OTHM qualifications online, Levels 3–8
Start at your level. Climb to a doctorate.
104 Ofqual-regulated OTHM qualifications, studied fully online and assessed by assignment. Pick the step that matches where you are today.
32courses
Level 5: second year of a UK bachelor's
For learners who have completed Level 4 or a first year of university.
Most chosen: Level 5 Diploma in Project Management
Flagship diplomas, one per step
Each is among the most-chosen qualifications at its level. All are delivered online with flexible starts.
8
Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
180 credits, 1800 study hours
18 months, online
7
18 months, online
Level 7 Diploma in Accounting and Finance
Accounting and Finance
120 credits, 1200 study hours
Online
6
Online
Level 6 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
120 credits, 1200 study hours
one year, online
5
one year, online
Level 5 Diploma in Project Management
Project Management
120 credits, 1200 study hours
one year, online
4
one year, online
Level 4 Diploma in Accounting and Business
Accounting and Business
120 credits, 1200 study hours
one year, online
3
one year, online
Level 3 Diploma in Business Management
Business Management
120 credits, 1200 study hours
one year, online
one year, online
Or start from a subject
61 subject pathways. The number shows how many courses each subject offers.
- Business Management5
- Health and Social Care Management5
- Information Technology5
- Logistics and Supply Chain Management5
- Tourism and Hospitality Management5
- Accounting and Business4
- Law4
- Project Management4
- Airline, Airport and Aviation Management3
- Contemporary Skin Rejuvenation3
- Cyber Security3
- Early Childhood Education3
- Occupational Health and Safety3
- Psychology3
- Education and Training Management2
- Python2
- Accountancy1
- Accounting and Finance1
- Adult Health and Social Care1
- Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine1
- Artificial Intelligence1
- Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement1
- Beauty Therapy1
- Business and Organisational Psychology1
- Business Studies1
- Clinical Aesthetic Injectable Therapies1
- Coaching and Mentoring to Build Relationships1
- Data Science1
- Education and Training1
- Education and Trainings Management1
- Education Management and Leadership1
- Employability and Workplace Skills1
- Engineering1
- Environmental and Sustainability Management1
- Equality, Diversity and Inclusion1
- Fashion and Textiles1
- Health and Safety1
- Health and Social Care1
- Higher Education Studies1
- Human Resource Management1
- Immersive Software Engineering1
- Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice1
- International Business Law1
- Inventory Management1
- Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice1
- Learning, Development and Pedagogy1
- Logistics, Supply Chain and Operations Management1
- Occupational Health and Safety Management1
- People and Organisations1
- Principles and Practice of Lip-reading Teaching1
- Principles of Aesthetics1
- Public Administration1
- Reflexology1
- Research Methods1
- Risk Management1
- Strategic Coaching and Mentoring1
- Strategic Management and Leadership1
- Strategic Management and Leadership Practice1
- Strategic Marketing1
- Teaching and Learning1
- Teaching Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities1
What is OTHM?
OTHM Qualifications is a UK awarding organisation approved and regulated by Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (recognition number RN5284). OTHM designs vocational qualifications from Level 3 to Level 8 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) and awards them through a global network of approved delivery centres.
OTHM was incorporated on 13 October 2003 as The Organisation for Tourism & Hospitality Management, which is where the initials come from, and took its current name in July 2015 (Companies House 04930176). Today it awards qualifications in business, health and social care, IT, law, education, psychology and many other subjects.
OTHM does not teach learners directly. Approved centres such as LSIB (London School of International Business Ltd) deliver the courses, mark the assignments and register learners with OTHM, which externally verifies the marking and issues the certificate.
LSIB has been an OTHM approved centre in London since 2007 and offers 104 OTHM qualifications online across 61 subject areas.
Sources: OTHM Who we are and Quality, standards & recognitions.
