Overview
Level 3 Business and Finance
Our Level 3 Business and Finance Programme has been specifically designed to help you to achieve your potential and progress to the next stage of your life, whether that’s higher education, an apprenticeship or employment. It is comprised of two full-time courses studied over two years and, in terms of UCAS points, is the equivalent of three A-Levels. The two courses that you will study on this exciting and innovative programme are:
- OCR Level 3 Diploma in Business
- LIBF (London Institute of Banking and Finance) Diploma in Financial Studies
The content of each course is up-to-date, exciting and engaging. Each course has been designed in consultation with universities, employers and industry specialists to make sure that you will gain the right combination of knowledge, understanding and skills required for the 21st century workplace.
All learning is based around real-life business examples. This means that you will fully participate in your own educational experience and will gain experience of completing and analysing a business’s financial accounts, planning and conducting market research, planning a marketing campaign, planning and managing a business event, recommending solutions to human resource problems and starting a small business.
During the two-year programme you will engage with a range of employers from different sectors. Our students participated in educational events held the London offices of multinational business organisations such as Merkel International, Northern Trust, MUFG Bank of Japan, Clifford Chance and Deutsche Bank. During these event students have taken the opportunity to sign-up for master classes in job applications and interviews, internships and work experience placements. As a key part of the course, you will be expected to engage in at least one work experience placement.
Throughout the programme you will be supported by a dedicated tutor and will receive regular progress reviews, along with full and regular feedback from the course team. Feedback will be verbal, written and electronic, with each being specifically designed to support your development and progress. Your tutor will also provide additional support and guidance for university applications.
The majority of students graduating from our level 3 Business programme have progressed to study a range of business-related degree courses, most commonly, BA (Hons) degrees in Accounting and Finance, Marketing, Business Management and, International Business. Progression to a related apprenticeship, higher apprenticeship or full-time employment opportunity is also possible
Course Content
The Level 3 Business and Finance Programme is comprised of two full-time courses studied over two years and, in terms of UCAS points, is the equivalent of three A Levels. The two courses that you will study on this exciting and innovative programme are:
- OCR Level 3 Diploma in Business
- LIBF Diploma in Financial Studies
An overview of the content of each course is shown below.
OCR Level 3 Diploma in Business
The content of Diploma in Business course serves as a strong grounding for undergraduate study within a range of business-related disciplines, with many students going on to study accounting, business and finance, international business management, accountancy, operations management, marketing and human resources. The course is supported by educational visits and speakers from firms such as Clifford Chance, Northern Trust, KPMG, MUFG Bank of Japan and Deutsche Bank, to name but a few.
The skills developed and enhanced during the course provide valuable study skills appropriate for a range of business disciplines and others, and students have pursued a wide range of other undergraduate courses following this qualification. The qualification is the equivalent of two A Levels and carries the maximum UCAS points available which can be counted towards university applications.
The Diploma in Business is comprised of a range of exciting and engaging course modules taught across two years. Our proposed module delivery plan for this academic year is shown below.
Year 1:
Unit 1: The Business Environment (ex)
Unit 2: Working in Business (ex)
Unit 4: Customers and Communication (cw)
Unit 5: Marketing and Market Research (cw)
Unit 16: Principles of Project Management (cw)
Year 2:
Unit 3: Business Decisions (ex)
Unit 6: Marketing Strategy (cw)
Unit 7: Marketing Campaign (cw)
Unit 15: Change Management (ex)
Unit 22: Delivering a Business Project (cw)
Assessment
Each course module is assessed via either examination (ex) or coursework assignment (cw). The assessment method used for each module is indicated above. The combination of examination and coursework assessment will enable you to balance and manage your workload more effectively throughout the course and, will effectively prepare you for study at university.
If the thought of taking exams worries you, please don’t worry. Your tutors have years of experience in coaching and preparing students to take examinations and, they will make sure that you are ready and confident for each examination that you take.
