BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Business
This course has been devised to meet the needs of students wanting to develop a rewarding career in tomorrow’s businesses. Whether you are looking to go to university or work locally this course offers you the business knowledge you want with the business skills you need.
Why choose this course?
Almost all organisations work on ‘business lines’ in some way and, as an employee, no matter what your career, you’ll probably have to employ some business techniques. This advanced level course is for anyone who wants to build a future for themselves in modern commercial and industrial Britain. Almost all organisations employ business techniques nowadays and business skills are vital for developing a career. Students will gain an insight into a broad range of Business modules, such as Marketing, Finance, Events Management, Recruitment and Decision Making. These modules are designed to provide students with a broad range of skills and expertise in diverse and valuable areas of business where they might find employment in the future.
Apply for this course
Start date: 08/09/2025
TOP COURSE HIGHLIGHTS
Small class sizes
Experienced tutors
Excellent facilities
Supportive environment
Enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff
You will be taught by enthusiastic, well qualified and knowledgeable staff with both local and national business experience gained before they entered teaching.
Pathways to university or local employment
The course equally meets the needs of those wanting to go on to higher education and those wanting to take up employment locally by providing students with in-depth business knowledge and in demand business skills.
Opportunities for professional study
Opportunities exist on the course to pursue further professional study through organisations such as the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT).
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
The first year of the course provides a general introduction to business through the “Exploring Business” module. This module covers topics including the different types of legal organisations in businesses (limited companies, sole traders etc), how businesses are structured and the role played by different departments within a business, how different types of markets work in business and how the environment outside the business can affect its performance overall.
Two further modules provide the student with in-depth knowledge of vital areas in business. The “Personal and Business Finance” module provides the students with an understanding of financial issues affecting them personally such as the role of financial institutions and managing your own personal finances as well as how businesses handle their own finances and some basic accounting.
In the “Developing a Marketing Campaign” module, students gain an insight into what marketing actually is and how important marketing is to business and this can help them decide whether marketing might be an area where they might want to develop a career. It examines the principles of marketing and how a marketing campaign is planned, implemented and evaluated.
Other modules in the first year concentrate on combining knowledge of business activities with practical skills. As the name suggests, the “Managing an Event” module requires students to plan, run and evaluate a business event in teams. Events Management courses are increasingly popular in higher education and Events Management is a growing sector of business in Cornwall.
Other modules available to be taught in Year 1 include “The Recruitment and Selection Process” which gives students an invaluable opportunity to see recruitment and selection through the eyes of a recruiter and a candidate, thus improving their employability skills. In “Market Research,” students learn to carry out vital market research that could make all the difference to the success of a product or service.
Year 2 of the course builds upon and expands the core business knowledge and skills learned in Year 1. The “Principles of Management” module allows students to learn management theories and develop management skills that can be applied to many areas of business. The “Business Decision Making” module provides students with skills and experience when it comes to researching and manipulating information from across the business on the basis of which important decisions are made. The “International Business” module gives students an insight into business practices that surround both exporting and importing goods and services (important knowledge in our globalised world) and how these vital activities are financed.
Other modules available to be taught in the second year are designed to provide students with a broad range of skills and expertise in diverse and valuable areas of business where they might find employment in the future such as customer service, visual merchandising, human resources and training.
WHERE WILL IT TAKE ME?
An Extended Diploma in Business can lead to a variety of different progression routes. Students can enter Higher Education or become an Apprentice for local or national companies. Students entering higher education follow a variety of courses ranging from Business Management, Farm Management and Events Management to Marketing and Accountancy.
ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENTS
The course is assessed mainly by coursework assignments based on practical business scenarios and assessing both business knowledge and valuable business skills. One module (Personal and Business Finance) is assessed by a “traditional exam” whilst the remaining three modules are assessed through controlled assessments completed after prior research.
The end of the first year of study, your overall progress and achievement will be assessed, an overall grade for the year will be established and you will be awarded the BTEC Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Business (which is broadly equivalent to 1.5 A Levels).
Students then progress on to the second year of study and “top up” their qualification to achieve the full BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Business (the equivalent of three A levels)
Your success on this course relies heavily on your attendance and your commitment to learning. Students who achieve the very best grades are able to manage their time successfully and meet deadlines, which is vital.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Four GCSEs at Grade 4 or above. This must include English or Maths.
INFORMATION & SUPPORT
You will find your lecturers and tutors to be friendly, committed and knowledgeable. They will do everything in their power to make your time at College both rewarding and successful.
As part of the College’s ongoing guidance and support programme you will meet regularly with you tutor to set targets, discuss your progress and resolve any problems you may experience with regard to your studies or other aspects of life in College.
You also have at your disposal, the staff of the Student Services team who are there to provide you with professional advice and guidance on a one-to-one basis on a whole range of issues including finance, housing, health and wellbeing.
Meet the staff, tour the campus and find out about life as a student at one of the best colleges in the country.
What you could earn
Potential Salary
£133,069
Entry Level Salary
£18,945
Average Salary
£53,617
Annual openings in Cornwall
98
Potential Salary
£76,622
Entry Level Salary
£20,083
Average Salary
£42,281
Annual openings in Cornwall
24
Potential Salary
£90,123
Entry Level Salary
£22,420
Average Salary
£44,890
Annual openings in Cornwall
4
Potential Salary
£61,180
Entry Level Salary
£18,656
Average Salary
£33,638
Annual openings in Cornwall
8
Potential Salary
£72,315
Entry Level Salary
£19,921
Average Salary
£36,019
Annual openings in Cornwall
20
Potential Salary
£93,074
Entry Level Salary
£26,821
Average Salary
£49,653
Annual openings in Cornwall
74
Potential Salary
£34,303
Entry Level Salary
£8,178
Average Salary
£21,935
Annual openings in Cornwall
4
Potential Salary
£67,411
Entry Level Salary
£17,037
Average Salary
£37,064
Annual openings in Cornwall
