Matches the regional startup push
National diversification programmes across the GCC have put small business formation at the centre of policy, and this qualification sits squarely in that space.
Level 3 Diploma · Diploma
Level 3 Diploma in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship
For people with an idea and no formal grounding to build it on. Three compulsory subjects on innovation, business English and entrepreneurial thinking, then two chosen from planning, marketing and finance. Sixty credits, awarded by Qualifi under Ofqual regulation.
Quick Highlights
Qualifi Ltd
Ofqual, on the RQF
60 at Level 3
3 compulsory subjects, plus 2 chosen from 3
Starting and growing ventures
UK and international
Programme at a Glance
Official titleQualifi Level 3 Diploma in Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Qualification number603/1051/0 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework
Qualification typeVocational Related Qualification (Higher Education), accreditation status Accredited
Size60 credits at Level 3
Compulsory subjectsInnovation for Business, English for Business Communication, Thinking Entrepreneurially
Choose two fromEntrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Business Planning, Entrepreneurial Marketing, Entrepreneurial Finance and Accounting
Note: Duration will be based on your experience and it can be advanced bachelors too which differs from prospects to prospects
Programme Overview
About this Programme
Qualifi is unusually direct about who this award is for. It was created, in its words, to develop and reward business innovators and entrepreneurs of today and the future, and to bring recognition and professionalism to a wide range of sectors. The emphasis falls on starting and shaping ventures rather than on administering an existing one.
Three subjects are compulsory. Innovation for Business deals with where ideas come from and how organisations handle them. Thinking Entrepreneurially examines the mindset behind acting on an opportunity. English for Business Communication sits alongside them, and its presence as a required subject is deliberate — pitching, negotiating and writing clearly are not optional skills for someone trying to get a venture off the ground.
After that you pick two from three: entrepreneurial business planning, entrepreneurial marketing, or entrepreneurial finance and accounting. That choose-two rule is published explicitly, which makes this the clearest-structured award in Qualifi's Level 3 business range. The qualification carries 60 credits and sits at 603/1051/0 on the Regulated Qualifications Framework.
Qualifi
Why Choose
Why Choose This Programme?
01
Ideas treated as a subject
Innovation for Business addresses where ideas originate and how organisations deal with them, rather than assuming inspiration arrives on its own.
02
Communication made compulsory
English for Business Communication is required, not optional, which reflects how much of a founder's week is spent explaining things to other people.
03
A genuine, published choice
Two subjects chosen from planning, marketing and finance. The choose-two rule is stated outright, which is rare across Qualifi's Level 3 range.
04
A degree route is named
Qualifi lists the first year of a three-year UK honours degree as an onward option alongside its own Level 4 certificate.
05
Enterprise experience accepted at entry
Work in the business or enterprise sector counts towards admission, so a trading side project is relevant evidence.
06
Regulated, not just branded
Registered as 603/1051/0 with Ofqual, so the qualification exists independently of whoever markets the course.
An internationally recognised pathway awarded by Qualifi.
What You'll Learn
Learning Outcomes
Read widely around business and enterprise, then form your own view
Take knowledge into unfamiliar situations, which is most of what starting something involves
Recognise the ethical questions that come with business practice and research
See how many disciplines a venture draws on at once
Give a clear, credible account of an idea to specialists and to people outside the field
Build transferable skills that survive a change of sector or a change of plan
Understand how innovation is generated and managed inside an organisation
Move on to further study or apply the thinking directly in your own work
Career Opportunities
Where This Degree Can Take You
A Qualifi Level 4 Certificate
The first year of a three-year honours degree at a UK university
Programme Structure
Your Journey, Year by Year
A structured curriculum that builds from foundations through to advanced study.
Part 1 — Compulsory subjects
All three are required.
- Innovation for Business
- English for Business Communication
- Thinking Entrepreneurially
Part 2 — Choose two
Qualifi publishes an explicit choose-two rule for this group.
- Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Business Planning
- Entrepreneurial Marketing
- Entrepreneurial Finance and Accounting
Part 3 — Award
Sixty credits at Level 3, certificated by Qualifi once your centre has assessed and claimed.
- 60 credits
- Level 3 on the RQF
- Five subjects in total
- Certificate issued by Qualifi
- Taught and assessed by an approved centre
Q
The University
Qualifi
Your Learning Partner
Why Study Through Maverick?
Students receive:
Entry assessed by the centre
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Teaching from an approved centre
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Guidance on choosing your two optional subjects
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Assessment against published outcomes
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Qualifi certification
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Centre-set schedule
Support designed to help you succeed at every stage.
Why This Appeals to Gulf Founders
Pitching is part of the syllabus
Business English is compulsory here, which matters when investors, free zone authorities and suppliers all expect written clarity.
Finance available as an option
Entrepreneurial finance and accounting is one of the three choices, useful for anyone who will be handling their own books.
Earned locally, recognised as UK
Qualifi approves centres internationally while the certificate remains an Ofqual-regulated UK qualification.
