonstrate your ability to deploy Windows operating system images over the network. ## Work Experience Placement (WEX) At some stage throughout your two hear qualification, you must complete 315 work experience hours. This can be made up with: * 150 hours of onsite experience * Up to 150 hours of remote experience * Up to 35 hours of related work experience (such as training, industry visitors to college, internal work placements). You experience placement can be run either as a weekly commitment until the hours are completed *or* as a single block placement. During your placement you will be visited either by your lecturer or a member of the careers team from your provider at regular intervals throughout the place to ensure that you are making the required progress and meeting the expectations of the employer. ### Reminder **Please remember** – When you’re on placement, you are representing your college. If you fail to meet an employer’s expectations or become disruptive, you risk not only failing your own work experience placement, but also damaging opportunities for future T-Level students.