Diploma of Higher Education in Business
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Diploma
- Code
- E42
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Made up of
- 240 credit points
Description
The Open University’s Diploma of Higher Education in Business will provide you with a general understanding of business organisations and their structures and cultures; wider considerations such as environments, markets and processes; and how all these work together to contribute to organisational success. This diploma will enable you to analyse how businesses are organised; develop strategies; handle risk and take decisions; and how these factors impact on a business organisation. It’ll give you an insight into essential business functions such as marketing, accounting and finance, and their relevance to working life. You’ll also develop relevant and practical skills, in particular in information and communication technologies (ICT), numeracy, study and thinking skills, as well as the necessary skills to engage in a process of lifelong learning enabling you to develop as a reflective practitioner.
The courses within this diploma have been designed to allow you to study in a flexible manner through distance and work-based learning. Your study will be underpinned by tutor support and a wide range of supplementary resources, including online activities, enabling you to adapt your learning patterns to work within your own constraints. The diploma also contains a course which enables prior study of a vocational qualification at pre-HE level to be converted into 30 points of study at Level 1 (Managing in the workplace (B121)).
When you’ve successfully completed your Level 1 study, you can claim a Certificate in Business Studies (C63). As well as being an innovative and accessible introduction to the world of business, this diploma will equip you to follow a number of further study options. When you’ve successfully completed the diploma, you can take a further 120 points at Level 3 and complete a BA (Honours) Business Studies (B04). At Level 3 you could also opt to study for a Professional Certificate in Management (C31), acquiring a further professional qualification while studying for this degree. Alternatively, you could obtain a BA or BSc Open degree without honours by taking a further 60 points of study at Level 3 in another subject. For a BA or BSc Open with honours, you’ll need a further 120 points at Level 3.
This diploma will be of particular interest to those living and working in Scotland. It is offered to students who live elsewhere as the Foundation Degree in Business (G07).
Planning your studies
If you’re new to study with the OU we recommend that you start with a course at Level 1 and that you complete your Level 1 study before going on to Level 2. For the Diploma of Higher Education in Business we suggest starting with Working and learning: developing effective performance at work (BU130), followed by other Level 1 courses such as An introduction to business studies (B120) or one of the Level 1 option courses. Many of these have more than one start date in a year, so you can spread your study throughout the year, if that suits you. BU130 is a work-based learning course: you apply your learning to your workplace with the support of your tutor. It acts as a self-assessment course, which enables you to discuss and negotiate with your tutor what you intend to study, both within this course and in the future. Your choice from the optional courses at Level 1 will depend on any previous vocational study you might have had (e.g. VQ Level 3 such as an S/NVQ or ILM qualification) or your interest in mathematics, technology, law or social sciences. If you wish to study courses in a different order, do read the description of your chosen course carefully to ensure that you are sufficiently prepared for it.
You can register your intention to study for this diploma when you reserve your place on individual courses, or you can ask us at any time to link courses that you have already studied towards the diploma. This gives you the flexibility to delay your decision or to change your mind as your studies progress. There is no time limit for obtaining the required credit points for this qualification. You must include at least 80 points from OU courses that have not been counted in an OU diploma or other first degree you have being awarded.
Career relevance and employability
This diploma will contribute to your career development by developing your cognitive skills – writing, critical thinking, analysis and evaluation – and ICT, presentation and basic numeracy skills. You’ll explore how business organisations think and work, developing an understanding of the function and contribution of such specialisms as marketing, HR, operations and finance. You can take optional courses in mathematics, economics, social science, technology or law, which will further increase your skills set. The skills and knowledge developed in the programme are recognised by employers as being of great value for work in management and business or in specialist areas concerned with offering guidance to managers – for example management consultancy or business journalism.
For planning your next career steps, visit the OU Careers Advisory Service.
Courses
For this 240-point diploma you require:
60 points from the following compulsory courses:
| Level 1 compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
And at least 30 points from the following optional courses:
| Level 1 optional courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
15 | Nov 2010 |
|
10 | May 2010 |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 FINAL |
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | Nov 2010 |
|
10 | May 2010 |
|
10 | May 2010 |
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
|
10 | Mar 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
|
60 | Feb 2011 |
|
10 | Mar 2010 |
|
10 | Mar 2010 |
|
10 | Mar 2010 |
|
10 | Mar 2010 |
|
30 | Oct 2010 |
|
10 | Nov 2010 |
|
30 | May 2010 |
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued courses DD100, DD121, DD122, MU120, SMK184, T171, T172, T185, T188, TXR248, U120, Y154
And 120 points from the following compulsory courses:
| Level 2 compulsory courses | Points | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Jan 2011 |
|
60 | Oct 2010 |
Please note that the discontinued courses B200 and B202 (previous versions of these courses) cannot be counted towards this diploma.
To complete the 240 points needed for a diploma of higher education, the remaining points up to a maximum of 30 points can be from any OU undergraduate courses.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at higher education level at another institution we may be able to give you credit for this study that you can count towards this Open University qualification. You can find out more on our Credit Transfer site. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of courses so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Credit transfer details for this qualification:
On completion
On successful completion of the required courses you will be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Business and will be entitled to use the letters Dip HE (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Award Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Award Regulations
- Introduction to the Award Regulations
- General Award Regulations
- Diploma of Higher Education in Business
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the course you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that course.
About this page
An undergraduate qualification in Business and Management.
Study explained
- Credit points
- - show how much study is required to complete a course or qualification. One credit point represents roughly 10 hours of study.
- Level
- - indicates how difficult a course is. Undergraduate study starts at Level 1.
- Financial support
- - find out if you qualify for support with your fees with our eligibility checker.
- Study explained
- - all you need to know about studying with the OU.
Got a question?
Contact an adviser in our Student Registration & Enquiry Service
Email or call +44(0) 845 300 60 90
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