The ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration is a practical qualification designed to provide learners with the essential skills and knowledge to operate effectively in a business support role. The course is ideal for professionals working in administrative, clerical, or office-based positions who want to strengthen their operational capabilities. Learners gain a strong foundation in administrative procedures, document management, communication, and organisational skills. With a focus on real-world application, the programme ensures that participants can immediately apply what they learn to improve efficiency and productivity in their workplace.
This diploma delivers a comprehensive understanding of core administrative functions and business support systems. Learners explore topics such as managing information, coordinating meetings, maintaining accurate records, handling office communication, and providing excellent customer service. The curriculum is aligned with current practices in professional business environments, allowing participants to develop skills relevant across different sectors. By combining practical exercises with structured learning, the course ensures that participants build confidence in applying administrative techniques effectively.
The ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration equips learners with a recognised certification that validates their practical business administration skills. It focuses on competencies that employers value, including organisational efficiency, communication, and office management. The flexible delivery allows participants to balance learning with workplace responsibilities, making it ideal for working professionals. Completing this diploma empowers learners to enhance their career prospects, perform more effectively in administrative roles, and contribute positively to organisational operations, while also complementing other certificates and diplomas in business and management.
Program Highlights
The ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration is a competence-based qualification, to achieve this qualification andidates must achieve 58 credits:
- 27 credits from the Mandatory units in Group A, plus
- A minimum of 13 credits from Optional Group B
- A maximum of 10 credits may be from Optional Group C, and
- A maximum of 8 credits may be from Optional Group D
Mandatory Units
Group A:
- Principles of business (Credit Value: 10)
- Principles of business communication and information (Credit Value: 4)
- Communicate in a business environment (Credit Value: 4)
- Principles of administration (Credit Value: 6)
- Manage personal and professional development (Credit Value: 3)
Group B:
- Contribute to the development and implementation of an information system (Credit Value: 6)
- Contribute to the improvement of business performance (Credit Value: 6)
- Administer parking and traffic challenges, representations, and civil parking appeals (Credit Value: 5)
- Negotiate in a business environment (Credit Value: 4)
- Evaluate the provision of business travel or accommodation (Credit Value: 5)
- Negotiate in a business environment (Credit Value: 3)
- Develop a presentation (Credit Value: 4)
- Negotiate in a business environment (Credit Value: 5)
- Manage an office facility (Credit Value: 5)
- Negotiate in a business environment (Credit Value: 3)
- Provide administrative support in schools (Credit Value: 6)
- Build legal case files (Credit Value: 6)
- Deliver a presentation (Credit Value: 4)
- Analyse and present business data (Credit Value: 5)
- Administer statutory parking and traffic appeals (Credit Value: 5)
- Create bespoke business documents (Credit Value: 3)
- Administer parking and traffic debt recovery (Credit Value: 3)
- Administer parking and traffic debt recovery (Credit Value: 4)
- Manage legal case files (Credit Value: 4)
- Administer the recruitment and selection process (Credit Value: 4)
- Handle mail (Credit Value: 3)
- Organise business travel or accommodation (Credit Value: 4)
- Provide administrative support for meetings (Credit Value: 4)
- Prepare text from notes using touch typing (Credit Value: 4)
