Business and Professional Qualifications Online
The Business and Professional faculty brings together 27 Ofqual-regulated qualifications spanning accounting, human resources, leadership and management, project management, and marketing and sales, all delivered 100% online so you can qualify without stepping away from your current role.
Qualifications are awarded by the sector's most respected professional bodies: CMI, CIPD, AAT, ILM, and CIM. These are not generic certificates; they are the credentials that UK employers actively require for finance, HR, management, and marketing roles at every career stage from Level 2 entry through to Level 7 strategic leadership.
Whether you are starting out in bookkeeping with AAT, pursuing Chartered Manager status through CMI, or building an HR career with CIPD, every programme is assignment-based with no formal examinations, making professional qualification genuinely achievable alongside full-time employment.
Five Professional Qualification Pathways
Each pathway is a distinct professional discipline with qualifications at multiple levels. Choose the pathway that aligns with your career, then select the level that reflects where you are today and where you want to be within 12 to 24 months.
Accounting and Bookkeeping (AAT)
The AAT Q2022 pathway covers Level 2 Certificate in Accounting, Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, and Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting. A sequential, Ofqual-regulated route into finance and accounting careers recognised by every major UK employer. Individual levels and combined packages.
Explore Accounting and Bookkeeping →Leadership and Management (CMI)
CMI Level 3 for first-line managers, Level 5 for middle managers, and Level 7 for senior leaders and directors. The CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership opens the Chartered Manager route. ILM Level 3 also available.
Explore Leadership and Management →HR and People Management (CIPD)
CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice for those entering HR, and CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management for practising HR professionals. The Level 5 Organisational Learning and Development diploma is also available. Both qualifications confer Associate CIPD membership eligibility.
Explore HR and People (CIPD) →Project Management
The ILM Level 3 Diploma in Leadership and Management provides the management foundation for project co-ordinators and team leaders stepping into PM roles. CMI Level 5 and Level 7 qualifications provide project management units for mid-level and senior managers. The Business and Management Online Degree Pathway (ODP 7721) is also available for senior aspirants.
Explore Project Management →Marketing and Sales (CIM)
CIM Level 3 Foundation Extended Certificate and Level 4 Certificate in Professional and Digital Marketing, awarded by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the world's largest professional marketing body. Both are assignment-based with no exams. The Level 4 sits on the pathway to Chartered Marketer status.
Explore Marketing and Sales →Professional Bodies Behind the Qualifications
Every qualification in this faculty is Ofqual-regulated and awarded by an established UK professional body. This matters because employer recognition is built into the credential from the outset. Here is what each awarding body means for your career.
CMI – Chartered Management Institute
The only UK chartered professional body dedicated exclusively to management and leadership, CMI awards qualifications at Levels 3, 5, and 7 that are recognised across private, public, and third sectors. Level 5 and Level 7 diploma completers can apply for Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, the highest individual professional credential for UK managers. CMgr is recognised in over 40 countries.
CIPD – Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
CIPD is the professional body for HR and people management in the UK, with over 160,000 members globally. Completing a CIPD Level 3 or Level 5 qualification confers Associate CIPD membership (Assoc CIPD), listed as a requirement on the majority of UK HR job specifications above entry level. CIPD also manages the pathway to Chartered CIPD membership (MCIPD/FCIPD) for those progressing to Head of HR and people director roles. The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management is.
AAT – Association of Accounting Technicians
AAT is the UK's primary accounting technician body, with over 130,000 active students and recognition from employers including KPMG, PwC, Grant Thornton, the NHS, and local authorities. The Q2022 syllabus at Levels 2, 3, and 4 provides a structured pathway from introductory bookkeeping through to management accounting and professional accounting at senior technician level. AAT Level 4 completers become eligible for MAAT Full Membership and may fast-track into ACCA, CIMA, or ICAEW. Combined packages available.
CIM – Chartered Institute of Marketing
Founded in 1911, CIM is the world's largest professional marketing body with over 30,000 members across 130 countries. CIM is the only organisation in the UK that can award the designation of Chartered Marketer. Level 3 and Level 4 qualifications are the entry and intermediate credentials on the pathway to full Chartered Marketer status via the Level 6 Diploma. CIM assesses its qualifications centrally, with two submission windows per year. Level 3 and Level 4.
ILM – Institute of Leadership and Management
ILM is a City and Guilds Group subsidiary with strong employer recognition in manufacturing, logistics, retail, construction, and public services. The ILM Level 3 Diploma in Leadership and Management (PID 1049) is the primary ILM qualification in this faculty, designed for supervisors and team leaders entering management or project co-ordination roles. ILM qualifications are Ofqual-regulated and externally quality-assured, giving them the employer credibility of a nationally recognised credential.
