Data is the most valuable asset any organisation holds. The people who know how to collect it, manage it, analyse it and turn it into decisions — those are the people every business is hiring right now. The ATHE Level 5 Extended Diploma in Computing (Data Technologist) is a 120-credit, Ofqual-regulated qualification at higher education level. It's purpose-built for people who want to work at the heart of the data economy — in data engineering, analytics, machine learning and database architecture. It builds on computing foundations and provides access to pathway learning for role-based occupational development, combining core computing management units with specialist technical data pathways. What makes this qualification different is how it's structured. You build real professional competency through the mandatory core units, then go deep into your chosen data specialisms through the optional pathway. The qualification culminates in a synoptic project where you bring together and apply everything you've learned across the course— a practical demonstration of your capability, not just a certificate. This qualification can be delivered in the classroom, via distance learning or blended, and is available both part-time and full-time. All assessments are assignment-based — no exams. Advanced Learner Loans are available in the UK for eligible students. On completion, you can progress directly to a BSc (Hons) or BEng degree at a UK university via the top-up route — typically in one to two further years of study.