- Contribute to the organisation of an event (Credit Value: 3)
- Employee rights and responsibilities (Credit Value: 2)
- Prepare text from shorthand (Credit Value: 6)
- Buddy a colleague to develop their skills (Credit Value: 3)
- Store and retrieve information (Credit Value: 4)
- Administer parking dispensations (Credit Value: 3)
- Administer finance (Credit Value: 4)
- Prepare text from recorded audio instruction (Credit Value: 4)
- Administer human resource records (Credit Value: 3)
- Produce business documentation (Credit Value: 3)
- Produce minutes of meetings (Credit Value: 3)
- Resolve administrative problems (Credit Value: 6)
- Prepare specifications for contracts (Credit Value: 4)
- Support environmental sustainability in a business environment (Credit Value: 4)
- Administer legal files (Credit Value: 5)
- Monitor information systems (Credit Value: 8)
- Maintain and issue stationery and supplies (Credit Value: 3)
Group C:
- Manage team performance (Credit Value: 4)
- Participate in a project (Credit Value: 3)
- Manage individuals’ performance (Credit Value: 4)
- Implement and maintain business continuity plans and processes (Credit Value: 4)
- Manage individuals’ development in the workplace (Credit Value: 3)
- Procure products and/or services (Credit Value: 5)
- Promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace (Credit Value: 3)
- Implement change (Credit Value: 5)
- Chair and lead meetings (Credit Value: 3)
- Bespoke software (Credit Value: 4)
- Spreadsheet software (Credit Value: 6)
- Database Software (Credit Value: 6)
- Word processing software (Credit Value: 6)
- Using email (Credit Value: 3)
- Organise and deliver customer service (Credit Value: 5)
- Resolve customers’ complaints (Credit Value: 4)
- Manage a budget (Credit Value: 4)
- Develop and maintain professional networks (Credit Value: 3)
- Manage physical resources (Credit Value: 4)
- Prepare for and support quality audits (Credit Value: 3)
- Manage business risk (Credit Value: 6)
- Manage a project (Credit Value: 7)
- Develop and implement an operational plan (Credit Value: 5)
- Encourage innovation (Credit Value: 4)
- Website software (Credit Value: 5)
- Presentation software (Credit Value: 6)
- Recruitment, selection, and induction practice (Credit Value: 6)
Group D:
- Principles of digital marketing and research (Credit Value: 7)
- Principles of Marketing Stakeholder Relationships (Credit Value: 3)
- Principles of market research (Credit Value: 5)
- Principles of marketing and evaluation (Credit Value: 7)
- Understand the customer service environment (Credit Value: 5)
- Understand the legal context of business (Credit Value: 6)
- Principles of social media within a business (Credit Value: 6)
- Principles of leadership and management (Credit Value: 8)
Entry Requirements
To enrol in the ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration, learners are expected to meet the following criteria:
- Age Requirement: Participants should be 18 years or older to ensure readiness for professional-level learning and workplace application.
- Educational Background: Learners should hold a minimum of Level 2 qualifications, such as GCSEs or equivalent, in business, administration, or related subjects. Relevant certificates or diplomas, such as a Level 2 Certificate in Business Administration, Level 2 Diploma in Office Management, or Level 2 Certificate in Customer Service, are advantageous for preparing learners for this diploma.
- Language Proficiency: Competent English reading, writing, and comprehension skills are required to complete assignments, engage with course materials, and communicate effectively in a professional environment.
- Work Experience (Optional but Beneficial): Prior experience in administrative, clerical, or office-based roles is helpful but not mandatory. Practical knowledge of office systems, document management, or customer service enhances understanding and application of course content.
This course is designed to be accessible to both new entrants and working professionals, providing practical skills and a recognised certification that validates business administration expertise and supports career development in office and administrative roles.
