Advanced networking (CCNP Enterprise)

As a Cisco Academy, we offer Cisco Certified Network Professional courses: CCNP and CCIE (Internetworking Expert), Enterprise Core (ENCOR) and CCNP Enterprise Advanced Routing (ENARSI). Cisco is a worldwide leader in infrastructure networking technologies, including corporate and private networking, security and telecommunication systems. This module gives the knowledge, understanding and skills to build and maintain large-scale data networks using Cisco equipment and extend your research skills. You’ll use an advanced network simulator and gain hands-on practical lab experience via NETLAB, using current Cisco routers and switches.

Module

Module code
T829
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
60
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

What you will study

In this module, you’ll study the latest version of the CCNP curriculum. You’ll use an online virtual learning environment provided by Cisco through its academy programme, supported by the Cisco Press CCNP and CCIE Enterprise Core (ENCOR) and CCNP Enterprise Advanced Routing (ENARSI) ebooks.

During this course, you’ll cover routing, path selection and switching protocols such as BGP, MPLS, EIGRP, STP and OSPF. Plus, wireless infrastructure troubleshooting, secure network access control, network programmability and virtualisation. You’ll also explore troubleshooting routed and switched environments, Access Control Lists (ACLs) and secure DMVPM tunnels.

For queries on module content, contact the module team.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

Throughout your module studies, you’ll get help and support from your assigned module tutor. They’ll help you by:

  • Marking your assignments (TMAs) and providing detailed feedback for you to improve.
  • Guiding you to additional learning resources.
  • Providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content.
  • Facilitating online discussions between your fellow students, in the dedicated module forum.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box.

Course work includes

4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment

Future availability

Advanced networking (CCNP Enterprise) (T829) starts once a year – in November.

This page describes the module that will start in November 2024.

We expect it to start for the last time in November 2026.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements.

Ideally, you should have gained CCNA (Cisco Certified Networking Associate). This can be from any qualification within the CCNA portfolio or studying the equivalent at any Cisco Academy since 2005 – including the Open University. This provides sufficient grounding and background knowledge to ensure that the CCNP Enterprise content is achievable.

However, Cisco state that anyone with sufficient experience may attempt the CCNP Enterprise without prior certification. We recommend that you consider this with care – explore the scope of the current CCNAR+S and consider if this is a close fit to your professional skill set.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum overall score of 6 and minimum score of 5.5 in each of the four components: reading, writing, speaking and listening under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see the IELTS website for details.

Preparatory work

It would be useful to have a basic understanding of the general principles of computer networking, including routing protocols, switching concepts and network addressing such as CIDR and VLSM. We provide resources covering these topics on the module website.

Register

Start End England fee Register
01 Nov 2024 Oct 2025 £3320.00

Registration closes 03/10/24 (places subject to availability)

Register
This module is expected to start for the last time in November 2026.

Future availability

Advanced networking (CCNP Enterprise) (T829) starts once a year – in November.

This page describes the module that will start in November 2024.

We expect it to start for the last time in November 2026.

Additional costs

Study costs

There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

Ways to pay for this module

We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

Study materials

What's included

You’ll have access to a module website, which includes:

  • a week-by-week study planner
  • access to Cisco online networking material
  • additional supplementary materials
  • an ebook containing the main study material
  • access to the University’s extensive collection of online journals
  • access to an advanced network simulator and remote labs
  • access to online forums.

Computing requirements

You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11) or macOS Ventura or higher.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop, as described above.

If you have a disability

The module content is primarily sourced from Cisco and their partner organisations – the academic content is based on ebooks and online curriculum, which is accessible when you configure your screen reader technology to work with the format.

There is also practical, remote lab and simulation content – using networking command line technologies. These are both accessible to screen readers – however, the pre-configuration requirement is greater and may require some additional set-up time for some, based on personal need and local desktop computing resources.

To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our disability support pages.

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