DipHE in Business Management | Open University

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An image to illustrate the Diploma of Higher Education in Business Management

How do businesses develop strategies, handle risk and make decisions? What’s involved in functions such as human resources management, marketing, accounting and finance? This innovative diploma is firmly rooted in your own experience. You’ll investigate how organisations think and work, how they’re managed, and the external world in which they operate. You can focus entirely on business management, or choose to specialise within the subject areas of accounting, leadership practice, or innovation and enterprise.

You'll be learning from experts at a top triple-accredited business school:

A nationally recognised qualification in its own right, this diploma of higher education is also equivalent to the first two-thirds of the

BA (Honours) Business Management (Q91)

This business management diploma has two stages, each comprising 120 credits.

You can dive straight into Stage 1, or if it’s been a while since you last studied and you'd like to build your confidence or gain experience in online learning, you can begin with an optional Access module. For this qualification, we recommend the Business and law Access module.

In this stage, you’ll have a broad and engaging introduction to the fundamentals of business and management in its global context and choose between a broad study of business management or following a specialist route through your diploma.

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll study the following:
An introduction to business and management (B100)	60	Oct \| Feb

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll complete Stage 1 with 60 credits from:
Business data analytics and decision making (B126)	30	Apr
Communication skills for business and management (LB170)	30	Oct
Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century (U101)	60	Oct \| Feb
Discovering mathematics (MU123)	30	Oct \| Feb
Economics in context (DD126)	30	Oct \| Feb
Fundamentals of accounting (B124)	30	Oct
Introducing statistics (M140)	30	Oct \| Feb
Making your learning count (YXM130)	30	Oct
Marketing essentials (B128)	30	Oct
You and your money (DB125)	30	Oct \| Feb

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll study the following:
Fundamentals of accounting (B124)	30	Oct
You’ll also choose one from:
Business data analytics and decision making (B126)	30	Apr
You and your money (DB125)	30	Oct \| Feb

You’ll continue with your chosen specialist route or with a broad study of business management where you can select from a range of modules.

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll start Stage 2 with:
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60	Oct
You’ll also choose 60 credits from:
Entrepreneurship and innovation (B209)	60	Oct
Essential economics: macro and micro perspectives (D217)	60	Oct
Business law (BXI251)	30	Oct
Financial accounting in context (B293)	30	Oct
Financial analysis and decision making (B294)	30	Apr
Understanding customers (B206)	60	Oct
Understanding leadership (B211) – planned for October 2026	60	Oct

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll study all of the following:
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60	Oct
Financial accounting in context (B293)	30	Oct
Financial analysis and decision making (B294)	30	Apr

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll study both of the following:
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60	Oct
Entrepreneurship and innovation (B209)	60	Oct

Modules	Credits	Start month
You'll study both of the following:
Shaping business opportunities (B207)	60	Oct
Understanding leadership (B211) – planned for October 2026	60	Oct

By studying this diploma, you’ll:

You’ll be supported by tutors, quality online learning materials, and activities that will link the theory to workplace contexts.

You’ll be awarded a Diploma of Higher Education in Business Management upon successful completion.

You'll also have the opportunity to attend a degree ceremony.

If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our

Academic Regulations

contact us

You can achieve this diploma in as little as two years and have a maximum of 12 years to complete it. Our module-by-module approach gives you the flexibility to complete your qualification at a pace that works best for you.

You can complete this diploma in two years by studying at a pace equivalent to full-time. That’s similar to a student at a campus-based university.

You can complete this diploma in four years by studying part-time. That’s roughly half the rate of a student on a full-time course at a campus-based university.

At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.

As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.

Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:

Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.

Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.

For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.

See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.

Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:

Our qualifications are as accessible as possible, and we have a comprehensive range of support services to help you succeed. This qualification uses a variety of study materials and includes the following elements:

Every module has its own Accessibility Statement with more detailed accessibility information – you’ll find these in individual module descriptions. Visit our Disability support page to learn more about our services.

