Business Studies - Vocational

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This qualification is equivalent to three A Levels when taken as an Extended Diploma or two A Levels for the Diploma course.

Qualification: Choose either BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business (worth three A Levels) or BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Business (worth two A Levels)

Exam Board: Pearson

If you want a course that connects directly to the real world, then our vocational Business courses give you hands-on experience in marketing, finance, entrepreneurship, and more - perfect for building practical skills and keeping your future options wide open.

Course Content

You can choose to take this course as an Extended Diploma (worth the equivalent of three A Levels) or as a Diploma (worth the equivalent of two A Levels).  Students who opt for the Diploma will then choose an additional subject to take alongside.

The Extended Diploma consists of 13 units in total of which 9 are assessed via coursework and 4 are examined units.

The Diploma consists of 8 units in total of which 5 are assessed via coursework and 3 are examined units.

BTEC Business offers you the opportunity to develop a thorough insight into the world of business.  We explore business processes and examine types of jobs available from the Accountant in the Finance department to Personnel Manager in Human Resources. We undertake a lot investigations into businesses to find out how they put theory into practice in the real world.

Units covered can include areas such as:

  • Exploring Business
  • Marketing
  • Finance
  • Recruitment and Selection
  • International Business
  • Principles of Management
  • Investigating Corporate Responsibility
  • Managing an Event

Assessment

This qualification is assessed through a combination of internally assessed coursework and externally assessed examination. The coursework is assessed across through a variety of methods such as reports and essays.

Over Years 12 and 13 Extended Diploma students complete a total of 13 units of work, 9 are assignment based and 4 are external (exams).

Diploma students complete 9 units of work, 5 of which are assignment based and 4 of which are external (exams).

Students are graded Pass (P), Merit (M), Distinction (D), or Distinction* (D*).

Final overall grades range from PPP to D*D*D* for the Extended Diploma and PP to D*D* for the Diploma.

Entry Requirements

  • Five 9-4 grades at GCSE including English and Maths.
  • Ideal for students with a sound ability in English and who enjoy practical assignments.

Extra Curricular Opportunities

  • Trips have included visits to large corporations such as KPMG, as well as to local business.
  • Students complete a work experience.

Progression Post 18

Universities like this course as it provides a broad knowledge base for further studies.  Business Studies works well with, but is not limited to, degrees such as Business Management, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, and Law.

Some examples of recent student destinations include:

  • University of Surrey - International Business Management
  • St Mary's University - Business Management and Marketing
  • St Mary's University - Marketing and Communication
  • University of Roehampton - Business Management and Marketing
  • University of Roehampton - Computing and Business
  • University of Westminster - Accounting and Business Management
  • City University - Accounting and Finance

This course is also a good stepping stone for apprenticeships.

Careers

Common career routes include roles in: 

  • Marketing, such as digital marketing or brand management, where creativity and strategy come together.
  • Finance is another key sector, offering opportunities in accounting, banking and financial analysis.
  • Students may also pursue careers in human resources, sales, retail management, or logistics.
  • Entrepreneurial students often use their knowledge to start their own businesses.

What our students say about this course

Year 13 student
"This course has given me such an insight into the world of business, exploring the basics of running an organisation, advertising campaigns and recruitment. It has given me enough information to help me decide whether this type of job or course is suitable for me. The coursework element has been very structured, allowing me to develop skills ready for the assessments."

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