Learning Outcomes
The ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration is designed to equip students with a range of practical and theoretical skills essential for effective business administration. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Principles of business
- Understand business markets
- Understand business innovation and growth
- Understand financial management
- Understand business budgeting
- Understand sales and marketing
Principles of business communication and information
- Understand negotiation in a business environment
- Understand how to develop and deliver presentations
- Understand how to create bespoke business documents
- Understand information systems in a business environment
Communicate in a business environment
- Understand business communication models, systems and processes
- Be able to communicate in writing in business
- Be able to communicate verbally in business
Principles of administration
- Understand how to manage an office facility
- Understand health and safety in a business environment
- Understand how to take minutes of meetings
- Understand how to chair, lead and manage meetings
- Understand how to supervise an administration team
- Understand how to organise events
Manage personal and professional development
- Be able to identify personal and professional development requirements
- Be able to fulfil a personal and professional development plan
- Be able to maintain the relevance of a personal and professional development plan
Contribute to the development and implementation of an information system
- Understand the design and implementation of an information system
- Be able to contribute to the development of an information system
- Be able to contribute to the implementation of an information system
Contribute to the improvement of business performance
- Understand the principles of resolving business problems
- Understand improvement techniques and processes
- Be able to solve problems in business
- Be able to contribute to the improvement of activities
Administer parking and traffic challenges, representations and civil parking appeals
- Understand the administration of parking and traffic challenges
- Be able to process the receipt of challenges, representations and CPN appeals
- Be able to respond to challenges, representations and CPN appeals
Negotiate in a business environment
- Understand the principles underpinning negotiation
- Be able to prepare for business negotiations
- Be able to carry out business negotiations
Evaluate provision of business travel or accommodation
- Understand the provision of business travel or accommodation arrangements
- Be able to evaluate the quality of organisational business travel or accommodation arrangements
- Be able to recommend improvements to organisational business travel or accommodation arrangements
Develop a presentation
- Understand how to develop a presentation
- Be able to develop a presentation
Manage an office facility
- Understand the management of an office facility
- Be able to manage and maintain an office facility
Provide administrative support in schools
- Understand administration within a school environment
- Be able to provide administrative services
- Be able to operate school administrative systems and procedures
Build legal case files
- Understand how to build legal case files
- Be able to build case files
Deliver a presentation
- Understand the principles underpinning the delivery of presentations
- Be able to prepare to deliver a presentation
- Be able to deliver a presentation
Analyse and present business data
- Understand the analysis and presentation of business data
- Be able to analyse quantitative and qualitative business data
- Be able to present the analysis of business data
Administer statutory parking and traffic appeals
- Understand the administration of statutory parking and traffic appeals
- Be able to prepare case evidence for statutory parking and traffic appeals
- Be able to investigate cases for statutory appeals
- Be able to contest statutory parking and traffic appeals
Create bespoke business documents
- Understand how to create bespoke business documents
- Be able to design bespoke business documents
- Be able to create bespoke business documents
Administer parking and traffic debt recovery
- Understand the parking and traffic debt recovery process
- Be able to administer the parking and traffic debt recovery process
Manage legal case files
- Understand the management of legal case files
- Be able to manage case files
Administer the recruitment and selection process
- Understand the recruitment and selection process
- Be able to administer the recruitment process
- Be able to administer the selection process
Handle mail
- Understand how to deal with mail
- Be able to deal with incoming mail
- Be able to deal with outgoing mail
Organise business travel or accommodation
- Understand the organisation of business travel or accommodation for others
- Be able to research business travel or accommodation options for others
- Be able to make business travel or accommodation arrangements for others
Provide administrative support for meetings
- Understand the administration of meetings
- Be able to make administrative preparations for meetings
- Be able to support the administration of meetings
Prepare text from notes using touch typing
- Understand how to create text from notes
- Be able to produce text using touch typing
Contribute to the organisation of an event
- Understand event organization
- Be able to carry out preevent actions
- Be able to set up an event
- Be able to carry out postevent actions
Employee rights and responsibilities
- Understand the role of organisations and industries
- Understand employers’ expectations and employees’ rights and obligations
Prepare text from shorthand
- Understand how to use shorthand to create text
