This QCA-approved Higher Professional Diploma is designed for potential IT managers and gives them the opportunity to explore a range of topics, including how optimise the use of IT in finance, managing strategic information, using IT to solve marketing problems and how to use IT applications in product/service delivery. Assessment is by assignment. The qualification has been designed to be comparable to the first year of a degree course in level and scope and could the first part of a related foundation or honours degree programme.