• Business Level 3

    BTEC Extended Diploma and Diploma in Business

    Examination Board: Pearson Edexcel

    Specific Entry Requirements
    For the BTEC Extended Diploma and the BTEC Diploma, students must have achieved:

    • Grade 9-4 in GCSE English Language or Literature and GCSE Mathematics, in addition to:
      • 3 GCSE Grades 9-4 or
      • Grades MM in the BTEC Level 2 Business course and Grade 9-4 in 1 additional GCSE subject or
      • Grade M in the BTEC Level 2 Digital Media course and Grades 9-4 in 2 additional GCSE subjects.
    • Students who have studied the BTEC Level 2 must have achieved at least Grade M, MM or higher in order to meet the criteria for this course.

    Why study the BTEC Level 3 Diploma or Extended Diploma in Business?
    As the world recovers following the global recession of 2008, there are many opportunities for entrepreneurs and employees who have a sound understanding of finance, marketing, sales and management. In addition, studying this course helps to develop self-management, business and customer awareness, team-working and problem-solving, which are all key attributes that employers look for in potential employees. The Pearson BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business provides a highly respected route for those who wish to move into employment in the sector, either directly or following further study on a relevant Higher Education (HE) course.

    Course Outline
    The BTEC Level 3 Diploma in Business is equivalent to two A-Levels and the Extended Diploma is equivalent to 3 A-Levels.  The Diploma is made up of 8 units, which includes 6 core units and 2 additional units, which are studied over a 2-year period. The Extended Diploma consists of 11 units, 7 core units and 4 additional units. Achievement in each unit is assessed through either a written assignment, an external set task or an external examination.

    Core Units

    • Unit 1: Exploring Business
      In this unit students explore the key ingredients required for business success, such as organisational structure, communication and operation.
    • Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Campaign
      In this unit students explore the role that marketing plays in business as well as the development of a marketing campaign.
    • Unit 3: Personal and Business Finance
      In this unit students explore personal banking and how small businesses run their finance function. This unit is assessed through an external examination.
    • Unit 4: Managing an Event
      In this unit students explore how different types of events are run and managed.
    • Unit 5: International Business
      In this unit students explore the impact of large international corporations on the business world.
    • Unit 6: Principles of Management
      In this unit students explore how the role of management and leadership in the workplace contributes towards business success.
    • Unit 7: Business Decision Making (Extended Diploma Only)
      In this unit students explore methods of interpreting data, and how to formulate decisions and solutions to given complex business problems.

    Additional Units

    • Unit 17: Digital Marketing
      In this unit students will examine the different aspects of web-based marketing, and the channels that can be used to deliver a successful digital marketing campaign.
    • Unit 19: Pitching for a new business
      In this unit students explore the practical skills and knowledge that is needed to undertake the necessary preparation and steps to set up and pitch for funding for a micro-business.
    • Unit 8: Recruitment and Selection (Extended Diploma Only)
      In this unit students will explore how the recruitment process is carried out in a business. The unit gives learners the opportunity to participate in selection interviews and review their performance
    • Unit 14: Investigating Customer Service (Extended Diploma Only)
      In this unit students will explore how excellent customer service contributes to business success. The unit gives learners the opportunity to develop their customer service skills.
    • Unit 15: Investigating Retail Business (Extended Diploma Only)
      In this unit students will explore the current structure of the retail sector and its supply chain through practical activities.
    • Unit 23: The English Legal System (Extended Diploma Only)
      In this unit students will examine how the English legal system operates to resolve criminal and civil cases, and why businesses and individuals may require legal advice and representation.

  • Creative Media Level 3

    Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Digital Media

    Examination Board: OCR

    Specific Entry Requirements
    Students must have achieved:

    • Grade 9-4 in GCSE English Language or Literature and GCSE Mathematics, in addition to:
      • 3 GCSE Grades 9-4 or
      • Grades MM in the BTEC Level 2 Business course and Grade 9-4 in 1 additional GCSE subject or
      • Grade M in the BTEC Level 2 Digital Media course and Grades 9-4 in 2 additional GCSE subjects.
    • Students who have studied the BTEC Level 2 must have achieved at least Grade M or MM or higher in order to meet the criteria for this course.

    Why study the Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Digital Media?
    The qualification provides an in depth introduction to the study of creative digital media production at Level 3. Students will develop an understanding of the media industry through analysing media products and pitching and producing media projects. It is designed for students who aim to progress to higher education and ultimately to employment, possibly in the media industries, with particular emphasis on the digital media aspects which are so useful in today’s working world. 

    Course Outline
    The Cambridge Technical Extended Certificate in Digital Media is equivalent to one A-Level.  It is made up of 5 units, which includes 3 core units and 2 additional units, 2 of which are externally assessed. The units are studied over a 2-year period. Achievement in each unit is assessed through a range of assignments, which includes one external exam and one set task.

    Core Units

    • Unit 1: Media products and audiences is examined by exam which is set by OCR. In this unit, students will study a range of media from different sectors, such as music videos, short film extracts, animation, news programmes, websites, digital games and print adverts in order to explore how meaning, messages and values are constructed through formal and stylistic elements.
    • Unit 2: Pre-production and planning will enable students to develop an understanding of the essential pre-production work that takes place as part of a creative media production. They will gain an understanding of the requirements of the planning stage, from finance and logistics to regulations. Their investigations will help develop pre-production skills and experience needed to carry out their own tasks and to produce a digital media product. Students will create a portfolio and manage the pre-production for their own creative media production.
    • Unit 3: Create a media product will enable students to understand how to respond to a commission brief with ideas based on the required content, style, audience, purpose and approach proposed by the client. They will work within the requirements and constraints of the client’s specifications and consider their response in terms of ethos, format, budget, platform and duration.

    Optional Units

    • Unit 16: The creation and use of sound in media students will understand the sound elements used in media products and how they are produced. Students will be able to develop ideas for, and plan the production of, a soundtrack containing a range of sound elements. Students will gain practical skills by recording and editing sound elements for use in the production of a final soundtrack.
    • Unit 21: Plan and deliver a pitch for a media product students will choose to focus on either print, audio, or audio-visual media. Students will be able to generate ideas for their own media product based on a client brief, they will also pitch their ideas to a client, and will respond to feedback to prepare their idea for pre-production.