Quality, standards and recognition
- Regulated by Ofqual
- OTHM is approved and regulated by Ofqual (recognition number RN5284). Every OTHM qualification appears on the Register of Regulated Qualifications.
- Federation of Awarding Bodies
- OTHM is a full member of FAB, the UK trade association for vocational awarding bodies.
- University progression
- OTHM lists 35 universities with confirmed progression routes for OTHM learners.
- Approved centre
- LSIB is an OTHM approved centre. Check any centre on OTHM's approved centre listing.
OTHM levels explained
Each OTHM level sits on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. Finishing one level gives you the credits to start the next.
| Level | Equivalent to | Who it is for | Courses at LSIB | Fees from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OTHM Level 3 | Equivalent to A-levels / access to higher education | Equivalent to A-levels. For school leavers and adults returning to study. | 19 courses | £950 |
| OTHM Level 4 | Equivalent to Year 1 of a UK bachelor's degree | For learners with A-levels, Level 3 or relevant work experience. | 21 courses | £950 |
| OTHM Level 5 | Equivalent to Year 2 of a UK bachelor's degree | For learners who have completed Level 4 or a first year of university. | 32 courses | £950 |
| OTHM Level 6 | Equivalent to the final year of a UK bachelor's degree | For learners with Level 5 or an HND. Leads to bachelor's top-ups. | 10 courses | £950 |
| OTHM Level 7 | Equivalent to a master's degree level (120 credits; dissertation stage completed with a university) | Master's-level study for graduates and experienced managers. | 21 courses | £950 |
| OTHM Level 8 | Equivalent to doctoral level study | For senior leaders with a master's degree or equivalent experience. | 1 courses | £1,450 |
How OTHM qualifications work
Credits and size
Every OTHM qualification is made of units, and each unit carries credits. One credit is about 10 hours of learning.
- Award
- 1–12 credits
- Certificate
- 13–36 credits
- Diploma
- 37 credits or more
- ECTS
- 120 UK credits, a full-time year, equal 60 ECTS credits
Study and assessment
You study each unit online and submit a written assignment. LSIB tutors mark the work and OTHM externally verifies it. There are no exams.
Units you have already achieved can count towards a new qualification, so each level builds on the last.
Your certificate
OTHM issues a free e-Certificate and transcript as a secure PDF. Each has a QR code and authentication code that employers, universities and credential evaluators can check at verification.othm.org.uk.
Sources: OTHM Understanding qualifications and e-Certificate and verification.
Universities that accept OTHM qualifications
OTHM publishes progression arrangements with these 35 universities in the UK and overseas, from year 1 entry after Level 3 to bachelor's, master's and MBA top-ups after Levels 5–7. Each university assesses applicants individually.
- Anglia Ruskin University
- Arden University
- Aston University
- Bangor University
- Buckinghamshire New University
- Cardiff Metropolitan University
- Coventry University
- Curtin University
- De Montfort University
- Dublin Business School
- Edith Cowan University, Australia
- GlobalNxt University, Malaysia
- London Graduate School (UK)
- Northumbria University
- Queen Margaret University Edinburgh
- Sheffield Hallam University
- Swiss Education Group (Swiss Hotel Management School)
- Teesside University
- Ulster University
- University College Birmingham
- University College Dublin, Singapore
- University of Chester
- University of Gloucestershire
- University of Greater Manchester
- University of Greenwich
- University of Hertfordshire
- University of Law
- University of Northampton
- University of South Wales
- University of Staffordshire
- University of Sunderland
- University of Sunderland in Hong Kong
- University of the Highlands and Islands
- University of Westminster
- University of the West of England (UWE Bristol)
Source: OTHM University Progressions. The routes for each course are listed on that page.
Every OTHM course at LSIB
All 104 qualifications, grouped by level. Each course page shows its Ofqual qualification number, credits, units and entry requirements.
