The Diploma is a composite qualification that combines theory and practice.

 

The Diploma is available at three levels, with two options available at level 3. The components that make up a complete Diploma at each level are listed below.

Foundation Diploma

• Principal learning: all units must be passed
• Project must be passed
• Work experience and personal, learning and thinking skills must be completed
• Functional skills at level 1 in English, Maths and ICT must be passed
• Additional and specialist learning that is listed in the relevant Diploma catalogue and that comprises at least 120 guided learning hours must be passed at level 1. For example, this could be one GCSE at grade F or above.

Higher Diploma

• Principal learning: all units must be passed
• Project must be passed
• Work experience and personal, learning and thinking skills must be completed
• Functional skills must be passed at level 2
• Additional and specialist learning that is listed in the relevant Diploma catalogue and that comprises at least 180 guided learning hours must be passed at level 2. For example, this could be two GCSEs at grade C or above.

Advanced Diploma

• Principal learning: all units must be passed
• Project must be passed
• Work experience and personal, learning and thinking skills must be completed
• Functional skills must be passed at level 2
• Additional and specialist learning that is listed in the relevant Diploma catalogue and that comprises at least 360 guided learning hours in total must be passed at level 3. For example, this could be one A level, or two AS levels, at grade F or above.

Progression Diploma

A progression Diploma is identical to an advanced Diploma except that it does not include any additional or specialist learning.

Additional and specialist learning

Information about which ASL units are valid for each Diploma line of learning and level can be found in the relevant Diploma catalogue. The Diploma ready reckoner can be used to check that the total requirements for guided learning hours are met.

Download an overview of how the Diploma is structured (PDF 187KB)

Find out about achievement and attainment table points for the Diploma

Administering the Diploma 2009

 

QCA is running a series of training events in July, September and October 2009 for exams officers in centres delivering the Diploma from September 2009.

Find out more about Administering the Diploma events

Diploma ready reckoner

The Diploma ready reckoner helps exams officers and managers to understand the importance of guided learning hours (GLH) and additional and specialised learning (ASL) to successful Diploma aggregation.

It gives a breakdown of the amount of guided learning hours required for each component of the Diploma at each level of learning. Exams officers can use it to work out how guided learning hours for each eligible additional and specialist learning unit will contribute to the total required for a student to be awarded a Diploma.

Download the Diploma ready reckoner

PLTS and work experience forms

 

QCA has produced sample forms for exams officers to use to record learners' completion of two key elements of their Diploma: work experience and personal, learning and thinking skills (PLTS).

These forms are not mandatory but exams officers may find them useful to confirm that a learner has met the requirements of PLTS and work experience before recording completion in the student's learner account.

Exams officers who choose to use the forms should complete the top part of the form and ask an appropriate person in their centre (for example the learner's teacher/tutor/assessor) to complete and sign the lower part.

Go to the forms

Diploma Lines of Learning

 

First teaching September 2008:

• information technology
• society, health and development
• engineeringcreative and media
• construction and the built environment.

First teaching September 2009:

• environmental and land-based studies
• manufacturing and product design
• hair and beauty studies
• business, administration and finance
• hospitality.

First teaching September 2010:

• public services
• sport and active leisure
• retail business
• travel and tourism.

First teaching September 2011:

• science
• languages and international communication
• humanities and social sciences.