Questions about Level 5 diplomas
Short answers to the things people ask before they choose a credit value, an awarding body or a sector. Where an answer depends on a number, the number comes from the awarding body specification or the Ofqual register; where it depends on someone else's decision, we say whose.
About the level
Is a Level 5 diploma the same thing as an HND or a foundation degree?
Same level, different awards. All three sit at Level 5 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework and are treated as equivalent in academic weight. An HND is a Pearson qualification, a foundation degree is awarded by a university, and the programmes here are OTHM or Qualifi diplomas regulated by Ofqual. Whether a given university or employer treats them interchangeably is their decision, and most do for progression purposes.
Is it a degree?
No. It is the credit equivalent of the first two years of a three-year degree (240 credits at Levels 4 and 5). A bachelor's degree with honours needs 360 credits including a Level 6 year. The top-up routes page explains how people complete that final stage.
Does a Level 5 diploma carry UCAS Tariff points?
No. The UCAS Tariff covers Level 3 qualifications used for first-year entry to higher education. Level 5 is above the Tariff. Universities assess Level 5 applicants for advanced standing under their own admissions rules instead.
Diploma or Extended Diploma
How do I know which one I am eligible for?
By your highest current qualification. A relevant Level 4 award (a Level 4 diploma, an HNC or a completed first year of a degree) meets the Diploma's entry criteria. A Level 3 award (A levels, a Level 3 diploma, an access course) meets the Extended Diploma's. Most OTHM specifications also allow LSPM, as the centre, to admit learners over 21 on relevant experience. The Diploma vs Extended Diploma page has the full comparison.
If I hold Level 3, can I do a Level 4 diploma and then a Level 5 diploma instead?
Yes, and you end in the same credit position. The trade-off is two registrations, two fee schedules and two certificates against one. Some learners prefer the two-step route because the Level 4 certificate stands on its own if circumstances change; others prefer a single enrolment. The adviser will set the two side by side for your subject.
Do the Level 5 units in an Extended Diploma match the stand-alone Diploma?
For the OTHM pairs whose specifications label unit levels, the Level 5 stage of the Extended Diploma lists the same six unit titles as the Diploma. The programme page for each Extended Diploma shows how many titles it shares with its counterpart, and the compare tool puts the two side by side. We do not assume a match where the specification does not label levels.
Why do some Qualifi programmes show 4, 8 or 19 units when OTHM shows 6 or 12?
Because the two awarding bodies design units differently. OTHM standardises on 20-credit units, six per level. Qualifi units vary in size, so a 120-credit Diploma may have four large units or ten smaller ones. Compare credits and hours rather than unit counts when weighing one body against the other.
Studying
Are there exams?
No. Every programme on this site is assessed through written assignments mapped to each unit's learning outcomes, marked by LSPM and verified by the awarding body. How LSPM teaches describes the process.
How many hours a week should I plan for?
Divide the total qualification time by the weeks you have. A 1,200-hour Diploma over 18 months is about 15 hours a week; a 2,400-hour Extended Diploma over the same period is about 31. The hours table on how LSPM teaches gives other paces. Qualifi programmes state TQT in their specifications.
Can I study from outside the UK?
Yes, in the online mode, subject to the awarding body's English-language expectation (about CEFR B2, or IELTS 6 for some Qualifi programmes) and LSPM's identity checks. The qualification is regulated in England; recognition in your own country depends on the body assessing it, and we can supply the specification and your transcript to support a credential evaluation.
Awarding bodies and checking
What is the practical difference between OTHM and Qualifi?
Both are Ofqual-regulated awarding organisations using centre-marked, externally verified assessment. In this catalogue OTHM programmes are regular in structure (20-credit units, published TQT and GLH) and list precise entry bullets; Qualifi programmes vary more in unit size and often describe a centre-led admissions assessment rather than fixed criteria. Neither is inherently stronger. The awarding bodies page goes into more detail.
How do I check that a programme is genuinely regulated?
Copy the Ofqual number from the programme page into the search box at register.ofqual.gov.uk. The entry shows the awarding organisation, the level, the credit value and the operational dates. Every programme page on this site links straight to that search.
Some programme pages say "facts only". What does that mean?
It means the awarding body's data is complete but our own notes are not yet written for that programme. We publish the facts anyway, because they are what you need to compare, but we do not offer those pages to search engines until the commentary exists. 12 of 56 programmes currently have full notes.
Fees and enrolment
What does it cost?
Fees are published on the fees page per programme once LSPM confirms them to us; until then the site says "to be confirmed" rather than quoting a number. Structurally, an Extended Diploma is one fee schedule covering both stages, and instalments are available.
When can I start?
Intake dates are set by LSPM and shown on each programme page once confirmed (currently: Rolling intake — course starts when the fee is paid). The adviser will give you the next date for your programme and mode.
What happens after I enquire?
We check what you hold against the entry criteria, recommend Diploma or Extended Diploma, and offer a short call. If you go ahead, you apply on LSPM's website; LSPM verifies your documents and registers you with the awarding body. There is no deadline pressure from us, and LSPM pays us a fee only if you enrol.
Not sure which credit value you need?
Tell us your highest qualification and we will say which of the 120-credit Diploma and the 240-credit Extended Diploma LSPM's entry criteria open to you, and how to start the application.