How long is the Diploma in Routing & Switching at LSCE?

The Diploma in Routing & Switching runs 9 to 12 months on-campus, online or by distance learning.

Can I study the Diploma in Routing & Switching online?

Yes. LSCE offers the Diploma in Routing & Switching on-campus in central London, fully online with virtual lab access, or by distance learning.

Is the Diploma in Routing & Switching recognised in the UK?

The Diploma in Routing & Switching is a UK Level 4 qualification aligned with CompTIA Network+ references and articulates into LSCE Level 5 network and security routes.

What are the entry requirements for the Diploma in Routing & Switching?

You need a relevant Certificate, A-levels or two years of relevant IT employment, plus GCSE English and Maths at 4/C. IELTS 5.5 is required for non-native English speakers.

How much does the Diploma in Routing & Switching cost?

Fees are published each intake and vary by mode of study. LSCE admissions confirms current pricing and instalment options within one working day.

Diploma in Routing & Switching | LSCE | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Diploma in Routing & Switching is a UK Level 4 qualification, 9-12 months. The programme runs across 9-12 months and is focused on routing and switching. The course builds practitioners in IP addressing, routing protocols, LAN switching, VLANs, WAN technologies and Wi-Fi, and it is designed for candidates who need a UK credential that carries clear weight with employers. The programme is aligned with National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) CyberFirst / CIISec and BCS Cyber Security Specialist Group, and it draws on the wider LSCE partnership with UK professional bodies including ISACA. Teaching is structured around a hands-on Level 4 cohort, with weekly tutor visibility, structured critique of student work and a named programme tutor throughout your studies.

By the time you complete the Diploma in Routing & Switching, you will have produced a working portfolio, a technical write-up and a well-scoped applied project. Assessment across the Diploma in Routing & Switching blends coursework, laboratory work and a closing project report, so you leave with evidence you can put in front of a UK employer or a professional-registration panel. Marks are moderated to UK Level 4 standards, and the course sits inside the LSCE ladder so credit transfer and articulation are considered from your first tutorial. Where relevant, the Diploma in Routing & Switching also builds portfolio evidence toward professional-body membership and the Engineering Council or BCS chartership routes, and the wraparound English-language, careers and study-skills provision on the Diploma in Routing & Switching remains available throughout your registered study period.

Key Features

Curriculum aligned with National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) CyberFirst / CIISec and BCS Cyber Security Specialist Group competency frameworks for the Diploma in Routing & Switching, reviewed each academic year against the latest professional-body guidance.
Applied laboratory, project or portfolio work in IP addressing embedded across every taught module of the Diploma in Routing & Switching, so learning stays close to industry practice.
Weekly named-tutor visibility on the Diploma in Routing & Switching with structured written feedback on your scoped Level 4 project and clear progression targets.
A hands-on Level 4 cohort with cross-cohort critique, employer-style project reviews and mentor pairings drawn from the LSCE alumni network.
LSCE careers-service introductions to UK ISPs, MSPs, enterprise IT teams and telecoms employers through the London employer contact book, plus at least one industry-careers day each academic year.
Three parallel study modes on the Diploma in Routing & Switching: on-campus in central London, fully online with provisioned lab or GPU access, or by distance learning with the same remote provisioning across the Diploma in Routing & Switching.
Rolling intakes and structured induction so working professionals on the Diploma in Routing & Switching can start when the diary allows, plus wraparound English-language and study-skills support during induction.

What You Will Learn

Design and troubleshoot IPv4 and IPv6 addressing plans
Configure OSPF, EIGRP and BGP routing in lab environments
Deploy VLANs, trunking, spanning tree and switch security
Implement WAN technologies including MPLS and SD-WAN concepts
Configure enterprise Wi-Fi with WPA3 and controller-based deployments
Troubleshoot Layer 1 to Layer 3 with structured methodology
Apply BCS and CompTIA Network+ practitioner discipline
Deliver a scoped Level 4 network build against a client brief

Who This Course Is For

IT support staff moving into network engineering roles
Apprentices formalising a Level 4 networking credential
Career changers with prior IT experience entering networks
International applicants targeting UK network operations teams
Working service-desk staff progressing to infrastructure engineering

Career Pathways

Network Engineer
Network Support Analyst
Network Security Engineer (junior)
Systems Analyst
IT Infrastructure Engineer
Cloud Engineer (junior)
Telecoms Engineer
SOC Analyst (junior)

The LSCE careers service maintains a working contact book across UK ISPs, MSPs, enterprise IT teams and telecoms employers, and runs one-to-one application coaching during the final stage of the Diploma in Routing & Switching. Structured application support covers CV, portfolio and interview preparation for UK employers, with warm introductions where cohort fit is close, plus alumni-network mentoring throughout your studies and after graduation.

Entry Requirements

A relevant Certificate, A-levels (or equivalent), or two years of relevant employment.
GCSE English at grade 4/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
IELTS 5.5 overall (no band below 5.0) for non-native English speakers.
One academic or professional reference.
Short statement of intent with a paragraph on career direction.

Why Study at LSCE

The London School of Computing and Engineering is a specialist computing and engineering division of Harold International College of London. LSCE teaches in small tutor-visible cohorts, partners with UK professional bodies including National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) CyberFirst / CIISec and BCS Cyber Security Specialist Group, and puts the AI Safety Institute, Alan Turing Institute, the NCSC, the ICE, IMechE and IET, and central London's engineering consultancies within a short tube ride of every classroom on the Diploma in Routing & Switching. Alignment with CompTIA (Security+, Network+, CySA+) further strengthens the standing of the Diploma in Routing & Switching with employers.

Whether you study on-campus, fully online with provisioned lab or GPU access, or by distance learning, you join the same Diploma in Routing & Switching intake with weekly tutor visibility and named programme-tutor support. LSCE students routinely attend BSides London, IET Young Professionals events, IMechE London Region evenings and BCS group meetings during their studies, and the careers service holds a working contact book with UK employers across UK ISPs, MSPs, enterprise IT teams and telecoms employers. Students on the Diploma in Routing & Switching also access the Harold International College shared library and elective-module catalogue subject to availability.

Apply for Diploma in Routing & Switching

Start your Level 4 qualification with the Diploma in Routing & Switching at LSCE. Click Enrol Now, and admissions will respond within one working day with intake dates and credit-transfer guidance for the Diploma in Routing & Switching. Enrol Now