Professional certifications
Take the next step in your career and upskill with our suite of certifications.
Bath Spa University offers a variety of certifications designed to enhance your professional development and advance your career.
These certifications, recognised across the industry, are designed to support and enhance your career progression, providing you with the skills and credentials needed for professional growth.
"In the 20 years I’ve worked in education, from teaching to writing to managing certifications, the value of professional certifications has only increased. Professional certifications enable you to stand out from the crowd in a competitive market."
Jane Foulkes, Short Course Unit Curriculum Lead, Bath Spa University
British Computer Society
The British Computer Society (BCS) is a global community made up of business leaders, educators, practitioners and policymakers, all committed to their mission.
As a charity with a royal charter, their agenda is to lead the IT industry through its ethical challenges, to support the people who work in the industry, and to make IT good for society. BCS assess and recognise talent at every level through a diverse range of qualifications, professional registrations, content and skills frameworks.
The BCS EXIN Foundation Certificate in Agile Scrum is a unique certification that merges Agile service management techniques with Scrum development frameworks. This certification supports a comprehensive approach to embedding Agile practices across an organization, providing a comprehensive understanding of Agile and Lean methodologies and equipping you with the tools and capabilities to manage change and deliver products and services effectively.
Who is it for?
- Project Managers interested in implementing Agile practices
- Software Developers seeking to enhance their Agile and Scrum knowledge
- Product Managers looking to improve product delivery using Agile Scrum
- IT Service Managers and Business Managers wanting to understand and adopt Agile practices
- Organisational Leaders and Managers who need to comprehend the value of Agile Scrum practices
- Agile Environment Workers that operate within an Agile framework, such as software testers, developers, product owners, business analysts, and Scrum masters
Entry requirements
No specific entry requirements are necessary, but training with a BCS accredited provider is recommended.
Learning outcomes
You'll gain a broad understanding of:
- The Agile way of thinking: Cultivating an Agile mindset
- Scrum practices: Key practices within the Scrum framework
- Scrum planning and estimation: Techniques for effective planning and estimation
- Monitoring Scrum projects: Methods for tracking and monitoring projects
- Advanced Scrum concepts: Deeper insights into advanced Scrum methodologies.
Syllabus and resources
The BCS syllabus contains training objectives, module details, learning hours, and a recommended reading list. Sample questions and answers for exam preparation can be found on the BCS website. Agile books and resources are available at the BCS Bookshop.
What's next?
BCS EXIN Foundation Certificate in Agile Scrum is ideal for professionals looking to deepen their understanding of Agile and Scrum and apply these practices effectively in their work environments. After completing this certification, you could undertake an advanced certification such as BCS EXIN Agile Scrum Master, BCS EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner or BCS EXIN Agile Scrum Product Owner (Bridge).
Exam details
The BCS EXIN Foundation Certificate in Agile Scrum exam is one hour long and is a closed book exam. You'll answer 40 multiple choice questions and must score 65% or higher to pass. Please ensure that you bring photo identification with you on the day of your examination as you will not be allowed to sit the exam without it.
You should have a good understanding of English. If English is your second language, during your exam you’ll be entitled to 25% extra time.
You must complete the exam on a laptop or desktop computer that you have full access to. This exam cannot be undertaken on a phone or tablet. You'll be required to download Question Mark Secure to complete this exam.
Once your booking is confirmed, we'll sign you up for the exam. Details will be shared with you ahead of the exam day.
Cost
BCS EXIN Foundation Certificate in Agile Scrum costs £350.
Next exam days
- Thursday 23 January, 2pm - 4pm
- Thursday 27 February, 2pm - 4pm
- Thursday 20 March, 2pm - 4pm
The BCS Foundation Certificate in Agile is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of Agile concepts and practices. This certification is valuable for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge of Agile methodologies and apply them effectively within their organizations.
Who is it for?
- Business and IT professionals who are interested in Agile practices and methodologies
- Organisational Leaders and Managers who want to understand the value of Agile practices
- Agile Environment Workers that operate within an Agile framework, such as software testers, developers, product owners, business analysts, and Scrum masters
- Anyone who requires an understanding of Agile
Entry requirements
No specific entry requirements are necessary, but training with a BCS accredited provider is recommended.