Career Outcomes Across the Faculty
Business and professional qualifications lead to measurable salary progression and access to roles that require formal credentials. Here is a summary of typical career outcomes across each pathway.
| Pathway | Entry-Level Role | Senior Role | Typical Salary Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting (AAT) | Accounts Assistant, Bookkeeper | Finance Manager (MAAT) | £22,000–£55,000 |
| Leadership (CMI) | Team Leader, Supervisor | Senior Manager, Director | £28,000–£80,000+ |
| HR (CIPD) | HR Administrator, HR Co-ordinator | HR Business Partner, HR Director | £22,000–£70,000+ |
| Marketing (CIM) | Marketing Assistant, Content Creator | Marketing Manager, Brand Director | £22,000–£90,000 |
| Project Management (ILM) | Project Co-ordinator, Team Leader | Senior Project Manager, PMO Lead | £25,000–£75,000 |
Note on professional membership: Several pathways include professional membership eligibility alongside the qualification. AAT Level 4 confers MAAT status; CIPD Level 3 and Level 5 confer Assoc CIPD; CMI Level 5 opens the route to Chartered Manager (CMgr). These post-nominal credentials are what many employers are specifically hiring for when they list membership requirements in job specifications.
Frequently Asked Questions, Business and Professional
Which pathway should I choose if I am not sure where to start?+
The right pathway depends on the type of role you are targeting. If you work with financial data or want a career in finance and accounting, AAT is the clear choice. If you manage or want to manage people, CMI or ILM is most relevant. If you work in HR or want to move into a people management function, CIPD is the required credential. If marketing, brand, or digital roles are your goal, CIM is the pathway. Advisers are available to discuss your specific situation, current role, and career goals to confirm the most appropriate starting point and level.
Are all the qualifications in this faculty Ofqual-regulated?+
Yes. Every qualification in the Business and Professional faculty is regulated by Ofqual and appears on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications. You can verify any qualification using its Ofqual Qualification Number (QN). Key examples include: AAT Level 2 Certificate in Accounting (Q2022), QN 603/6042/8; AAT Level 3 Diploma in Accounting, QN 603/6043/X; AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting, QN 603/6045/3; CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership, QN 603/5271/2. All CMI, CIPD, CIM, and ILM qualifications in this faculty carry equivalent Ofqual registration.
Can I study these qualifications while working full-time?+
Yes. Every qualification in this faculty is delivered entirely online with no fixed attendance requirements. There are no lecture times, no cohort start dates, and no campus visits required. You study through an online learner portal, accessing materials at any time and submitting assignments when you are ready. Most learners in this faculty study in the evenings and at weekends, dedicating around 8–12 hours per week. At that pace, a CMI Level 5 diploma typically takes 9–18 months; an AAT Level 2 takes 3–5 months; a CIPD Level 3 takes 6–9 months.
Are any of these qualifications assessed by exams?+
Most qualifications in this faculty are assignment-based with no formal examinations. CMI, CIPD, ILM, and CIM Level 3 are all assessed by written assignments submitted online. The notable exception is AAT: AAT qualifications are assessed by computer-based tests administered at an approved assessment centre or via remote invigilation. These are on-demand tests with no fixed exam windows, meaning you sit them when you are ready rather than on a set exam day. Your course preparation includes practice assessments that mirror the format of the official AAT tests.
Will my employer fund a professional qualification?+
Many employers fund professional qualifications in this faculty, particularly AAT (widely funded by finance teams), CIPD (commonly funded by HR departments), and CMI (funded by many organisations through management development programmes). The case for employer funding is strongest when the qualification directly improves performance in your current role, which these work-applied qualifications are designed to do. Advisers can provide a business case template tailored to the specific qualification and your employer's sector. For self-funded learners, monthly payment plans are available across all courses, spreading the cost across the expected study period.
What is the difference between a diploma, a certificate, and an award at the same level?+
Within the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), the terms award, certificate, and diploma denote the size of a qualification at any given level. An Award is the smallest credential, covering one or two units. A Certificate covers a moderate range of subject content. A Diploma is the most comprehensive, covering the full breadth of the subject area at that level. For example, at CMI Level 5, the Award covers one or two units (PID 7285); the Certificate covers more units (PID 7287); and the Diploma covers the complete management curriculum (PID 7289). All three carry the same CMI awarding body recognition, but the Diploma is the credential most commonly required by employers and needed for Chartered Manager eligibility.
Are there degree-level pathways within this faculty?+
Three Online Degree Pathways are cross-listed within this faculty: Business and Management (ODP 7721), Management for Health and Social Care (ODP 7719), and Law (ODP 7723). These are ATHE Level 4 Extended Diploma programmes that lead to a full honours degree through a partner university. They are distinct from the CMI, CIPD, and AAT professional qualification pathways and are suited to learners who want degree-level credentials rather than vocational professional qualifications. Advisers can explain how these degree pathways complement or extend a CMI or other professional qualification journey.
Can I study more than one qualification from different pathways?+
Yes, there is no restriction on studying qualifications from more than one pathway, and many learners do. A common combination is CMI Level 5 alongside CIPD Level 5, as both are relevant to senior managers who also have people management responsibility. Another common pairing is AAT Level 3 with a CMI Level 3 qualification for those building both technical finance skills and management capability simultaneously. Advisers can help you sequence study so that the workload from two programmes is manageable alongside your employment commitments.
Start Your Professional Qualification Journey
27 Ofqual-regulated qualifications. Five professional pathways. CMI, CIPD, AAT, CIM, and ILM accredited. Study entirely online around your existing work and personal commitments, with tutor support throughout.
27 qualifications · Levels 2–7 · CMI, CIPD, AAT, CIM, ILM · 100% online · Assignment-based