LIBF Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS)
The content of DipFS course serves as a strong grounding for undergraduate study within finance and business-related disciplines, with many students going on to study accounting, business, finance and banking. This is also supported by educational visits and speakers from firms such as KPMG, MUFG Bank of Japan and Deutsche Bank, to name but a few.
The skills developed and enhanced during the course provide valuable study skills appropriate for banking and finance disciplines and others, and students have pursued a wide range of other undergraduate courses following this qualification. Financial capability is also supportive of the personal and financial skills that underpin clear decisions about progression options and life as an undergraduate. The qualification carries the maximum UCAS points available which can be counted towards university applications.
Unit 1: Financial Capability for the Immediate and Short Term
Students will gain an appreciation of why money is important through focusing on what money is; attitudes to it; and how it can affect life choices. The unit introduces students to the financial services industry by focusing on the interaction between money, personal finance and the financial services marketplace. They will also learn about:
- The characteristics of financial products for managing money
- The impact of poor decision making and unforeseen circumstances
- Impact of legislation and regulation on earnings and the key features of income tax and National Insurance
- How individual’s financial needs change through the various life stages
Unit 2: Financial Capability for the Medium and Long Term
Students will have the ability to plan and manage their financial needs in the medium and long-term, with particular reference to the importance of the need to budget for future aspirations and life events. Learners will consider the changing priorities attached to needs, wants and aspirations as individuals progress through the personal life cycle and the role of financial services in assisting lifelong financial planning. Students will gain an understanding of:
- The key steps in financial planning
- The consequences of an individual’s financial footprint on future financing
- Risk and Return terms of impact, severity and probability
- The key features of Islamic banking
- How to evaluate and critically compare individual circumstances and attitudes
Unit 3: Sustainability of an Individual’s Finances
This unit highlights the importance of financial sustainability and develops key skills to ensure that an individual’s financial capability is sustained over a period of time, taking into consideration the personal and external factors that lead to change. When studying this unit, students will explore how external factors affect the financial services industry’s products and services and how these factors can impact upon consumer choice. It will enable students to make informed financial judgements within given situations. Learners will gain an understanding of the impact of global events, developments and ethical considerations that impact on the financial services industry and the consumer.
Unit 4: Sustainability of the Financial Services System
This unit explores the financial services system and looks at how financial services providers work
and compete with one another, their priorities and responses to external influences in maintaining financial sustainability. Students will analyse the impact of marketing techniques employed by financial services providers and the impact of changes in the financial services market and the effect this has on consumers. Learners will gain an understanding of how financial services providers use marketing methods and approaches to attract, retain and satisfy their customers.
Assessments
All four units can be assessed by paper-based examination or by the LIBF e-test electronic testing system. Each unit is assessed through a combination of Multiple-Choice Questions (Part A) and a written paper (Part B).
Unit 1 and Unit 2
- Part A: 35 multiple choice questions in a 45-minute examination.
- Part B: pre-release case study requiring essay responses in a 105-minute examination.
- Part B will also assess spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) through the essay responses.
Unit 3 and Unit 4
- Part A: 35 multiple choice questions in a 1-hour examination.
- Part B: pre-release case study requiring essay responses in a 2-hour examination.
- Part B will also assess spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG) through the essay responses.
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements for our Level 3 Business, Banking and Finance Programme are five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. Grades achieved for level 2 vocational courses (BTEC, CTEC etc) will also be considered within this calculation. Previous study of business-related courses is desirable but not essential.
Careers
Our Level 3 Business, Banking and Finance Programme has been specifically designed to help you to achieve your potential and progress to the next stage of your life, whether that’s higher education, an apprenticeship or employment.
The majority of students graduating from our Level 3 Business programme have progressed to study a range of business-related degree courses, most commonly, BA (Hons) degrees in:
- Business and Management
- International Business Management
- Accountancy
- Banking and Finance
- Marketing (inc. International Marketing)
- Human Resource Management
- Operations Management
Progression to a related apprenticeship, higher apprenticeship or full-time employment opportunity is also possible.