Business

The BTEC Nationals in Business have been developed in the business sector to:

provide education and training for employees in the business sector
provide opportunities for business employees to achieve a nationally recognised Level 3 vocationally-specific qualification
provide full-time learners the opportunity to enter employment in the business sector or to progress to vocational qualifications such as the Edexcel BTEC Higher Nationals in Business
provide learners the opportunity to develop a range of skills and techniques, personal skills and attributes essential for successful performance in working life.

The specification is designed to appeal to both full-time learners interested in a career in business and to those who already have experience of working in the sector.

The four core units in the extended diploma give learners an introduction to and understanding of the business environment, management of resources, marketing and communication – all fundamental to the success of business organisations.

The structure of the qualification, allow a great deal of choice and flexibility. This allows Guernsey College to deliver a flexible, innovative and creative curriculum, addressing specific needs unique to the island and closing skills gaps in the finance, administration and management areas.

Level 3 BTEC Certificate and Diplomas in Business

The Level 3 Certificate and Diplomas in Business are 2 year full time courses.

The aim of the course is to introduce you to business studies which will help you to understand more fully the business world.

The course is a practical qualification set at level 3. The 2 year programme is equivalent to 3 A levels.

Completed units are accumulated so that different qualifications could be awarded but the aim is for all students to achieve an extended diploma:

The certificate consists of 2 core and 1 optional unit
The subsidiary diploma consists of 4 core plus 2 optional units
The diploma consists of 4 core plus 8 optional units
The extended diploma consists of 4 core plus 14 optional units

For example, after the first term you should have achieved the certificate and be on your way to completing the subsidiary diploma by the end of the second term.

Units studied

Some of the subjects you will study over the two years are listed below:

Core units
1	The business environment
2	Business resources
3	Introduction to marketing
4	Business communication
Optional units - finance
5	Business accounting
6	Financial accounting
7	Management accounting
8	Accounting systems
Optional units - human resources
13	Recruitment and selection in business
14	Aspects of employment law
15	Development planning for a career in business
16	Human resource management in business
Optional units - general
9	Creative product promotion
12	Introduction to internet marketing
19	Developing teams in business
21	Aspects of contract & business law
33	The impact of communications technology on business
37	Starting a small business

As you can see there is a wide variety of subjects available for you to study.

Assessment

You are required to complete a course work which will be in a variety of formats from written reports, pamphlets through to role-plays and presentations.

What grade can I achieve?

Each of the units which you successfully complete will be graded at either a pass, merit or distinction.

D*D*D* is equivalent to 3 A* grades at A Level.
DDD is equivalent to 3 A grades at A level
MMM is equivalent to 3 B grades at A level

Other opportunities

Dependent on your entry qualifications you will have the opportunity to:

develop your life skills of literacy, numeracy and ICT
undertake an additional level 3 qualification: the Certificate and Diploma in Financial Studies

Level 2 BTEC Certificates and Diploma in Business

The Level 2 BTEC Certificates and Diploma are one year full time courses.

All students enrol onto the diploma and the aim of the course is to introduce you to business studies which will help you understand more fully the business world.

The course is a practical qualification studied over three terms and the full programme is equivalent to 4 GCSEs.

Completed units are accumulated so that different qualifications could be awarded but the aim is for all students to achieve a diploma.

The certificate consists of 2 core and 1 optional unit.
The extended certificate consists of 4 core plus 2/3 optional units, dependent on credit value.
The diploma consists of 4 core plus 7 optional units.

For example, after the first term you should have achieved the certificate and be on your way to completing the extended certificate by the end of the second term. Units studied

Level 2 Units Studied

The subjects you will study over the year are listed below:

Core units
1	Business purpose
2	Business organisations
3	Financial forecasting
4	People in organisations
Optional units
6	Providing support
7	Verbal and non-verbal communication in business contexts
8	Business communication through documentation
15	Bookkeeping for business
16	Business enterprise
19	The marketing plan
20	Managing personal finances

As you can see there is a wide variety of subjects available for you to study.

Assessment

You are required to complete course work which will be in a variety of formats from written reports and pamphlets through to role-plays and presentations.

What grade can I achieve?

For each of the units you complete you can achieve either a pass, merit or distinction.

Other opportunities

Dependent on your entry qualifications you will have the opportunity to:

develop your life skills of literacy, numeracy and ICT
undertake an additional level 3 qualification: the Certificate and Diploma in Financial Studies (a level 2 option may be made available).

