Salford Higher Technical Skills
Our Higher Technical Skills courses are designed to give you hands-on, vocational training, fast. These qualifications provide a concentrated experience over one or two years, so you’re prepared for immediate employment upon finishing your studies and can hit the ground running.
To find out more, read on or book to visit us at an Open Day.
Learn by doing
By choosing one of these programmes, you are preparing for your future. The courses are hands-on and practical, and you will be supported throughout your studies.
Each of our courses has been written and advised upon by a variety of senior industry professionals to ensure that we’re developing courses that are up-to-date and relevant to today’s challenges. Employers in all sectors are desperate for competent, technical, digitally savvy people to join their teams.
The flexible learning options available mean that you can choose to study either full or part-time.
On a Salford Higher Technical Skills course, you will learn by doing – making sure that you develop the job-ready skills needed to succeed. The course will teach you the technical elements of your chosen field and provide you with the practical skills required to satisfy industry and employer needs.
Automation and Instrumentation
Troubleshoot. Engineer. Advance.
Automation and Instrumentation are critical areas in today's industrial landscape.
This DipHE in Automation and Instrumentation offers a comprehensive curriculum covering basic maths, physics, programming, Industry 4.0, data acquisition and automation principles. This programme prepares students for a flourishing career in the field of industrial automation, which is in high demand across various industries.
Your studies will be at a university with an established profile in these areas and supported by the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology.
- DipHE Automation and Instrumentation - from September 2025
Business Analytics
Assess. Interpret. Optimise.
Business Analysts play an important role in many organisations, working with stakeholders to improve business processes and to successfully plan and deliver business change projects. You will develop a range of both technical and communication skills which will enable you to successfully fulfil the role of a Business Analyst.
The programme is mapped to the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education Occupational Standard for Business Analysts, meaning it develops in students the skills, knowledge and behaviours demanded by employers in this sector.
Creative and Digital Media
Film. Edit. Export.
This two-year course trains you to become a digital media creative, highly skilled in all the tools necessary for developing and distributing digital content across broadcast media and streaming platforms within business, government, and the charity sector.
The course focuses on the software and hardware you need to master in order to become an essential team member in this fast-growing field.
Data Science
Analyse. Programme. Solve.
Data Science is a fast-growing interdisciplinary field which combines statistics, machine learning, Artificial Intelligence and data analysis to extract insights from data. This two-year course will introduce you to the fundamentals of Data Science and data analysis and give you practical experience working with industry-standard tools, systems and programming languages.
Through problem-based learning, practical computer-based workshops and group activities, you will gain the skills and knowledge you need to succeed in industry.
- DipHE Data Science - from September 2025
Digital and Software Technology
Script. Test. Launch.
This DipHE programme addresses a skills shortage in the general area of ‘digital’ and software technology. The programme will provide you with a broad set of skills suitable for technical roles in which you can implement software solutions that enable businesses to develop new products and services, and increase productivity using selected digital technologies.
The programme therefore provides you with a broad appreciation and understanding of digital technology which includes computing, data science, networking, security, business systems and operations.
Esports Business Management
Host. Broadcast. Level Up.
On this two-year course you will develop the creative and digital skills needed in the Esports industry and have the ability to demonstrate these in live environments. You will learn about the ethics and integrity that sustain the industry, with a view to ensuring sustainable practices for Esports communities.
The course will also allow you develop your broadcasting technical skills in a practical and safe environment.
Watch a subject spotlight video on the Springpod platform or click below to visit the course page and find out everything you need to know:
Motion Capture for the Creative Industries
Capture. Generate. Worldbuild.
Do you want to learn how to turn performers’ movements into digital avatars? Do you want to learn this in relation to the gaming and creative industries? You can do this on our two year programme.
Motion Capture is used extensively across games, film and animation, as well as applications in health and sports science. These new programmes will teach you the skills you need to be a technician and operator of this rapidly evolving technology.
Nursing Associate
Care. Support. Administer.
The Nursing Associate is a highly trained support role to deliver effective, safe and responsive nursing care in and across a wide range of health and care settings. This role will bridge the gap between a support worker and a Registered Nurse, providing a workforce for future healthcare.
Nursing Associates will work independently, and as part of the healthcare team, delivering care in a range of primary, secondary, community and social care settings. In this role, you will deliver hands-on care, focusing on ensuring patients continue to get the compassionate care they deserve. The programme is a two-year programme leading to a Nursing Associate Foundation Degree.
Social Media Content Creation
Create. Share. Influence.
This two-year course trains you to become a social media creator – highly skilled in producing, delivering, distributing, and measuring the success of content across a range of social media channels and platforms.
You will gain detailed knowledge of the social media industry and learn how to confidently shoot content using the latest market-relevant camera and sound recording equipment.
Watch a subject spotlight video on the Springpod platform or click below to visit the course page and find out everything you need to know:
Qualifications
Once you've completed your course, you'll receive a level 4 or a level 5 qualification. As an example, level 4 is equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree and level 5 is equivalent to a foundation degree.
Take a look at our list below to see the most common UK qualifications under each level of study (from levels 3 - 8).
Level 3
- A Levels
- Level 3 BTEC
- Access to HE diploma
- Advanced apprenticeship
Level 4
- Year 1 of an undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree
- Level 4 BTEC
- CertHE (Certificate of Higher Education)
- HNC
- Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship
Level 5
- Year 2 of an undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree
- Level 5 BTEC
- Foundation degree
- DipHE (Diploma of Higher Education)
- HND
- Level 5 Higher Apprenticeship
Level 6
- Undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree
- Degree apprenticeship (Undergraduate)
Level 7
- Postgraduate (Masters) degree
- Degree apprenticeship (Postgraduate)
Level 8
- PhD / Doctorate
Why study with us?
There are countless reasons why our university could be the place for you, including our unbeatable links to industry, state-of-the-art facilities and award-winning academics.
But the thing we love most about Salford is the community our staff and students have built together, to make our university a warm and welcoming place to live and study.
You will benefit from being part of both the University of Salford, and the GM IoT network of learners - based here at Salford but with access to support and activities within the GM IoT network.
Greater Manchester Institute of Technology
The world is changing and technical skills are in demand. The Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT) offers a range of Higher Technical Skills courses designed to fast track learners into jobs within the construction, engineering, health, and digital sectors – all areas of growth for Greater Manchester.
At Salford we are working in partnership with a variety of colleges and employer partners in the city region to develop courses that ensure our learners have real world experience and prepare them for the jobs of the future.
When studying a Higher Technical Skills course with us, you will have regular contact with industry and employers through visits, guest speakers, live briefs and placement opportunities, and you will learn in state-of-the-art facilities.
You will be based at the University of Salford, and also part of the GMIoT community of learners across the network.
Want to know what's happening at the Greater Manchester Institute of Technology? Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
How to apply
We want to make sure that applying to study a Higher Technical Skills course at the University of Salford is as straightforward as possible, so we’ve put together some useful information to help you with your application. You can find the individual entry requirements on the relevant course page.
If you are an employer and would like to find out more about our Higher Technical Skills courses and how they can be used to develop, retain and up-skill your staff, please get in touch with us at highertechnicalskills@salford.ac.uk.
Fees and funding
Fees for our Higher Technical Skills courses vary and you can find more information about the cost for your chosen course on the individual course webpage. We know that making the decision to study at university can be a big financial commitment, but there’s lots of financial support available to help with the cost of your studies.
Events
Open Day events are the best way to discover more about studying at University of Salford. You’ll have the chance to get help with finance, explore our campus, and learn more about our courses.
Get in touch
Have any questions? Or want to find out more? Please get in touch and we'll be happy to help!