A management meeting in a business office setting with blurred colleagues in the corridor, indicating a busy environment.

Business Management - Certificate of Higher Education

Start your degree-level journey in business

Thinking about a degree in Business Management but not ready to commit to three full years of study just yet?
This one‑year Certificate of Higher Education in Business Management offers a flexible, confidence‑building way to get started.

You’ll study the same degree‑level content as students on longer programmes, developing core business knowledge in areas such as management, marketing and finance, while keeping your options open for the future.

It’s an ideal choice if you want to:

  • test out degree‑level study
  • build business skills for employment or self‑employment
  • progress step‑by‑step towards a full Business Management degree

Why choose this course?

  • A flexible first step into higher education

This course is designed for students who want a lower‑commitment route into a business degree. You’ll gain a recognised higher education qualification in just one year, with the option to progress further when you’re ready.

  • Degree‑level learning, without the long‑term pressure

You’ll study at Level 4, developing academic and practical business skills while experiencing what higher education is really like – before deciding on your next step.

  • A recognised university qualification

Although you’ll study locally in Blackpool, the Certificate of Higher Education is awarded by Lancaster University, giving your qualification real credibility with employers and universities.

What will I learn?

You’ll cover a broad introduction to modern business and management, helping you understand how organisations operate and make decisions.

Topics typically include:

  • Managing people and teams
  • Marketing principles and customer behaviour
  • Business finance and budgeting
  • The structure and operation of organisations
  • Professional and academic skills for higher education

This wide‑ranging approach helps keep your future options open — whether that’s employment, self‑employment or further study.

Before applying, please check whether you meet the entry requirements under 'Key Information' for this course. Don't hesitate to call us on 01253 504343 if you need assistance.

  • £31,000 average annual starting salary
  • Opportunities in both established businesses and dynamic start-ups
  • 34,700 job openings per year

Entry Requirements

A minimum of 80 UCAS points (excluding Functional Skills) in an appropriate discipline:

  • MMP from Extended Diploma or DM from Diploma in appropriate discipline
  • Mathematic and English Language GCSE at grade C/4 or above
  • Full Access to HE Diploma with Merits in Level 3 subjects


Applicants for whom English is not their first language are expected to achieve a minimum 6.0 overall with at least 5.5 in each component.

Applicants who are able to demonstrate relevant work/life skills or knowledge will also be considered on an individual basis.

  • Course code TH1HE189
  • UCAS code N900
  • Duration 1 Year
  • Day/s of week Tuesday or Wednesday
  • Time 09:00 - 16:00

Next course dates

Start date Location Duration
07 Sep 2026
University Centre
1 Year
13 Sep 2027
University Centre
1 Year

Where can this subject lead?

Career progression

Good leadership skills are a genuine asset to any business so a programme that promises to develop them is ideal for anyone wanting to develop a career in business management.

What's more, because the leadership element of this degree is embedded in broader business concerns, students are able to utilise what they learn in a real-world context.

Some students use this as a stepping stone to further study whilst others use it a way to get onto the business management ladder or to start their own business.

Next steps at B&FC

On successful completion, you can progress directly to Year 2 of the Foundation Degree in Business Management, and potentially onto the final‑year top‑up to achieve a BA (Hons) Business Management.

This gives you a step‑by‑step degree pathway, starting with just one year.

Employment Opportunities

This course also supports progression into:

  • entry‑level management and administration roles
  • roles within small and medium‑sized businesses
  • self‑employment and start‑ups

Leadership, organisation and commercial awareness are valuable skills across almost every industry.

Key information

Qualification obtained

CertHE Business Management

Fees and funding

Visit our Tuition Fees page and Financial Support for Degrees page for more information about fees and funding.

Extra costs and equipment

You will not be required to purchase any additional equipment to undertake this programme as the college has resources available to students. However, there may be some opportunities that will not be a requirement of the programme but will be available to students at an additional cost.

Regulation and Accreditation

Accrediting Institution: N/A

Awarding Body: Lancaster University

Regulatory Body: Office for Students (OfS)

Terms and conditions

Please visit our Student Terms and Conditions page for more information.

What will I learn?

Industry placement, field trips and guest speakers

There are no field trips and work placements on this one year programme.

  • Modules at level 4

    Module title Code Credits Optional
    Managing People TH4MD336 20 No
    Operational Leadership TH4MD337 20 No
    Finance for Business TH4MD338 20 No
    Marketing TH4MD339 20 No
    Dynamic Business Environment TH4MD340 20 No
    Professional and Academic Skills Humanities TH4MD375 20 No

Learning Support - at a glance

  • Higher Education Learning Mentors (HELMs)
  • One-to-one and group learning support sessions
  • Pre-degree preparation workshops
  • IT Support
Discover available Learning Support

Programme Specification

Download our Programme Specification for this course.

Tutor Profile - Daniel Hogg

Industry Background:
Worked in sports marketing at Blackpool FC before moving on to an operational management role at PlayFootball.net.

Area of Expertise:
Strategy and Innovation, Global Marketing, Leadership, Operations.

Enjoys teaching at B&FC because:
It gives me the opportunity to use my academic knowledge to develop new and engaging course content for our degree-level provision.

How will I learn?

Scheduled Learning

Scheduled time relates to the time you spend in directed study with the guidance and support of our academic tutors.

Scheduled learning can take a variety of forms and will vary from one course to the next, but may include lectures, seminars, tutorials, project supervision, demonstrations, studio or workshop time, fieldwork and external visits.
 

Independent Study

Higher education courses rely on students undertaking work outside of formal, scheduled sessions and this is generally categorised as independent study.

Independent study might include preparation for scheduled sessions, follow-up work, wider reading or practice, completion of assessment tasks and revision.

Expert tutors

All tutors involved in the delivery of higher education courses within the College are approved to teach the subjects and modules they deliver.

The approval process ensures that staff delivering a given programme are appropriately qualified and, where appropriate, possess relevant technical and industrial experience and professional practice.

Learning Methods

Learning Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Scheduled 288 0 0
Independent 912 0 0
Placement 0 0 0
Total 1200 0 0
Ready to take the next step? Navigate to the top of the page and click Apply Now to continue your degree-level journey.

Not the course for you?

Take a look at some of our other degree-level study options and see what sparks your imagination.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is designed to reflect real‑world business practice, not just exams.

You may be assessed through:

  • coursework and assignments
  • presentations
  • reports and case studies

This practical approach helps you develop skills that employers value, while building confidence in your own abilities.

Assessment Method Level 4 Level 5 Level 6
Coursework 64% 0% 0%
Exam 30% 0% 0%
Practical 6% 0% 0%