Level 3 · 19 courses
- OTHM Level 3 Award in Assessing Vocationally Related Achievement
- OTHM Level 3 Certificate in Principles of Aesthetics
- OTHM Level 3 Certificate in Python
- OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Adult Health and Social Care
- OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Beauty Therapy
- OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Business Management
- OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Business Studies
- OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Fashion and Textiles
- OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Law
- OTHM Level 3 Diploma in Logistics, Supply Chain and Operations Management
- OTHM Level 3 Diploma In Reflexology
- OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma for Higher Education Studies
- OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Accountancy
- OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Employability and Workplace Skills
- OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Engineering
- OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Health and Social Care
- OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Information Technology
- OTHM Level 3 Foundation Diploma in People and Organisations
- OTHM Level 3 Technical Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
Level 4 · 21 courses
- OTHM Level 4 Award in Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
- OTHM Level 4 Award in Principles and Practice of Lip-reading Teaching
- OTHM Level 4 Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring to Build Relationships
- OTHM Level 4 Certificate in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- OTHM Level 4 Certificate in Inventory Management
- OTHM Level 4 Certificate in Leading the Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice
- OTHM Level 4 Certificate in Learning, Development and Pedagogy
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Accounting and Business
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Airline, Airport and Aviation Management
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Business Management
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Contemporary Skin Rejuvenation
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Cyber Security
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Early Childhood Education
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Education and Training Management
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Information Technology
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Law
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Project Management
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Psychology
- OTHM Level 4 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Level 5 · 32 courses
- OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Health and Safety
- OTHM Level 5 Certificate in Teaching Learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Accounting and Business
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Airline, Airport and Aviation Management
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Applied Reflexology for Integrated Medicine
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Business Management
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Contemporary Skin Rejuvenation
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Cyber Security
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Early Childhood Education
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Education and Training
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Education and Trainings Management
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Information Technology
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Law
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Project Management
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Psychology
- OTHM Level 5 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Accounting and Business
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Airline, Airport and Aviation Management
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Business Management
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Contemporary Skin Rejuvenation
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Cyber Security
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Early Childhood Education
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Education and Training Management
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Information Technology
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Law
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Project Management
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Psychology
- OTHM Level 5 Extended Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Level 6 · 10 courses
- OTHM Level 6 Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety
- OTHM Level 6 Certificate in Python
- OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Accounting and Business
- OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Business Management
- OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
- OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Information Technology
- OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety
- OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Teaching and Learning
- OTHM Level 6 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Level 7 · 21 courses
- OTHM Level 7 Certificate in Research Methods
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Accounting and Finance
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Artificial Intelligence
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Business and Organisational Psychology
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Clinical Aesthetic Injectable Therapies
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Data Science
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Education Management and Leadership
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Environmental and Sustainability Management
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Human Resource Management
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Immersive Software Engineering
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in International Business Law
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety Management
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Project Management
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Public Administration
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Risk Management
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Coaching and Mentoring
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Marketing
- OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
Level 8 · 1 courses
OTHM questions, answered
What is OTHM?
OTHM Qualifications is a UK awarding organisation approved and regulated by Ofqual (recognition number RN5284) and a full member of the Federation of Awarding Bodies. It designs vocational qualifications from Level 3 to Level 8 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework, which are taught and assessed by approved centres such as LSIB.
What does OTHM stand for?
OTHM was incorporated on 13 October 2003 as The Organisation for Tourism & Hospitality Management, and traded under that name until July 2015. It is now registered at Companies House as OTHM Qualifications (company number 04930176) and awards qualifications in many subjects beyond tourism and hospitality.
Is OTHM Level 3 equivalent to A-levels?
Yes, in level terms. An OTHM Level 3 diploma sits at Level 3 of the Regulated Qualifications Framework, the same level as A-levels, and prepares learners for Level 4 or the first year of a UK undergraduate degree.
Is OTHM recognised in the UK?