CeFS/DipFS content

The Certificate of Financial Studies is the equivalent of an AS-level and counts for up to 60 UCAS points depending on the grade. It consists of three examinations taken throughout the year. The exams for the first two modules can either be completed using a computer or pen and paper and are marked electronically, these exams are multiple choice whereas the last module is a written exam involving case studies. The Certificate of Financial Studies is produced by the Institute of Financial Services (IFS) and can be followed by the Diploma of Financial Studies if desired.

The Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) enables learners to develop and further the knowledge and skills gained by achieving the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) to the wider financial environment. It will also enhance their financial capability by helping them understand issues from perspectives beyond their own; including that of the providers of financial services and to appreciate the consequences of decisions and their impact upon personal financial footprints.

Career relevance

This qualification can provide a route to higher education and to a career in financial services. Together the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS) and Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) can provide up to 120 UCAS points.

Qualification details

The Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) consists of 3 units:

A pass must be achieved in all 3 units to gain the qualification. Students receive 2 registrations for each unit to allow them to potentially improve their grade.

Qualification learning outcomes

On completion of this qualification students will be able to:

understand the need for personal budgeting and be able to create and monitor an appropriate personal finance plan
understand the financial product types and mixes available to the individual and assess their suitabilitiy and affordability to support a personal financial plan and changing personal circumstances
understand the wider financial environment , its key impacting factors and its application to a variety of different groups of people from a range of cultures, different socio-economic groupings and at different stages in their lifecycle
appreciate a financial provider's prospective and their aims and objectives
understand how providers develop products to suit different customers and be able to analyse this
develop an understanding of promotional products, including the more complex products such as pensions and investments, how they will suit different individual needs, wants and aspirations and how providers retain and attract customers
appreciate the factors that will influence and change the financial marketplace such as ethical considerations
explain the benefits of an efficient and effective financial services industry

Entry requirements

For entry on to the Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS), students must have studied and achieved a pass in the Certificate in Financial Studies (CeFS). Students should be aware that the level of achievement required to obtain the Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) is equivalent to that of GCE level/ A2 Level qualifications. Applicants need to be satisfied of their ability to study, in English, at this level.

Studying for this qualification

How do I study?

The ifs’ Level 3 Diploma in Financial Studies (DipFS) is delivered within centres across the UK. The recommended guided learning hours for DipFS is 330 hours (this includes 150 gained learning hours from CeFS).

Learning support

The ifs runs tutor development days, providing advice, guidance and an opportunity to share best practice and expertise.

Learning resources

The ifs provides a comprehensive learning support package for tutors and students including:

access to extensive online student and tutor resources via the information gateway my ifslearning
specimen examination papers and justifications
on-demand assessment
ifs KnowledgeBank, an online information service and e-library, giving you access to a wide range of resources including databases, full text journals, reference sources and books to support your students’ studies

The ifs School of Finance will supply study materials for CeFS and DipFS students free of charge.

Assessment

FTF and TPP can be assessed either by a paper-based examination or via the ifs e-test™ electronic testing system. EFC is assessed by a paper-based examination. View further information about ifs e-test™. A breakdown of the examinations can be found below.

Financing the Future (FTF) will be assessed by a single 75-minute objective test and will comprise 42 one-mark questions: 7 are stand-alone questions and 35 questions are based on 7 case studies each with 5 associated questions. To pass Financing the Future (FTF), students must achieve at least 21 out of 42 marks.

Financial Services from the Providers’ Perspective (TPP) will be assessed by a single 75-minute objective test and will comprise 42 one-mark questions: 21 are stand-alone questions and 21 questions are based on 3 case studies each with 7 associated questions. To pass Financial Services from the Providers’ Perspective (TPP), students must achieve at least 21 out of 32 marks.

Enhancing Financial Capability (EFC) is a single paper-based written examination based on pre-released case study material. Students are required to answer 1 question from a choice of 2. To pass Enhancing Financial Capability (EFC), students must achieve at least 10 out of 40 marks. Please note that EFC is a paper-based examination and is held on set dates each year.

To achieve the qualification, students are required to achieve a pass of 50% in both FTF and TPP and 25% in EFC. A minimum of 40% overall is required to pass the qualification. The overall grade bands (out of a total of 124 marks, across the 3 Units) are decided at a grade award meeting held after each Unit 3 examination session.