Teacher-led explanations, worked business examples, discussion and preparation for the next stage of the unit.
Our curriculum and teaching plan
Every unit, every stage, mapped across 20 months.
This is how UK BTEC Online teaches the 15-unit Business Extended Diploma route: six mandatory units and nine optional units selected for this curriculum, with 1,080 guided learning hours across two academic years. You can see what you learn, what evidence you build and how the work develops from Pass to Merit to Distinction.
Qualification size3 International A Levels
Course length2 academic years
Guided learning1,080 hours
Curriculum15 assessed units
What your week looks like
Flexible online study still means serious, regular work.
The Extended Diploma is specified by Pearson as a two-year, full-time course. Live lessons are one part of the timetable, not the whole workload.
Bring questions, clarify concepts, review your plan and get help understanding the task before formal assessment.
Research, reading, calculations, drafting, evidence organisation and independent assignment production.
Workshops, supervised study and teacher-directed activities complete the wider full-time programme.
Important: two or three lesson hours alone are not the full course. A learner should expect a substantial weekly timetable. The exact pattern depends on the unit, pace, approved-centre plan and whether practical or placement evidence is required.
How grades are built
Pass first. Then analyse. Then evaluate.
Every unit has its own published criteria, but the intellectual progression is consistent. You cannot skip the foundational evidence and jump straight to a Distinction conclusion.
Pass
Meet every required learning aim with accurate knowledge, relevant research, completed calculations or practical evidence, and clear application to the given business context.
Merit
Move beyond description. Analyse relationships, compare evidence, explain causes and consequences, and show how business factors affect one another.
Distinction
Evaluate the evidence, weigh alternatives, reach a supported judgement and justify recommendations using detailed, relevant business research.
Teaching, practice and planning happen before formal assessment. Once assessment begins, feedback and any resubmission must follow Pearson rules. There is no unlimited cycle of rewriting until a particular grade is reached.
Start windows
September is the main route, with supported later entry.
Pearson defines the qualification; the approved centre controls registration and the assessment calendar. UK BTEC Online organises teaching around these entry windows.
September
Begin with Unit 1 and follow the complete two-year sequence from the beginning.
February
Join through an individual induction and catch-up plan where the timetable and registration route allow it.
April
Start only where the remaining teaching time and assessment windows allow the programme to be completed properly.
Our aim is to offer a supported start within the next three months when a suitable intake is available. Your written plan confirms the actual start date, catch-up work, approved-centre registration and expected completion date.
Our 20-month curriculum
What you study, produce and achieve.
Each guide below follows Pearson’s current Business specification. The evidence format describes Pearson’s assessment approach; the exact authorised assignment brief, deadlines and optional-unit approval control the final task.
01
Months 1–2 · Mandatory · Internal · 90 GLH
Unit 1 · Exploring Business
Build the foundation for the course by comparing organisations and understanding how ownership, stakeholders, structures, aims and the business environment shape success.
What you learn
- Ownership, liability, purpose, size and scope of contrasting businesses
- Stakeholder influence, structures, functional areas, aims and objectives
- Internal, external and competitive environments, innovation and situational analysis
Evidence you build
Two substantial reports: one comparing two contrasting organisations and stakeholder relationships; one examining how a large business responds to its internal and external environment.
Pass: explain features, structures, stakeholders and environmental effects accurately.
Merit: analyse how structure, communication and change influence performance.
Distinction: evaluate why organisations succeed and how effectively a business responds to change.
02
Months 3–4 · Mandatory · Pearson Set Assignment · 90 GLH
Unit 2 · Research and Plan a Marketing Campaign
Learn how organisations understand markets and turn research into a costed, justified campaign for a new product.
What you learn
- Marketing, primary and secondary research, sampling and research limitations
- Market characteristics, marketing models and the promotional mix
- Aims, budget, message, media, timescale and campaign rationale
Evidence you build
A computer-completed, two-part, 20-hour Pearson Set Assignment. Expect formal business-report writing, interpretation of research and a justified campaign plan based on Pearson’s scenario.
Pass: apply marketing knowledge and produce a complete campaign.
Merit: analyse research and connect market evidence to decisions.
Distinction: evaluate alternatives and fully justify why the campaign should meet its aims.
03
Months 5–6 · Mandatory · Internal · 90 GLH
Unit 3 · Business Finance
Develop the numerical and written skills needed to plan cash, calculate break-even and judge a business’s financial health.