- Be able to use shorthand to prepare text
Buddy a colleague to develop their skills
- Understand how to buddy a colleague
- Be able to plan to buddy a colleague
- Be able to support a buddy colleague carrying out work activities
Store and retrieve information
- Understand information storage and retrieval
- Be able to gather and store information
- Be able to retrieve information
Administer parking dispensations
- Understand the administration of parking dispensations
- Be able to process applications for parking dispensations
- Be able to issue parking dispensations
Administer finance
- Understand finance for administrators
- Be able to administer finance
Prepare text from recorded audio instruction
- Understand the preparation of text from recorded notes
- Be able to prepare text from recorded notes
Administer human resource records
- Understand the administration of human resource (HR) records
- Be able to administer HR information
Produce business documents
- Understand how to prepare business documents
- Be able to prepare business documents
- Be able to distribute business documents
Produce minutes of meetings
- Understand how to take minutes of meetings
- Be able to take notes of meetings
- Be able to produce minutes of meetings
Resolve administrative problems
- Understand the principles underpinning the resolution of administrative problems
- Be able to identify administrative problems
- Be able to resolve administrative problems
Prepare specifications for contracts
- Understand the principles supporting the preparation of specifications for contracts
- Be able to prepare specifications for contracts
Support environmental sustainability in a business environment
- Understand the principles supporting environmental sustainability in a business environment
- Be able to implement best practice in environmental sustainability in a business environment
Administer legal files
- Understand the administration of legal files
- Be able to maintain a legal file
- Be able to close and archive a legal file
Monitor information systems
- Understand how information systems are used
- Be able to monitor information systems
Maintain and issue stationery and supplies
- Understand the maintenance of stationery and supplies
- Be able to maintain stocks of stationery and supplies
- Be able to issue stock of stationery and supplies
Manage team performance
- Understand the management of team performance
- Be able to allocate and assure the quality of work
- Be able to manage communications within a team
Participate in a project
- Understand how to manage a project
- Be able to support the delivery of a project
Manage individuals’ performance
- Understand the management of underperformance in the workplace
- Be able to manage individuals’ performance in the workplace
Implement and maintain business continuity plans and processes
- Be able to plan for the implementation of business continuity plans and processes
- Be able to implement business continuity plans and processes
- Be able to maintain the fitness for purpose of on-going business continuity plans and processes
Manage individuals’ development in the workplace
- Be able to carry out performance appraisals
- Be able to support the learning and development of individual team members
Procure products and/or services
- Be able to identify procurement requirements
- Be able to select suppliers
- Be able to buy products and/or services
Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- Understand the organisational aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- Understand the personal aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- Be able to support equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Implement change
- Understand the principles of change management
- Be able to plan the implementation of change
- Be able to manage the implementation of a change plan
- Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of change plans
Chair and lead meetings
- Be able to prepare to lead meetings
- Be able to chair and lead meetings
- Be able to deal with post-meeting matters
Bespoke Software
- Input and combine information using bespoke software
- Create and modify appropriate structures to organise and retrieve information efficiently
- Exploit the functions of the software effectively to process and present information
Spreadsheet software
- Use a spreadsheet to enter, edit and organise numerical and other data
- Select and use appropriate formulas and data analysis tools and techniques to meet requirements
- Use tools and techniques to present, and format and publish spreadsheet information
Database software
- Plan, create and modify relational database tables to meet requirements
- Enter, edit and organise structured information in a database
- Use database software tools to create, edit and run data queries and produce reports
Word processing software
- Enter and combine text and other information accurately within word processing documents
- Create and modify appropriate layouts, structures and styles for word processing documents
- Use word processing software tools and techniques to format and present documents effectively to meet requirements
Using Email
- Use e-mail software tools and techniques to compose and send messages
- Manage use of e-mail software effectively
Organise and deliver customer service
- Understand how to organise customer service delivery
- Be able to plan the delivery of customer service
- Be able to deliver customer service
Resolve customers’ complaints
- Understand the monitoring and resolution of customers’ complaints
- Be able to deal with customers’ complaints
Manage a budget
- Understand how to identify financial requirements
- Understand how to set budgets
- Be able to manage a budget
- Be able to evaluate the use of a budget
Develop and maintain professional networks
