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Business, HR & Accounting

Level 5 CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management

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Overview

This qualification builds on the CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice and is aimed at further expanding learners’ independent practice to enable them to evolve into more senior roles within organisations as people professionals.

Read the full overview

Learners’ work will be mainly operational with some complexity. They will contribute to the thinking around their work, analysing information to inform choices and actions. Working with and influencing others through their work and will create short-term value for a wider audience.

This course will help you develop your ability to evaluate the effectiveness of different HR models and practices and increase your understanding of the external factors that impact upon HR activities and organisations. Whilst building expertise in key HR subjects, you’ll also develop your planning, analytical and problem-solving skills.

On successful completion of this programme, you will understand the requirements of, and perform as, an effective and efficient, self-managing HR professional, a collaborative member of working groups and teams, and an added-value contributor to the organisation.

How you’ll learn

This course includes the following core modules that all students complete:

5CO01 – Organisational performance and culture in practice

5CO02 – Evidence Based Practice

5CO03 – Professional behaviours and valuing people

5HR01 – Employment relationship management

5HR02 – Talent management and workforce planning

5HR03 – Reward for performance and contribution

5OS01 – Specialist employment law

 It is suited to individuals who:

  • are aspiring to, or embarking on, a career in people management
  • are working in a people practice role and wish to contribute their knowledge and skills to help shape organisational value
  • are working towards or working in a people manager role. 

Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Students will be notified when applicable.

Further details about this course are available in the course specification available from the CIPD.

Entry and progression

What you need and where it leads

  1. Entry requirements
  2. This course Level 5
  3. Further study

Entry requirements

The qualification is designed for learners ages 18+

Ideally you should be working within the human resource management or development field, however, we also welcome applications from individuals who deal with people management issues as a significant part of their work but do not meet the standard entry criteria and can provide evidence of relevant continuing professional development.

It is desirable that learners hold a level 3 qualification before joining this course.

All applicants will be interviewed by the course team prior to any offer or acceptance onto this course. This is to ensure that learners can meet the requirements of the learning outcomes and can access the appropriate literacy and numeracy needed to complete the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management.

The CIPD has a policy for learners where English is not their first language that gives guidance on appropriate English language entry requirements. The policy can be found on the CIPD website, click here to view. 

Not sure you meet these? Talk to us and we will help you find the right starting point.

Further study

See all 2 courses

At University Campus Doncaster

At University Campus North Lincolnshire

Careers it can lead to

  • Human Resources and Industrial Relations Officers £28,000 a year
  • Human Resources Administrative Occupations £25,300 a year
  • Business Associate Professionals £25,200 a year
  • Sales Accounts and Business Development Managers £48,900 a year
See all 11 careers
  • Data Analysts £31,200 a year

With further study or experience

  • Human Resource Managers and Directors £48,700 a year
  • Management Consultants and Business Analysts £43,100 a year
  • Business and Financial Project Management Professionals £52,000 a year
  • Education Managers £33,400 a year
  • Early Education and Childcare Services Managers £22,400 a year
  • Charitable Organisation Managers and Directors £28,700 a year
Read more about careers and progression

This course is particularly relevant to people already working in or looking to develop a career enabling them to evolve into senior positions within organisations as people professionals.

Using a framework of HR and L&D understanding, behaviours and skills development, this qualification offers opportunity for learners to transition to employment as people managers. People who have completed this course have gone on to work in areas including HR Business Partner or Manager, People Analyst, and Talent Manager.

If you wish to continue studying beyond this course, it will provide you with a strong basis to do so. Course progression routes could include the Level 7 Diploma in Strategic People Management or Progression to our level 6 top-up degree in leadership and management.

Typical pay is the UK median for each job (Lightcast, October 2026).

Fees and funding

£2350.00

course fee

Additional costs

Your Tuition fees cover most costs associated with your course including tuition and assessment.

On enrolling for the course, students must apply for Student Membership with the CIPD. The fee for this is to be paid by the student direct to the CIPD. Membership must be maintained throughout the length of study. Details regarding membership can be found here: Student Member | CIPD

There may be some extra costs that you might need to make, or choose to pay, for example:

  • Books (you’ll have access to books from your module reading lists in the HE library, but you may want to buy your own copies)
  • Printing and photocopying
  • Trips and enhancement opportunities

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What happens after you apply

1

You apply

Apply direct to us online, and we’ll reply by email.

2

You hear back

You’ll get an unconditional offer, a conditional offer, or an unsuccessful application.

3

You get ready to start

Before you enrol we’ll need photo ID and copies of your certificates. Apply for Student Finance early.

Read our full guide to applying