What you learn
- Sources of finance and revenue for different business stages
- Cash-flow forecasts, break-even, risks and financial planning
- Financial statements and ratio analysis
Evidence you build
A finance report plus accurate forecasts, calculations, break-even work and statements. You interpret the figures and recommend improvements rather than simply presenting numbers.
Pass: complete calculations and explain suitable finance or performance measures.
Merit: analyse data, ratios and the relationship between decisions and performance.
Distinction: evaluate financial health and justify well-supported improvements.
04
Months 7–8 · Mandatory · Internal · 90 GLH
Unit 4 · Managing an Event
Investigate events, test feasibility, build a detailed plan, help stage the event and evaluate the result.
What you learn
- Organiser tasks, skills audits, event formats and success factors
- Budgets, schedules, risk, security, suppliers and contingencies
- Teamwork, live problem solving, feedback and skills development
Evidence you build
An individual report, group presentation, detailed plan, evidence of active participation such as records or witness statements, and a final written evaluation.
Pass: investigate, plan and participate safely with the required evidence.
Merit: analyse feasibility, choices, team performance and outcomes.
Distinction: evaluate the event and your contribution and justify improvements.
05
Month 9 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 5 · International Business
Understand why firms trade globally and how economic, cultural, political and financial conditions affect strategy.
What you learn
- Globalisation and the forces that accelerate or restrict it
- Trading associations, finance, barriers, exchange rates and the global economy
- Strategic aims and operational implications of entering markets
Evidence you build
A critical review of current globalisation factors and a case-study investigation evaluating an international organisation’s current and possible strategies.
Pass: explain global influences and international operations.
Merit: analyse the effects of markets, policy, culture and finance.
Distinction: evaluate options and justify how the organisation should respond.
06
Month 10 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 8 · Human Resources
Explore how organisations plan their workforce, motivate people, manage performance and recruit fairly.
What you learn
- HR planning and factors affecting workforce requirements
- Motivation, training, development and performance appraisal
- Recruitment, selection, ethics and legal considerations
Evidence you build
A research-based report responding to a business scenario and covering workforce planning, motivation, performance and recruitment in a large organisation.
Pass: explain HR planning, motivation and recruitment.
Merit: analyse how HR practices affect workforce and business performance.
Distinction: evaluate HR choices and justify improvements for the organisation.
07
Month 11 · Mandatory · Pearson Set Assignment · 60 GLH
Unit 6 · Principles of Management
Examine management theory, workplace culture, leadership styles and how managers respond to change.
What you learn
- Management and leadership principles, functions and theories
- Leadership styles, skills and organisational performance
- Managing change and stakeholder-focused improvement
Evidence you build
A computer-completed, 10-hour Pearson Set Assignment. You interpret a supplied context and prepare evidence-based proposals for management or organisational improvement.
Pass: apply relevant concepts and identify workable actions.
Merit: analyse how leadership, culture and choices affect performance.
Distinction: evaluate the context and justify integrated improvement proposals.
08
Months 12–14 · Mandatory and synoptic · Pearson Set Assignment · 120 GLH
Unit 7 · Business Decision Making
Bring the mandatory units together: interpret a business problem, analyse information, test alternatives and present a justified decision.
What you learn
- Objectives, structures, operations and decision-making models
- Data, projections, statements, break-even and investment appraisal
- Risk, “what if” scenarios, alternatives and business documents
Evidence you build
A computer-completed, 5-hour Pearson Set Assignment using a supplied scenario. It is synoptic and draws together knowledge and skills developed across the mandatory programme.
Pass: interpret core data and formulate a relevant solution.
Merit: analyse financial and non-financial evidence and compare alternatives.
Distinction: evaluate risk and consequences and fully justify the decision.
09
Month 12 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 9 · Team Building in Business
Study effective teams, apply development theory and practise team-member and leadership skills.
What you learn
- Groups, teams, team purposes and benefits
- Team-building techniques, theories and conflict
- Participation, leadership, reflection and improvement
Evidence you build
Reports on teams in real business settings, plus records and reflective evaluation from practical team activities in which you contribute and lead.
Pass: explain team types and participate effectively.
Merit: analyse team effectiveness using theory and evidence.
Distinction: evaluate team and personal performance and justify improvements.
10
Month 13 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 10 · Recording Financial Transactions
Develop bookkeeping accuracy through double entry, trial balances, reconciliation, control accounts and error correction.
What you learn
- Transactions, books of original entry, ledgers and trial balances
- Bank reconciliation and receivables or payables control accounts
- Journals, suspense accounts, error correction and effects on statements
Evidence you build
Completed accounting records and calculations supported by reports explaining accuracy, controls, errors, corrections and consequences for the business.