Yes. OTHM is approved and regulated by Ofqual, and every OTHM qualification is listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications with its own qualification number. Each LSIB course page shows that number so you can check it on register.ofqual.gov.uk.
Is OTHM the same as an NVQ?
No. OTHM is an awarding organisation, while an NVQ is a type of work-based qualification. Both sit on the same Regulated Qualifications Framework, so an OTHM Level 3 diploma is at the same level as a Level 3 NVQ or A-levels. OTHM qualifications are assessed by written assignments rather than workplace observation.
Is OTHM Level 7 equivalent to a master's degree?
An OTHM Level 7 diploma is at the same level as a master's degree (RQF Level 7), but it is a diploma, not a degree. It carries postgraduate credit, and universities on OTHM's progression list accept Level 7 diplomas for master's or MBA top-up programmes with advanced standing.
Is OTHM Level 6 equivalent to a degree?
Level 6 is the same level as the final year of a UK bachelor's degree. An OTHM Level 6 diploma is a vocational qualification at that level rather than a degree itself; it leads to a bachelor's top-up or to OTHM Level 7 postgraduate study.
Which universities accept OTHM qualifications?
OTHM publishes confirmed progression routes with 35 universities, including Anglia Ruskin University, Arden University, Aston University, Bangor University, Buckinghamshire New University, Cardiff Metropolitan University. Each university assesses applicants individually. See the full list on OTHM's University Progressions page.
Is LSIB an approved OTHM centre?
Yes. London School of International Business Ltd (LSIB) is an OTHM approved centre, established in 2007 at 622 Crown House, North Circular Road, Park Royal, London NW10 7PN. You can check any centre on OTHM's approved centre listing.
How are OTHM courses assessed?
By a written assignment for each unit, marked by LSIB tutors and externally verified by OTHM. There are no exams.
What is the difference between an OTHM award, certificate and diploma?
Size. OTHM qualifications follow the RQF credit rules: an award is 1–12 credits, a certificate 13–36 credits and a diploma 37 credits or more. One credit represents about 10 hours of learning, and 120 UK credits (a full-time academic year) equal 60 ECTS credits. Source: OTHM Understanding qualifications.
How do I verify an OTHM certificate?
OTHM issues free e-Certificates and transcripts as secure PDFs to learners awarded from 1 January 2016. Each carries a QR code and an authentication code; scan the code or enter it with the learner's name at verification.othm.org.uk. Employers and credential evaluators can be sent a secure verification link.
How many OTHM courses does LSIB offer?
LSIB offers 104 OTHM qualifications across 6 levels, from Level 3 foundation diplomas to Level 8 doctoral-level diplomas, all studied online.
How much does an OTHM course cost at LSIB?
Course fees at LSIB start from £950, plus the £10 enrolment fee. You can pay monthly or quarterly instalments, or in full with a 5% bursary. Each course page shows its exact fee.
How do I enrol on an OTHM course?
Apply online and pay the £10 enrolment fee. Admissions reply within one working day; once approved, you pay the course fee in full or by instalments and start studying.
From application to certificate
Apply and pay the £10 enrolment fee
A five-minute form with your course pre-selected. Upload documents when prompted.
Pay the course fee after approval
Admissions reply within one working day with a secure payment link or an instalment plan.
Study and submit assignments
No exams. Each unit is one written assignment, marked by LSIB and verified by OTHM.
Receive your OTHM certificate
Then move up a step, or top up to a university degree.
Credentials you can check
- Awarding body
- OTHM Qualifications, regulated by Ofqual. Every course page shows its Ofqual qualification number.
- Delivery centre
- London School of International Business Ltd, an OTHM approved centre established 2007.
- Assessment
- Internally assessed assignments, externally verified by OTHM.
- Progression
- Level 6 and 7 completers can top up to a bachelor's or master's with advanced standing.
Not sure which step is yours?
Tell admissions your background and goal. We reply within one working day with a recommended level and fee.