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About Diplomas

The Diploma is a composite qualification made up of three components: principal learning; generic learning; and additional and/or specialist learning (ASL). Each of these components comprises stand-alone qualifications and other learning (such as a mandatory period of work experience) that when aggregated, form the full Diploma.

Principal learning is specific to the Line of Learning that a learner chooses, for example creative and media. It comprises a number of units covering different aspects of the Line of Learning and carries a mandatory 50 per cent applied learning requirement.

Generic learning is common across all Diploma Lines of Learning. It includes a core of skills that employers and higher education demand, from personal, learning and thinking skills to functional skills in English, mathematics and ICT. Generic learning also requires learners to develop their organisational, research and presentation skills through the completion of a project, for example a performance or written report. A minimum of 10 days' work experience is also required within generic learning.

Additional and/or specialist learning gives learners the opportunity to deepen or broaden their learning. Within ASL, learners can choose qualifications that lead them in a particular direction, for example by taking a mathematics qualification within the engineering Diploma, they will develop a learning programme that leads to a degree-level course in engineering. Or learners can pursue interests that broaden their learning experience, for example by choosing a languages qualification.

The Diploma is available at three levels: the Foundation Diploma is a level 1 qualification, broadly equivalent to five GCSEs at level 1 (eg five D to G grades); the Higher Diploma is a level 2 qualification, broadly equivalent to seven GCSEs at level 2 (eg seven A* to C grades); the Advanced Diploma is a level 3 qualification, broadly equivalent to 3.5 A levels. There is also a Progression Diploma at level 3, which is made up of only the principal and generic learning components, and is broadly equivalent to 2.5 A levels.

UCAS recognises the Advanced Diploma as having a total potential value of 420 points, equivalent to 3.5 A levels in terms of university entry points.

Diplomas will be delivered by consortia of schools, colleges, employers and higher education institutions, which are subject to a Gateway quality assurance process. Each consortium will be able to bid to deliver one or more of the 17 Lines of Learning by 2011. The Lines of Learning are as follows:

Phase 1 Diplomas for first teaching from September 2008:

  • creative and media
  • construction and the built environment
  • engineering
  • IT
  • society, health and development.

Phase 2 Diplomas for first teaching from September 2009:

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

Phase 3 Diplomas for first teaching from September 2010:

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

Phase 4 Diplomas for first teaching from September 2011:

  • humanities
  • languages
  • science.