Pass: produce accurate records, reconciliations and corrections.
Merit: analyse why controls are needed and how errors affect information.
Distinction: evaluate implications and justify robust financial controls.
11
Month 14 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 14 · Investigating Customer Service
Connect customer expectations and relationships to business success, then demonstrate service skills.
What you learn
- Expectations, satisfaction, relationships, legislation and regulation
- Monitoring service through qualitative and quantitative information
- Communication, product knowledge, requests and complaints
Evidence you build
A business report, training handbook, service demonstrations in at least three situations, and a skills evaluation with development plan.
Pass: explain service principles and demonstrate appropriate interactions.
Merit: analyse monitoring evidence, performance and service choices.
Distinction: evaluate business and personal performance and justify improvements.
12
Month 15 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 17 · Digital Marketing
Examine digital channels, judge real campaigns and design an integrated campaign for a product or brand.
What you learn
- Digital marketing’s role, channels and display devices
- Objectives, strategies, indicators, return models, benefits and concerns
- Campaign planning and integration with the promotional mix
Evidence you build
A presentation comparing two campaigns, an accompanying analytical report and a fully justified digital marketing campaign plan.
Pass: explain methods and create a complete campaign plan.
Merit: analyse effectiveness, customer behaviour and measures of return.
Distinction: evaluate practice and justify an integrated campaign against evidence.
13
Month 16 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 20 · Business Ethics
Investigate ethical behaviour, corporate social responsibility, sustainability and organisational failure.
What you learn
- Business ethics, professional codes and ethical values
- CSR, stakeholder impact, sustainability and the triple bottom line
- Reputation, organisational responses and disaster recovery
Evidence you build
An investigative report comparing ethics and CSR in two organisations and a critical review of a response to a business disaster or ethical failure.
Pass: explain ethical and CSR concepts using organisational evidence.
Merit: analyse impacts on stakeholders, operations, cost and reputation.
Distinction: critically evaluate responses and justify how practice should change.
14
Months 17–18 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 23 · Work Experience in Business
Research a placement, complete 40 hours of appropriate work experience and turn workplace evidence into a development plan.
What you learn
- Work-related learning, placement research and preparation
- Induction, workplace tasks, expectations and safe working
- Reflection, feedback, employability skills and goal setting
Evidence you build
A placement-research portfolio, diary or journal, records covering tasks and safety, and a reflective personal and professional development portfolio.
Pass: prepare for, complete and accurately document the placement.
Merit: analyse learning, performance and feedback.
Distinction: evaluate how the experience changed your skills and justify development goals.
15
Month 19 · Selected optional · Internal · 60 GLH
Unit 30 · Career Planning
Research careers and university routes, audit your skills, create a development plan and practise applications and interviews.
What you learn
- Career pathways, employment types and progression requirements
- Skills audits, transferable skills, gaps and development planning
- Applications, interview technique and performance review
Evidence you build
A career portfolio with research, skills audit and development plan, followed by application documents, simulated-interview evidence and self-evaluation.
Pass: research realistic routes and complete the career evidence.
Merit: analyse how your skills and development needs fit the route.
Distinction: evaluate your plan and interview and justify a resilient pathway.
✓
Month 20 · Completion and progression
Final evidence, certification and next-step check
Confirm every learning aim and assessment decision, organise certification evidence and prepare university or employment applications.
Course evidence: check portfolios, decisions and permitted resubmission or retake records.
Centre process: complete quality assurance, claims and Pearson certification steps.
Progression: finalise admissions questions, equivalency evidence, applications and career actions.
About assignment length: Pearson does not prescribe one universal 8,000-word or 10,000-word target. Some reports may become substantial, but quality is judged against the criteria, not word count alone. Presentations, calculations, practical records, demonstrations and portfolios are required in several units. Always follow the exact authorised assignment brief.
Why the route remains flexible
One qualification, many ways to organise your week.
You can study online and develop assignments over time. Flexibility does not remove the standards: attendance, guided learning, independent evidence, deadlines, placement activity and assessment rules still matter.
- Unit deadlines rather than one final exam season
- Teacher-led preparation before formal assessment
- Optional drop-ins for clarification and planning
- Visible Pass, Merit and Distinction expectations
- University and career planning built into the final stage
Build your individual timetable
See how this curriculum fits your week.
Bring your current commitments, location and intended start date. We will explain the workload, teaching rhythm, registration route and what still needs confirmation before enrolment.