Discover how the OU’s Disability Support Team helps students with advice, adjustments and resources.

Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:

Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.

There are no formal entry requirements for this qualification.

Within this diploma, there is the option to study a mathematics module. Whether that module is right for you will depend on your experience and confidence with mathematics. Visit our Open Mathematics and Statistics website for information and to try some diagnostic quizzes.

If it’s been a while since you last studied and you’d like to build your confidence or gain experience in online learning, you can begin with an optional Access module. For this qualification, we recommend the Business and law Access module.

If you’ve studied at university level before, you may be able to transfer the academic credit you've been awarded towards an OU qualification. This could save you time and money by reducing the modules you need to study.

It’s not just university study that can be considered; you can also transfer study from a wide range of professional or vocational qualifications, such as HNCs and HNDs.

You should apply to transfer credit before registering, at least four weeks before the registration closing date. We will need to know what you studied, where, and when, and you will need to provide evidence of your previous study.

For more details and to download an application form, visit our Credit Transfer website.

The fees and funding information shown below relate to the 2025/26 academic year and are provided for guidance only. Updated 2026/27 information will be published on the 18th of March, when this qualification next opens for registration.

4 years

£3,892*

A diploma is worth 240 credits. The fee per year is based on studying 60 credits per year for 4 years.

£15,568*

This qualification also includes option modules with lower fees than standard, which, if studied, will reduce the total cost.

Your course fees cover your tuition, assessment and study materials, but there are still a few additional costs that can come with studying. For this qualification, you'll need:

*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2026. Fees typically increase annually. In England, fees are subject to the part-time fee limit, as set out in section 5 of the University's

Fee Rules

Pay nothing upfront – over 85% of our students in England fund their studies with a Part-Time Tuition Fee Loan (sometimes called a student loan), meaning they pay nothing upfront.

Learn more about this and our other funding options below.

Repay in monthly instalments while you study.

Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.

More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.

Combine your payment options to fund your studies the way you want.

If you’re a serving member of the British Armed Forces (or you’ve recently left), you may be eligible to use ELCs to cover up to 100% of your course fees.

You may be eligible for:

This diploma will develop valuable cognitive skills – writing, critical thinking, analysis and evaluation – along with ICT, presentation and basic numeracy skills. You’ll explore how businesses think and work, and develop a good understanding of the function and contribution of such specialisms as marketing, HR, operations and finance. You can take optional modules in mathematics, retail management, social science or communication skills, which will further enhance your skill set.

The skills and knowledge you'll develop by studying this qualification will equip you to follow a number of career paths, and are recognised by employers as having great value for work in management and business. A qualification in business management can lead to opportunities in a wide range of areas such as:

The Open University Business School is one of the few institutions worldwide that is triple-accredited by the:

Association of MBAs (AMBA)

European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

These are internationally recognised quality standards that independently validate the quality of the school's teaching, research, and operations. The School undergoes regular reviews to ensure that standards are maintained and has successfully retained its triple-accredited status since 2004. This qualification is accredited through inclusion in these reviews.

Employers are keen to utilise the commercial awareness that people with business and management skills offer, as increasing globalisation and continual changes in technology, communications, financial services and distribution of goods and services open up new business opportunities. This awareness can also lead to opportunities in specialist areas concerned with offering guidance to managers, such as management consultancy or business journalism.

Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice. This includes online forums, website, interview simulation, vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.

In the meantime, if you want to do some research around this qualification and where it might take you, we've put together a list of relevant job titles as a starting point. Some careers may require further study, training and/or work experience:

This course will next start in the 2026/27 academic year and will open for registration on the 18th of March. If you’d like us to keep you updated, register your interest.

Ask a question

Our prospectus will help you explore your course options, get a feel for life as an OU student, and register for study.

Request a prospectus

This course will next start in the 2026/27 academic year and will open for registration on the 18th of March. If you’d like us to keep you updated, register your interest.