Overview
If you dream of becoming the next big thing in business and need an undergraduate degree under your belt to develop the right skills, but don’t have the qualifications you need to get into university, Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management) will provide you with the opportunity to get back into education, change direction and succeed.
Access to Higher Education Diplomas are designed for learners who have been out of education for an extended period of time that wish to return to study. They have been created as alternatives to traditional qualifications (e.g. A-levels) and equip students with the knowledge and skills to tackle a university study programme with confidence. Completing an Access to HE Diploma is a long-established and accepted route to university and the majority of UK universities welcome applications from students working towards, or holding, this qualification. It is important to check the entry requirements of the universities you wish to apply to, however, as all university admission criteria differ.
Not only could Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management) be your ticket to university, but it will also prepare you for study at a higher academic level. Modules on academic writing skills and independent research will teach you to organise your time, write with relevance and summarise for academic purposes, whilst business and management focused units will provide you with the entry knowledge you need to excel on any business degree programme.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will have an excellent grounding in all things business and will have developed essential business and management skills. As a result, you will be able to confidently apply for a number of undergraduate business degree programmes. Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management) is the first step in your journey towards higher education and, potentially, a successful career in business.
Why study an Access to Higher Education Diploma with Highbury College?
Once you have enrolled onto your Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management), you will be given 24/7 online access to interactive and easy-to-follow materials that cover a range of topics, including: resource allocation, operations management, marketing and employment law. As part of your study programme, you will also receive support and guidance on your university application so that you can get the most from your diploma.
As this is a distance learning course, our Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management) is flexible and allows you to study at the pace that suits you. So, don’t worry if you have work commitments or other responsibilities that take up your time. Our Access to Higher Education Diplomas have been designed with you and your busy schedule in mind.
Nervous about taking this step towards your future? You needn’t be. You will have a dedicated personal tutor who will be available to contact for assistance. You will be supported every step of the way.
The amount of time required to complete this course is approximately 600 hours and you’re free to do this in as little as 6 months or over 18 months if you require extra time.
If you’re worried about funding this course, you may be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan. The minimum loan you can get is £300 and you won’t need to pay anything back until you’re earning at least £25,000 per annum. If you go on to complete an undergraduate degree following your Access to Higher Education Diploma, you won’t have to pay the loan back at all.
Modules for this course
Unit 1: Preparing to study
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how study is organised and planned
- Understand how to apply theories of learning in relation to personal approaches to learning
- Understand a range of constraints upon study
- Understand the importance of assessment feedback.
Unit 2: Academic writing skills
On completion of this unit you will:
- Be able to write with relevance in responding to an academic task.
- Know how to interpret and discuss concepts and debates in responding to a set, academic writing task.
- Be able to summarise for academic purposes, selecting key points, information or central ideas.
- Understand the role of reference, allusion and paraphrase to avoid plagiarism.
Unit 3: Preparing a written assignment
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand how to use key information sources.
- Understand why sources are acknowledged and referenced.
- Understand a range of reading strategies.
- Understand note-making methods.
- Understand how to plan draft and produce a written assignment.
Unit 4: Independent research
On completion of this unit you will:
- Be able to plan a piece of research on an approved subject area.
- Be able to collect research material from different sources
- Be able to use data to substantiate an argument
- Be able to record sources of information
- Be able to present research findings
Unit 5: Management
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand management at different levels of a business.
- Understand different styles of management.
- Understand the management of change.
- Understand the importance of information in decision making.
Unit 6: The individual in organisations
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the theories of motivation.
- Understand the importance of team working.
- Understand what delegation involves.
- Understand the role of training within organisations.
Unit 7: Progressing to higher education
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand potential next steps in education.
- Understand key sources of information relevant to HE application.
- Understand personal HE opportunities.
- Understand the financial implications of further study.
- Know how to apply for a course
Unit 8: Market structures
On completion of this unit you will:
- Give a simple explanation of the market structure the firm fits into and why
- List the firms main competitors
- List types of non price competition used by the firm
Unit 9: Business & the environment
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the structure and operations of the national economy.
- Understand the competitive environment in which businesses operate and how businesses respond.
- Understand different types of business organisations.
- Understand the range of different objectives a business may develop.
- Understand key concepts in business strategy formulation.
Unit 10: Human resource management
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand workforce planning.
- Understand theories of motivation and their practical application.
- Understand management structure and organisation.
- Understand the nature of industrial relations in modern Britain.
Unit 11: Business and employment law
On completion of this unit you will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the different types of business organisations and the process of information.
- Show an understanding of the legal relationships arising from business operations and activities.
Unit 12: Operations management
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand what is meant by efficiency.
- Understand what is meant by lean production.