- Understand the principles of effective networking
- Be able to identify professional networks for development
- Be able to maintain professional networks
Manage physical resources
- Be able to identify the need for physical resources
- Be able to obtain physical resources
- Be able to manage the use of physical resources
Prepare for and support quality audits
- Understand the principles underpinning the management of quality
- Be able to prepare for quality audits
- Be able to support quality audits
Manage business risk
- Understand the management of business risk
- Be able to address business risk
- Be able to mitigate business risk
Manage a project
- Understand the management of a project
- Be able to plan a project
- Be able to manage a project
- Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of a project
Develop and implement an operational plan
- Understand the principles of operational planning
- Be able to develop an operational plan
- Be able to implement an operational plan
- Be able to evaluate the effectiveness of an operational plan
Encourage innovation
- Be able to identify opportunities for innovation
- Be able to generate and test ideas for innovation and improvement
- Be able to implement innovative ideas and improvements
Website software
- Create structures and styles and use them to produce websites
- Select and use website software tools and features to develop multiple page websites with multimedia and interactive features
- Publish and test multiple page websites with multimedia and interactive features
Presentation software
- Input and combine text and other information within presentation slides
- Use presentation software tools to structure, edit and format presentations
- Prepare interactive slideshow for presentation
Recruitment, selection and induction practice
- Understand the principles and theories underpinning recruitment, selection and induction practice
- Be able to recruit people into an organization
- Be able to select appropriate people for the role
- Be able to induct people into an organization
Principles of digital marketing and research
- Understand the role and requirements of digital marketing
- Understand the principles of search engine optimisation (SEO)
- Understand the principles of marketing research using the internet
- Understand the principles of digital marketing device and message design
- Understand how to use digital technology for marketing purposes
Principles of marketing stakeholder relationships
- Understand marketing stakeholder relationships
- Understand how to build and manage marketing stakeholder relationships
- Understand how to monitor and control marketing stakeholder relationships
Principles of market research
- Understand the basis on which market research is commissioned
- Understand how to design market research projects
- Understand the principles of marketing data collection
- Understand the principles of marketing data interpretation and evaluation
Principles of marketing and evaluation
- Understand the principles of market segmentation
- Understand how to assess market opportunities for new products and/or services
- Understand the principles of marketing strategy development
- Understand how to evaluate the effectiveness of a marketing strategy
Understand the customer service environment
- Understand the concepts and practices underpinning customer service delivery
- Understand the relationship between customer service and a brand
- Understand the structure of customer service
- Understand the implications of legislation on customer service delivery
Understand the legal context of business
- Understand the legal framework within which businesses operate
- Understand the principles of business governance
- Understand how contract law affects a business
- Understand the requirements of employment law
Principles of social media within a business
- Understand how Social Media fits into the objectives and marketing of a business
- Understand how to select Social Media tools and channels for a business
- Understand how to measure the success of using social media tools and channels
- Understand how social media policy and guidelines can impact a business
- Be able to monitor how a business is using Social Media
Principles of leadership and management
- Understand the principles of effective decision making
- Understand leadership styles and models
- Understand the role, functions and processes of management
- Understand performance measurement
Target Audience
This course is designed for individuals who want to develop practical business administration skills and gain a recognised qualification to enhance their workplace performance. It is ideal for those already working in office-based, administrative, or clerical roles who wish to formalise their experience and strengthen their operational competencies. Learners will gain practical knowledge applicable to everyday business tasks and develop confidence in professional environments.
- Administrative assistants seeking to improve efficiency and organisation in their roles
- Office managers aiming to strengthen leadership and operational management skills
- Customer service professionals looking to enhance communication and recordkeeping abilities
- Clerical staff responsible for document management, filing, and reporting
- Professionals supporting business operations and organisational processes
- Individuals wishing to validate their practical experience with a recognised certification
The ProQual Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration equips learners with a strong foundation in administrative practices, organisational skills, and communication, making them highly competent and confident in professional office environments while complementing other certificates and diplomas in business, management, and office administration.
