A-LevelFrom£40.00/mo

A Level Business (online)

A Level Business online is an Ofqual-regulated qualification, awarded by AQA, that gives adults a rigorous grounding in how businesses are managed, financed, and grown. Study 100% online over 12 to 18 months, then sit two written exam papers in person as a private candidate at an approved UK exam centre for up to 56 UCAS points.

See pricing
  • 12 to 18 monthsDuration
  • 100% Online, self-paced, exams sat in personStudy Method
  • Up to 56 UCAS ptsPoints Available
  • Start anytimeStart Date
Accredited qualificationUK awarding body
Start anytimeNo fixed term dates
Tutor supportExpert tutors, 7 days
14-day money backRefund if not loved
A Level Business (online) at a glance
Qualification levelRQF Level 3
Qualification number601/5613/1
UCAS pointsUp to 56 UCAS points
Typical study time12 to 18 months
Study method100% Online, self-paced, exams sat in person
Start dateStart anytime
Pay monthly£40.00 per month
Pay annually£449.00

This course is for you if…

  • Are considering a degree in business, management, marketing, finance or economics
  • Are already in work and want a recognised qualification to formalise your knowledge
  • Are running your own business and want a rigorous strategic framework
  • Prefer to study at your own pace with structured online material and full tutor support
  • Are comfortable with case-study analysis, essay writing, and interpreting financial data
  • Can travel to a JCQ-approved exam centre on the summer exam dates

Your career after this course

  • Cannot attend an in-person exam centre on the summer exam dates
  • Need a fully classroom-based, timetabled learning environment with daily contact time
  • Are looking for a purely vocational qualification with no theory or essay content
  • Are not comfortable working with financial statements, ratios, and data-response questions
  • Need the qualification completed in under 6 months
  • Require exam access arrangements not offered by the exam centre you plan to use
About this qualification

What you'll learn

A Level Business gives adults a rigorous framework for understanding how organisations, from small start-ups to multinationals, are actually managed, financed, and grown. The subject covers the full commercial cycle: setting objectives, understanding markets and marketing, managing people and operations, financial analysis, and strategic decision-making in the face of uncertainty. It is a strong route into university business schools and directly useful for anyone already running, or planning to run, a company.

The course is awarded by AQA (specification 7132) and quality-assured by Ofqual under the same A* to E grading scale used in schools and sixth-form colleges. Content is delivered entirely online, structured around the full AQA specification, and combines theory (Ansoff, Porter, Kotler, Boston Matrix, break-even analysis, ratio analysis, decision trees) with case-study application to real UK and international businesses.

RQF Level 3UCAS Up to 56100% Online, self-paced, exams sat in person12 to 18 months100% onlineSelf-paced
What you'll need

Entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to start this course, but a grade 5 or above in GCSE English and GCSE Maths, and confidence with essay writing and numerical data, is strongly recommended. There is no upper age limit and no prior qualification gate.

You will need to register separately as a private candidate with a JCQ-approved exam centre to sit the two written exams, usually for a modest additional fee payable directly to the centre.

Not sure if you qualify?

Our admissions team can talk you through your options.

Call 0000 000 0000
Assessment

How you're assessed

A Level Business is assessed through two externally-examined written papers set and marked by AQA, each two hours long, sat in person at an approved exam centre. There is no coursework, no non-exam assessment, and no controlled assessment. Both papers contribute equally to your final grade on the A* to E scale.

You register separately as a private candidate with a JCQ-approved UK exam centre, usually for a small centre fee payable directly to the centre. Your Lift College tutor will help you identify a suitable centre and guide you through the private-candidate registration process, which typically runs from October to February each year.

01

Portfolio-based

Coursework and a written portfolio. No traditional written exams.

02

Submit online

All assignments submitted through your learner dashboard.

03

Tutor feedback

Detailed feedback in 3 to 5 working days. Refine and resubmit until you reach the grade you want.

04

Graded across units

Pass, Merit or Distinction on each unit. Top grades stack to the highest UCAS point total.

Careers

Where this can take you

Typical roles and salary ranges this qualification opens up.

Business or management degree entry

Typical salary range

Varies by degree and profession

A Level Business is accepted for undergraduate business, management, marketing, and finance degrees at UK universities.

Marketing executive

Typical salary range

£25,000 to £40,000

A Level Business plus a related degree or professional qualification (CIM) supports entry into marketing executive, digital marketing, and brand roles.

Accountancy trainee (ACCA / CIMA / ICAEW route)

Typical salary range

£22,000 to £32,000 (trainee)

A Level Business is a recognised prior qualification for graduate accountancy training schemes with ACCA, CIMA, and ICAEW.

Business development or sales role

Typical salary range

£28,000 to £45,000 base

Business development, account management, and sales roles across UK sectors typically expect A Level Business or equivalent, with strong earning potential via commission.

Own business / self-employed

Typical salary range

Varies

Many adult learners take A Level Business specifically to formalise skills they already use in running their own company, rental portfolio, or side business.

Pricing

Choose your payment plan

Same course, your choice of how to pay.

Pay Monthly

Recurring monthly subscription. Cancel anytime.

£40.00/month

Billed monthly

  • Full access to all course materials
  • Dedicated subject tutor
  • Live and recorded webinars
  • Certificate on completion
  • Pay by card, PayPal, Klarna
  • Spread cost with 0% interest
Everything else

What else you should know

Study support and platform

  • You get a personal tutor from day one
  • Log in any time from a phone, tablet or laptop
  • Marking is done in 3 to 5 working days
  • Talk to our support team by phone, email or live chat
  • See your progress and next steps on your dashboard
  • Join the learner community forum when you want to chat to others

Funding and finance

  • Pay monthly to spread the cost with no interest
  • Pay in full and save versus monthly
  • No credit checks and no contract. Pause or cancel anytime
  • We can send funding paperwork to your employer if they sponsor you
  • Our enrolment team will talk you through every option
  • 14 day money back guarantee on every enrolment

Accreditation and recognition

  • Awarded by a recognised UK awarding body
  • Regulated by Ofqual, the same standard as college courses
  • Accepted by UK universities, employers and professional bodies
  • You get a certificate when you finish
  • Listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications
  • Independently quality checked through IQA and EQA

How it works

  • Start any time. There are no set term dates or cohorts
  • Study at your own pace around work and family
  • No exams. You complete coursework, a portfolio and assignments
  • Resubmit your work at no extra cost to reach the grade you want
  • Use the optional study planner if you like a bit of structure
  • How long you study is entirely up to you. Most learners spend a few hours each week, but you can do more or less based on your own pace
What learners say

Trusted by thousands of learners

Real feedback from learners studying with Lift College.

The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
Sarah M. · Manchester
Access to HE Diploma
I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
James P. · Birmingham
A Level Biology
Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Aisha K. · London
Access to HE Diploma (Nursing)
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost, really helped me improve.
David R. · Leeds
CMI Level 5
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
Emma L. · Glasgow
GCSE English
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Tom W. · Bristol
CMI Level 7
A Level Business (online)
Start free trial