Diploma for Higher Education Studies – UK Level 3

The objective of the OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies is to provide learners with a foundation to provide an entry route to UK and international university courses. It is designed to ensure that each learner is equipped with knowledge of study skills, mathematics, computing, society and culture, business, and accounting, providing the knowledge and skills to adapt rapidly to change and progress with their learning.

Successful completion of the Level 3 Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies provides learners with the opportunity to progress to further study or employment.

Entry requirements

OTHM Level 3 qualifications can be offered to learners from age 16. OTHM does not specify entry requirements for these qualifications. OTHM ensures that learners admitted to the program have sufficient capability at the right level to undertake the learning and assessment criteria. OTHM Centre must ensure learners are recruited with integrity onto appropriate qualifications that will meet their needs, enable and facilitate learning and achievement enable progression. The qualification is offered in English. English requirements: If a learner is not from a majority English-speaking country must provide evidence of English language competency. For more information visit the English Language Expectations page.

Equivalences

OTHM qualifications at RQF Level 3 represent practical knowledge, skills, capabilities, and competences that are assessed in academic terms as being equivalent to GCE AS/A Levels.

Qualification structure

The OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies consists of 6 mandatory units for a combined total of 120 credits, 1200 hours of Total Qualification Time (TQT), and 600 Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for the completed qualification.

Mandatory units

Academic English and Study Skills (20 credits)
Foundation Mathematics (20 credits)
Foundation Computing (20 credits)
Society and Culture (20 credits)
Introduction to Business (20 credits)
Foundation Accounting and Economics (20 credits)

Duration and delivery

The qualification is designed to be delivered over one academic year for full-time study, but it is also flexible in its delivery to accommodate part-time and distance learning. The qualification is delivered face-to-face, through lectures, tutorials, seminars, distance, and online by approved centers only.

The qualification is delivered face-to-face, through lectures, tutorials, seminars, distance, and online by approved centers only.

Assessment and verification

All units within this qualification are internally assessed by the center and externally verified by OTHM. The qualifications are criterion-referenced, based on the achievement of all the specified learning outcomes.

To achieve a ‘pass’ for a unit, learners must provide evidence to demonstrate that they have fulfilled all the learning outcomes and meet the standards specified by all assessment criteria. Judgment that the learners have successfully fulfilled the assessment criteria is made by the Assessor.

The Assessor should provide an audit trail showing how the judgment of the learners’ overall achievement has been arrived at.

Progression

Successful completion of the OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies provides learners the opportunity for academic progressions to a wide range of undergraduate programmes including OTHM Level 4 diplomas. For more information visit the University Progressions page on this website.