Learning outcomes
You'll gain a broad understanding of Agile, including:
- Why Agile? Understanding the factors driving Agile adoption
- The Agile manifesto: In-depth exploration of its principles
- The Agile mindset: Cultivating an Agile way of thinking
- Roles in Agile teams: Overview of different roles and responsibilities
- Common Agile practices: Familiarity with standard Agile practices
- Practical application: How to apply Agile methodologies in real-world scenarios.
Syllabus and resources
The BCS syllabus contains training objectives, module details, learning hours, and a recommended reading list. Sample questions and answers for exam preparation can be found on the BCS website. Agile books and resources are available at the BCS Bookshop.
Exam details
The BCS Foundation Certificate in Agile exam is one hour long and is a closed book exam. You'll answer 40 multiple choice questions and must score 65% or higher to pass. The certification is ideal for those looking to solidify their understanding of Agile and apply it effectively in various professional contexts.
Please ensure that you bring photo identification with you on the day of your examination as you will not be allowed to sit the exam without it.
You should have a good understanding of English. If English is your second language, during your exam you’ll be entitled to 25% extra time.
You must complete the exam on a laptop or desktop computer that you have full access to. This exam cannot be undertaken on a phone or tablet. You'll be required to download Question Mark Secure to complete this exam.
Once your booking is confirmed, we'll sign you up for the exam. Details will be shared with you ahead of the exam day.
Cost
BCS Foundation Certificate in Agile costs £350.
Next exam day
- Thursday 23 January, 11am - 1pm
- Thursday 27 February, 11am - 1pm
- Thursday 20 March, 11am - 1pm
Azure Fundamentals
Microsoft offers a comprehensive certification program that covers various areas of technology, cloud computing, data, AI, and business applications. These certifications are globally recognised and designed to validate skills across different roles, such as developers, administrators, data scientists, and security engineers.
The Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) certification is designed for individuals who want to begin learning about cloud services and Microsoft Azure without any prior experience.
The certification provides a broad understanding of basic cloud concepts, Azure services, pricing models, and security features. It is ideal for both technical and non-technical individuals, including those in sales, marketing, and management who need to understand cloud solutions.
Who is it for?
- Beginners: No prior technical or cloud knowledge is required
- Non-technical Professionals: Individuals in marketing, sales, finance, or project management roles who want a foundational understanding of cloud technology and Azure
- Students: Those starting in IT or planning a career in cloud computing
- Technical Professionals: IT professionals looking to understand Azure fundamentals before pursuing more advanced certifications (e.g., administrators, developers, architects).
Why is AZ-900 important?
Whether you are moving into technical cloud roles or just want to understand the cloud, the AZ-900 certification is a great starting point. The certification is perfect for business professionals, as you’ll be provided with enough knowledge to discuss cloud solutions and services, making it easier to work with technical teams.
AZ-900 is also a steppingstone to more specialized Azure certifications, such as Azure Administrator (AZ-104), Azure Developer (AZ-204), and Azure Security Engineer (AZ-500).
Learning outcomes
- Understand core cloud concepts and the benefits of cloud computing
- Be familiar with basic Azure services like storage, networking, and compute
- Can identify and describe Azure security, privacy, and compliance solutions
- Knowledge of Azure pricing models and cost management
- Understanding of available support options and SLAs.
Syllabus and resources
The key topics the certification will cover are:
- Cloud Concepts
- Core Azure Services
- Azure Pricing and Support
- Security, Privacy, Compliance, and Trust
- Azure Management Tools
Microsoft Learn provides free, interactive learning modules to help you prepare for the exam. They also provide practice assessments and study guides to refresh your knowledge.
Exam details
The AZ-900 exam is made up of multiple choice, drag and drop, scenario-based questions. The exam will last approximately 60 – 90 minutes and is available in English, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, and more.
Contact us
If you have any questions about the accreditations offered or any certifications you'd like to complete that we currently don't offer, please get in touch with us at shortcourses@bathspa.ac.uk .