DiDA

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This article is about the British qualification. For other uses, see Dida.

The DiDA (Diploma in Digital Applications) is an optional information and communication technology (ICT) course studied by Key Stage 4 or equivalent school students (aged 14-16) in the United Kingdom. The course was introduced in 2005 (after a pilot starting in 2004) by the Edexcel examination board and is being taken up by an increasing number of schools to replace their previous BTEC or GCSE courses in ICT.

The course consists of four units:

Using ICT
Multimedia
Graphics
ICT in Enterprise

Each module is assessed entirely using coursework.

Students who complete the Using ICT module alone receive an Award in Digital Applications (AiDA), which is equivalent to one GCSE or Standard Grade. Those who complete the Using ICT unit and any one of the other three units receive a Certificate in Digital Applications (CiDA), which is equivalent to two GCSEs or Standard Grades. Students who complete all four modules receive the full Diploma in Digital Applications (DiDA), which is equivalent to four GCSEs or Standard Grades.

Like many vocational courses, many question whether the DiDA is really as demanding as, and therefore really equivalent to, four GCSEs or Standard Grades.