Unit 13: Business organisations
On completion of this unit you will:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of a mixed economy.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and financial structure of the organisations found in the public sector.
- Show an appreciation of the methods of growth used by and available to business organisations.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and purpose of public sector organisations.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of change on the public sector.
Unit 14: Quality management
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the importance of quality to a work team.
- Know how to measure an aspect of quality relating to meeting customer needs.
- Understand how to carry out a quality audit in line with an organisation’s quality system.
- Be able to respond to quality issues as a team leader.
Unit 15: Consumer legislation
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the legislation which regulates contracts for the supply of goods and services
- Understand the legislation which protects the consumer in civil law
- Understand the legislation which protects the consumer in criminal law
- Understand the liability imposed on manufacturers by consumer legislation
Unit 16: Resource allocation
On completion of this unit you will:
- Use cost / benefits analysis in order to make a valued judgment on an Investment proposal
- Understand what the term ‘Market Failure’ means
- Understand why and for what purpose Governments intervene in the market
- To define the concepts of externalities, public goods, merit and demerit goods
Unit 17: Marketing
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand marketing
- Understand product development and the role of market research
- Understand the role of the marketing mix
- Know how to manage marketing strategies
Unit 18: Macroeconomics and the business environment
On completion of this unit you will:
- List the main categories of unemployment
- State briefly the causes of each type of unemployment
- Describe the main policies used by the Governments to decrease unemployment
- Use recent figures in order to compare unemployment within the UK with another European country.
Unit 19: Business planning
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand the need for risk management.
- Understand the importance of forward financial planning.
- Understand the need to monitor and review progress against a business plan.
Unit 20: Business skills
On completion of this unit you will:
- Understand methods of collecting information for business purposes.
- Know how to interpret and draw conclusions from business data and information.
- Know how to create business reports.
- Understand the use of oral presentations in business.
- Know how to interpret and use business terminology.
Requirements
To start an Access to Higher Education Diploma you will need an English and maths GCSE at grade A - C/ 4 - 9 or a Functional Skills Level 2 qualification in both subjects.
Access to Higher Education Diplomas fulfil the entry criteria for range of different university courses and are suitable for the UCAS application process. However, it is advantageous to check the requirements of each establishment that you want to apply to before submitting your application in order to avoid disappointment. Admission criteria may include, but is not limited to:
- Having a set number of credits attained at Merit or Distinction level
- Attendance and success at a face-to-face interview at chosen university
- Passing the university’s proprietary literacy and numeracy assessments
- Successful completion of mandatory work placements or work experience
Learners must also undertake their own independent research to ensure that their diploma is properly specified, which will give them the best possible chance of getting into university. The student is responsible for their own research and they should begin this as soon as possible after starting the course. Highbury College will not accept any responsibility or liability if any Access to Higher Education Diploma student fails to secure an offer from a Higher Education institution.
Assessment
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management) is modular and composed of graded and ungraded units that allow you to quickly and easily absorb the course material in bitesize chunks. At the end of each unit you will complete an assignment which your tutor will evaluate and give you feedback on. The feedback is aimed to show you how effective your piece of work is, its quality, and how you can improve in the future. These assignments are important to your learning process as they are signposts of your progress throughout the course.
In order to achieve this qualification, you will need to attain a total of 60 learning credits. 45 of these will be taken from graded units for the subjects with academic content, whilst the other 15 units are ungraded units relating to study skills.
In order to gain your diploma you need to successfully pass all units within the course.
Important notice: Online access is required in order to access your course content and submit your assignments.
AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management)
Following successful completion of this diploma you will be awarded a QAA recognised Access to HE Diploma at level 3 (QAA ref:40005173). This diploma has been assigned 60 credits.
AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group
AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group is a national Awarding Validating Agency, regulated by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) and Qualifications Wales, to develop, maintain and award nationally recognised qualifications.
AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group work proactively with employers, training providers, colleges, universities, schools and voluntary and community organisations to offer vocational credit-based qualifications, Access to Higher Education Diplomas and quality assured Customised Accreditation that enables learners gain employment or to progress into further learning and Higher Education. AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group also Quality Endorse organisations internal training and skills delivery.
Developing your career
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management) will make you the ideal candidate for an array of business and management programmes. You could opt for a generic degree that covers the entire spectrum of business, or specialise in subjects like finance, economics, management or accounting.
No matter which business-related subject you pursue, Access to Higher Education Diploma (Business and Management) will equip you with the skills and knowledge you need to take your study further and invest in your future.
RELATED COURSES
Course Fees
Price £3,022.00Payment methods
(No repayments until your salary reaches £27,295)
Further Information
Course ref: 40010363
Course starts: Anytime
Notional Learning Hours: 600
Modules: 20
GET YOUR NUS EXTRA CARD
