Course structure

Duration of Course

Each Course lasts two academic years consisting of two 15 week semesters per year, a total of 60 weeks tuition in 4 semesters.
The main intake of students is in September but we adopt a rolling programme so students can start at any time of the year.
The opportunity exists for those students who progress well through the course to finish in June thereby completing only three semesters. This assumes they will complete the full 15 unit programme so saving the cost of one semester. This is known as the fast track programme.

For those starting in September:
The first academic year commences in late September and ends in June the following year. This is the same for the second academic year.

The course is structured around unit deliveries via zoom at specific times arranged by the college to suit the availability of the tutor. In addition, students will be expected to undertake private study and prepare at least two assignments per subject per term.

See the full list of fees & start dates

Syllabus

The Pearson BTEC HND is equivalent to the first two years of an Honours Degree programme at a UK University. These qualifications are designed to equip students with the knowledge, understanding and skills required for success in current and future management roles.
The qualification enables to students to apply for the third year of a related business degree at university. 

Duration of course: two years part-time study.
The Higher National Diploma in Business comprises 8 units at Level 4 and 7 units at Level 5.
The Higher National Certificate in Business comprises 6 core units and 2 optional units at Level 4.

CORE Units - Level 4

Unit 1: Business and the Business Environment
Unit 2: Marketing Processes and Planning
Unit 3: Human Resource Management
Unit 4: Leadership and Management
Unit 5: Accounting Principles
  Unit 6: Managing a Successful Business Project

To achieve the Higher National Certificate level 4, students must gain a further 2 option units from the list below.

OPTIONAL Units - Level 4 (each unit = 15 credits)

Business

Unit 7: Business Law
Unit 8: Innovation and Commercialisation
Unit 10: Recording Financial Transactions
Unit 11: Business Data and Numerical Skills
Unit 12: Executive Recruitment Solutions
Unit 13: Human Capital Management
Unit 14: Digital Business in Practice
Unit 15: Operations Management
Unit 16: Managing the Customer Experience
Unit 17: Professional Identity and Practice
Unit 18: Work Experience

To achieve the Pearson BTEC Level 5 Higher National Diploma in Business, students must take the 2 mandatory core units 19 & 20 plus 75 credits. These credits can be taken from the specialist and optional bank. Students can choose only one specialist unit from each specialist grouping. There are a number of pathways listed under their headings below.

Core units - for all pathways

Unit 19: Research Project (Pearson Set) - 30 credits
Unit 20: Organisational Behaviour - 15 credits

Business (Accounting and Finance)

Specialist units - 15 credits each

Unit 21: Financial Reporting
Unit 22: Management Accounting
Unit 23: Financial Management 
Plus 30 credits which can be taken from the specialist and optional unit bank

Business (Management)

Specialist units - 15 credits each

Unit 24: Understanding and Leading Change
Unit 25: Global Business Environment
Unit 26: Principles of Operations Management
Plus 30 credits which can be taken from the specialist and optional unit bank

Business (Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management)

Specialist units - 15 credits each

Unit 27: Identifying Entrepreneurial Opportunities
Unit 28: Launching a New Venture
Unit 29: Managing and Running a Small Business
Plus 30 credits which can be taken from the specialist and optional unit banks

Business (Human Resource Management)

Specialist units - 15 credits each

Unit 30: Resource and Talent Planning
Unit 31: Employee Relations
Unit 32: Strategic Human Resource Management
Plus 30 credits which can be taken from the specialist and optional unit banks

Business (Marketing)

Specialist units - 15 credits each

Unit 33: Marketing Insights and Analytics
Unit 34: Digital Marketing
Unit 35: Digital Marketing Communications
Plus 30 credits which can be taken from the specialist and optional unit banks

Business (Management)

Specialist units - 15 credits each

Unit 26: Principles of Operations Management 
Unit 36: Procurement and Supply Chain Management
Unit 37: Pitching and Negotiation Skills
Plus 30 credits which can be taken from the specialist and optional unit banks

Business (law)

Unit 7: is a prerequisite unit for this pathway

Specialist units - 15 credits each

Unit 38: Law of Contract and Tort
Unit 39: Company Law and Corporate Governance
Unit 40: Consumer and Intellectual Property Law
Plus 30 credits which can be taken from the specialist and optional unit banks

OPTIONAL Units - Level 5 (each unit = 15 credits)

Unit 41: Taxation
Unit 42: Statistics for Management
Unit 43: Business Strategy 
Unit 44: Business Information Technology Systems
Unit 45: Business Data Analytics and Insights
Unit 46: Developing Individuals, Teams and Organisations 
Unit 47: Human Resources - Value and Contribution to Organisational Success
Unit 48: Customer Value Management
Unit 49: Sales Management 
Unit 50: International Marketing 
Unit 51: Brand Management
Unit 52: Product Services and Development 
Unit 53: Planning for Growth
Unit 54: E-Commerce and Strategy
Unit 55: Planning Social Media Campaigns
Unit 56: Tapping into New and International Markets
Unit 57: Business Intelligence

More option units are available. For full list and specification visit the Pearson website

Course Structure

Credit value

240 credits (see Course structure)

Course learning outcomes

1. Knowledge and Understanding

Learners will be expected to gain the following knowledge during the programme of study:

·          developing the knowledge, understanding and skills of learners in the field of computing

·          equipping learners with knowledge, understanding and skills for success in employment in the computing industry

·          providing opportunities for specialist study relevant to individual vocations and contexts

·          developing the learner’s ability in the computing industry through effective use and combination of the knowledge and skills gained in different parts of the Course

·          developing a range of skills and techniques, personal qualities and attributes essential for successful performance in working life and thereby enabling earners to make an immediate contribution to employment

2. Skills

Learners will be expected to develop the following skills during the programme of study:

·          the ability to read and use appropriate literature with a full and critical understanding

·          the ability to think independently and solve problems

·          the ability to take responsibility for their own learning and recognise their own learning style

·          obtaining and integrating several lines of subject-specific evidence to formulate and test propositions

·          the ability to understand the need for ethical standards and professional codes of conduct when designing, planning, conducting and reporting an investigations

·          the ability to undertake investigations of computer systems in a responsible, safe and ethical manner

Teaching, Learning and assessment strategies

The aims of the Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy is to achieve the following:

·     To educate students who are motivated and self-directed critical thinkers, capable of independent enquiry

·     To provide students with both sound academic knowledge and vocational expertise

·     To foster independent and collaborative learning among students and to encourage lifelong learning leading to enhancing their career potentials

·     To develop and implement approaches to feedback and assessment that maximise learning and student outcomes.

·        To widen participation from students who are mature, from Black and Minority Ethnic Communities, and come from lower socio-economic backgrounds

The generic components of teaching and learning strategy normally involve a variety of approaches and include delivering many of the following:

·          Regular use of formal lecture sessions in all units.

·          Regular assignment workshops and seminars in all units.

·          Regular use of individual and/or team-based projects in all units.

·          Regular use of self-directed and directed reading in all units.

·          Regular use of library resources in all units.

·          Regular use of tutor-and student-led discussion groups via e-learning platform; ICON VLE in all units.

The assessment is criterion-referenced and learners’ are assessed against published learning outcomes and assessment criteria. All units are individually graded as ‘Pass’, ‘Merit’ or ‘Distinction’. To achieve a pass grade for the unit learners must meet the assessment criteria set out in the specifications.