Side ventures count at entry
Experience in the business or enterprise sector is accepted as a basis for admission, so an existing small venture is an asset.
Settle the practicalities first
Neither cost nor length comes from Qualifi. Confirm both with your centre, along with which optional subjects it actually runs.
Our Network
Diverse Alumni
Join professionals across leading organizations worldwide
Graduates placing at world-class organisations across aviation, energy, finance and government
Join our growing global network of industry leaders
Faculty Voice
Insights From Industry Experts
Real-world perspectives from the minds shaping global business education
Germany
Faculty Insight • 01
Prof. Alexander Schmidt
Alexander is a leader in AI and cloud integration, specializing in ethical AI strategy and financial services. He develops courses on Machine Learning, NLP, and AI ethics, driving tech business growth.
British
Faculty Insight • 02
Prof. Dr. David Mark Holliman
Dr. David Holliman, an educator with 15+ years of experience, is Chairman of Holliman Holdings, managing business operations in tourism, trading, asset management, and education
Jordan
Faculty Insight • 03
Prof. Dr. Othman Abu Khurma
Dr. Othman Abu Khurma, a passionate science educator with 18 years' experience in Jordan and the GCC, excels in designing engaging teaching materials, fostering dynamic discussions, enhancing learning for educators and students.
Switzerland
Faculty Insight • 04
Prof. Steve Alban Tineo
Prof. Steve, a global leader and entrepreneur with 20+ years of experience, delivers corporate training and academic courses on negotiation, conflict resolution, mediation, and cross-cultural communication.
slovakia
Faculty Insight • 05
Prof. Veronika Knight
Veronika Knight delivers practical, human-centered learning experiences for corporate teams across the UAE and GCC. Her approach focuses on developing soft skills and encouraging meaningful behavioural change, helping learners apply their knowledge with confidence in the workplace.
Canada
Faculty Insight • 06
Shyma Mohaisen
Shyma brings over 10 years of teaching experience and a background at Microsoft, combining academic expertise with practical industry insights to support learners’ professional growth.
India
Faculty Insight • 07
Prof. Dr. Shanmugan Joghee
Dr. Shanmugan brings over 26 years of experience in management education and research across India and the UAE, with expertise in marketing, international business, research methods, and digital transformation.
Ukrainian
Faculty Insight • 08
Prof. Yana Nikitina
Prof. Yana Nikitina is an accomplished economist, lecturer, and researcher with a PhD in Economics and a Master’s in Education Leadership. She brings extensive experience in teaching Economics, Finance, Accounting, and Business, with a strong commitment to student-centred learning, research excellence, and professional development.
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Fees & Scholarships
Fees & Scholarships
Fee structure varies by intake and study mode. Select any option to receive the full details.
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Course price comes from the centreRequest the full fee structure →
Varies by location and delivery modeRequest the full fee structure →
Ask which optional subjects are includedRequest the full fee structure →
Get the total in writingRequest the full fee structure →
Admissions
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Speak to our admissions team for a personalised breakdown based on your intake and study mode.
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Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this teach me to start a business?
It teaches the thinking and the groundwork rather than handing over a template. Innovation for Business and Thinking Entrepreneurially address how opportunities are recognised and acted on, and your two chosen subjects let you go deeper into planning, marketing or the money side. What it cannot do is replace actually trading. Treat it as structure and credibility around what you are doing, not as a substitute for doing it.
Which two optional subjects should I pick?
It depends on where you are weakest rather than where you are strongest. If you have an idea but no route to market, entrepreneurial marketing earns its place. If you cannot yet answer how the venture makes money, take the finance and accounting subject. Business planning suits anyone who needs to put a proposal in front of a lender, an investor or a licensing authority. Your centre can advise, and should tell you which it actually runs.
Why is English a compulsory subject?
Because communication is most of the job. Qualifi makes English for Business Communication mandatory alongside the two enterprise subjects, which is a reasonable reflection of how founders spend their time: writing proposals, explaining the idea, negotiating terms and dealing with officialdom. It is the only Level 3 business award in Qualifi's range to require it.
Do I need business qualifications to enrol?
No. Three starting points are accepted: holding something at Level 2, having worked in the business or enterprise sector and being able to set out where you want to take that, or already holding a Level 3 award in an unrelated subject and wanting to switch into business. An existing venture or trading activity is relevant evidence. Admission runs through the centre, which makes the judgement.
Is it recognised outside the UK?
It is a UK qualification regulated by Ofqual and listed on the Register of Regulated Qualifications, and Qualifi states availability as UK and international. Acceptance by any particular employer, bank, university or licensing body remains a judgement those organisations make for themselves, and no awarding organisation can commit them in advance. If you need recognition for a specific purpose, verify it with that organisation first.
What about timescale and price?
Qualifi publishes no duration in hours or months for this award and no price at all. Both belong to the centre that delivers the teaching, and both vary considerably between countries and between full-time and part-time study. Ask for a written quotation that separates tuition from registration and certification, so you can compare centres properly.
Enquire
Enquire About This Programme
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Personal eligibility review
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Application & study-mode support
Flexible study
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