Level 4 & 5 (ND/HND) Diploma in Business and Management

Duration: 1 Year | ₦ 250,000 | £ GBP TBD

 

Both Level 4 Extended Diploma in Business and Management 2018 and the previous 2012 qualification are 120-credit Ofqual regulated qualifications that are the equivalent level to the first year of a bachelor’s degree. We revised our 2012 qualification this year in order to add grade boundaries and new qualification pathways, including our GenEd pathway. Further information is offered on this below.

Please note that certifications are still being accepted on the 2012 qualification. However, the 2012 version will not be certified beyond 31st December 2024.

ATHE Level 4 Extended Diploma in Business and Management 2018

Level 4 Extended Diploma in Business and Management 2018 has been designed for learners who wish to develop the skills and knowledge required for roles in junior management. They have also been developed with progression in mind and enable learners to continue on to a range of Bachelor’s degrees. The addition of our GenEd pathway, if taken in combination with Level 5 Extended Diploma in Business and Management and Level 6 Extended Diploma in Management, allows the learner to progress onto a Bachelor’s degree in the USA at Northwood University in Michigan. A range of specific units are required in order to meet the criteria.



  • Provides 10 optional units offering three possible qualifications
  • Designed with support from universities
  • Graded Pass, Merit or Distinction
  • Extended Diploma is 1,200 learning hours, usually studied over an academic year
  • Can be delivered in the classroom, by distance or by blended learning.

There are three different qualifications available on the 2018 specification. If you study the 120-credit extended diploma then you must study all 4 mandatory units and pick 4 optional units. If you study the 60-credit diploma then you must study 2 mandatory units and 2 optional units. The GenEd version of the qualification requires 11 mandatory units. To see which units are mandatory and see the contents of each unit you can view the Qualification Specification.

These qualifications are designed for learners who are typically aged 18 and above.For learners who have recently been in education or training the entry profile is likely to include one of following:

  • a GCE Advanced level profile with achievement in 2 or more subjects supported by 5 or more GCSEs at grades C and above other related level 3 subjects such as ATHE level 3 Diplomas
  • an Access to Higher Education Certificate delivered by an approved further education institute and validated by an Access Validating Agency
  • other equivalent international qualifications
Learners must also have an appropriate standard of English to enable them to access relevant resources and complete the unit assignments.



Level 4 & 5 (ND/HND) Diploma in Business and Management 2012

Please note that the Level 4 Extended Diploma in Management has been withdrawn in line with Ofqual regulations due to the development of the revised 2018 version. The Operational End Date for the 2012 qualification is 30th September 2019. The Certification End Date is 31st December 2024.

This qualification has been designed for learners who are seeking to progress to higher education to enter the second year of a bachelor’s degree in an area of management and aims to develop learners understanding of management and to develop key management skills. As well as the Extended Diploma option (120 credit) there is a Diploma option (60 credit) and a Certificate option (30 credit).



  • Provides 14 optional units
  • Advanced learner loans available in the UK – See the Qualifications catalogue 2017-2018
  • Designed with support from universities
  • Progression to the second year of a bachelor’s degree with a range of university partners – www.athe.co.uk/progression
  • Extended Diploma is 1,200 learning hours, usually studied over an academic year
  • Can be delivered in the classroom, by distance or by blended learning.

There are three different sized qualifications. If you study the 120-credit extended diploma then you must study all 4 mandatory units and pick 4 optional units. If you study the 60-credit diploma then you must study all 3 mandatory units and 1 optional unit. The 30-credit certificate requires you to study “Business Environment” and either of the remaining two units from the 60-credit diploma. To see the contents of each unit you can view the Qualification Specification.

Mandatory Units (for the 120-credit extended diploma)

  • Business Environment
  • Resource Management
  • Communication Skills
  • People in Organisations
Mandatory Units (for the 60-credit diploma)
  • Business Environment
  • Communication Skills
  • People in Organisations
Optional Units
  • Applying Promotional Techniques
  • Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Administrative Services
  • Planning a Work Based Team Project
  • Finance for Managers
  • Planning a New Business Venture
  • Customer Relationship Management
  • Study Skills
  • Employability Skills
  • Personal and Professional Development
  • Business Ethics
  • Business Law
  • Manage Sustainability in an Organisation
  • Resource Management

You can progress to the 2nd year of a bachelor degree from Level 4 Extended Diploma in Management, or alternatively you can progress to an ATHE qualification at level 5. For information on ATHE university top-ups please see www.athe.co.uk/progression

These qualifications provide a flexible route for learners who have already achieved management qualifications at a lower level as well as for learners who do not have business or management qualifications, but may have qualifications in other areas and/or prior management experience in the work place.

Age: 19 +
Entry profile:

  • A GCE Advanced level profile with achievement in 2 or more subjects supported by 5 or more GCSEs at grades C and above
  • other related level 3 subjects
  • an Access to Higher Education Certificate delivered by an approved further education institute and validated by an Access Validating Agency
  • other equivalent international qualifications