This qualification is now closed for Registrations

Certification end date: 31/07/2026

Qualification summary

This qualification has been designed to recognise learners’ skills, knowledge and overall competence of complex administrative functions and activities. It accredits learners’ abilities to carry out a range of non-routine administrative tasks in a senior role and has been designed to accredit their achievements in a modern, practical way that is relevant to the work context and aids career progression.

This level 3 diploma is ideal for staff employed as but not limited to the following roles:

• Administration executives/officers
• Administration team leaders
• Personal assistants and secretaries
• Legal or medical secretaries

The qualification has been designed to be flexible, allowing you to choose units that best fit your needs, such as, but not limited to:

• Negotiate in a business environment
• Contribute to business performance
• Manage legal case files
• Resolve administrative problems

but at the same time ensuring that essential areas of knowledge and skill from the business administrative sector are covered by the mandatory units within this qualification.

If you feel that this qualification does not suit your current job role then you could look at the Level 2 Diploma in Business Administration (RQF) which is for administrative staff not in a supervisory position.

Learners who achieve this qualification could progress onto the:

•  Level 4 NVQ Diploma in Business Administration (RQF)
•  Level 4 Diploma in Principles of Business Administration (RQF)

•  Level 3 Diploma in Team Management (RQF)

It is supported nationwide by employers in all sectors. For details of a training provider or college in your area please contact our customer services team.

Related Documents:

VTCT (Skillsfirst) Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration (RQF) Handbook

 

Qualification structure

A minimum total of 58 credits must be achieved to gain the qualification as follows:

All 27 credits must be achieved from Group M and minimum of 13 credits must be achieved from Group A

A maximum of 10 credits can only be achieved from Group B and a maximum of 8 credits can only be achieved from Group C

A minimum of 40 credits must be at Level 3 or above.

Minimum Guided Learning Hours (GLH) are 282

Total Qualification Time (TQT) is 580

Qualification number	Qualification reference
BUSD3	601/3519/0

Group M – mandatory units

RQF unit no	Skillsfirst unit no	Unit title	Unit Level	Credit Value	Barred Unit(s)
Y/506/1910	BUS40	Communication in a business environment	3	4	–
R/506/1940	BUS57	Principles of business communication and information	3	4	–
Y/506/1941	BUS58	Principles of administration	3	6	–
D/506/1942	BUS59	Principles of business	3	10	–
T/506/2952	ML9	Manage personal and professional development	3	3	–

Group A – Optional units – business administration

RQF unit no	Skillsfirst unit no	Unit title	Unit Level	Credit Value	Barred Unit(s)
Y/506/1809	BUS14	Produce business documents	2	3	–
R/506/1811	BUS16	Store and retrieve information	2	4	–
Y/506/1812	BUS17	Produce minutes of meetings	2	3	–
D/506/1813	BUS18	Handle mail	2	3	–
K/506/1815	BUS20	Prepare text from notes using touch typing	2	4	–
M/506/1816	BUS21	Prepare text from shorthand	2	6	–
T/506/1817	BUS22	Prepare text from recorded audio instruction	2	4	–
Y/506/2295	BUS25	Maintain and issue stationery and supplies	2	3	–
L/506/1869	BUS27	Contribute to the organisation of an event	2	3	–
D /506/1875	BUS28	Organise business travel or accommodation	2	4	BUS48
H/506/1876	BUS29	Provide administrative support for meetings	2	4	–
T/506/1879	BUS30	Administer human resource records	2	3	–
A/506/1883	BUS31	Administer the recruitment and selection process	2	3	–
R/506/1887	BUS32	Administer parking dispensations	2	3	–
R/506/1890	BUS33	Administer finance	2	4	–
M/506/1895	BUS35	Buddy a colleague to develop their skills	2	3	–
L/506/1905	BUS39	Employee rights and responsibilities	2	2	–
D/506/1911	BUS41	Contribute to the improvement of business performance	3	6	–
H/506/1912	BUS42	Negotiate in a business environment	3	4	–
K/506/1913	BUS43	Develop a presentation	3	3	–
M/506/1914	BUS44	Deliver a presentation	3	3	–
T/506/1915	BUS45	Create bespoke business documents	3	4	–
A/506/1916	BUS46	Contribute to the development and implementation of an information system	3	6	–
F/506/1917	BUS47	Monitor information systems	3	8	–
J/506/1918	BUS48	Evaluate the provision of business travel or accommodation	3	5	BUS28
L/506/1919	BUS49	Provide administration support in schools	3	5	–
F/506/1920	BUS50	Administer parking and traffic challenges, representations and civil parking appeals	3	5	–
R/506/1923	BUS51	Administer statutory parking and traffic appeals	3	6	–
T/506/1932	BUS52	Administer parking and traffic debt recovery	3	5	–
J/506/1935	BUS53	Administer legal files	3	5	–
L/506/1936	BUS54	Build legal case files	3	5	–
Y/506/1938	BUS55	Manage legal case files	3	5	–
K/506/1944	BUS60	Manage an office facility	3	4	–
M/506/1945	BUS61	Analyse and present business data	3	6	–
R/506/1954	BUS66	Support environmental sustainability in a business environment	4	4	–
D/506/1956	BUS67	Resolve administrative problems	4	6	–
H/506/1957	BUS68	Prepare specifications for contracts	4	4	–

Group B – Optional units – IT and management

RQF unit no	Skillsfirst unit no	Unit title	Unit Level	Credit Value	Barred Unit(s)
L/506/2150	CUS25	Organise and deliver customer service	3	5	–
R/506/2151	CUS31	Resolve customer’s complaints	3	4	–
J/502/4397	IT301	Bespoke software	3	4	–
T/502/4556	IT303	Database software	3	6	–
T/502/4623	IT306	Presentation software	3	6	–
J/502/4626	IT308	Spreadsheet software	3	6	–
Y/502/4632	IT310	Website software	3	5	–
Y/502/4629	IT311	Word processing software	3	6	–
T/502/4301	IT312	Using email	3	3	–
T/506/1820	ML10	Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace	3	3	–
A/506/1821	ML11	Manage team performance	3	4	–
J/506/1921	ML12	Manage individuals’ performance	3	4	–
L/506/1922	ML13	Manage individuals’ development in the workplace	3	3	–
Y/506/1924	ML14	Chair and lead meetings	3	3	–
J/506/2292	ML16	Encourage innovation	3	4	–
M/506/1928	ML18	Produce products and/or services	3	5	–
T/506/1929	ML19	Implement change	3	5	–
K/506/1930	ML20	Implement and maintain business continuity plans and processes	3	4	–
F/506/1934	ML23	Participate in a project	3	3	ML40
J/506/1949	ML25	Develop and maintain professional networks	4	3	–
Y/506/1955	ML27	Develop and implement an operational plan	4	5	–
K/506/1989	ML34	Manage physical resources	4	4	–
K/506/1992	ML36	Prepare for and support quality audits	4	3	–
A/506/1995	ML38	Manage a budget	4	4	–
R/506/1999	ML40	Manage a project	4	7	ML23
L/506/2004	ML41	Manage business risk	4	6	–
R/506/2909	ML43	Recruitment, selection and induction practice	4	6	–

Group C – Optional units – general

RQF unit no	Skillsfirst unit no	Unit title	Unit Level	Credit Value	Barred Unit(s)
D/506/1939	BUS56	Understand the legal context of business	3	6	–
Y/506/2152	CUS26	Understand the customer service environment	3	5	–
K/502/9933	MK1	Principles of market research	3	5	–
T/502/9935	MK2	Principles of marketing and evaluation	3	7	–
J/502/9938	MK3	Principles of marketing stakeholder relationships	3	3	–
F/506/2596	ML15	Principles of leadership and management	3	8	–
F/502/9937	PDM3	Principles of digital marketing and research	3	7	–
R/503/9324	RECP17	Principles of social media within a business	3	6	–

To find out more, please contact our customer services team on 0121 270 5100 or email us.