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Business, HR & Accounting

Level 3 Foundation CIPD Certificate in People Practice

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Overview

This programme provides the perfect platform to start to develop your HR career, upskill and expand your knowledge needed to work towards professional membership of the CIPD.

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 people 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: 

  • 3CO01 – Business, culture and change in context
  • 3CO02 Principles of analytics
  • 3CO03 Core behaviours for people professionals
  • 3CO04 Essentials of people practice

This qualification introduces the learner to a wide range of relevant knowledge and expertise in people practice. It is suited to those learners who:

  • are studying, aspiring to, or embarking on, a career in people practice
  • are working in a people practice support role and wish to develop their knowledge and deliver immediate and short-term value for their organisation
  • wish to develop the specialist knowledge, skills and understanding required to be a people professional.

Typical job roles that you could work towards is an HR assistant, HR administrator, Organisational Development Office or a Learning Administrator.

 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 3
  3. Further study

Entry requirements

This qualification is designed for learners aged 16+ who want to learn about people practice.

Ideally you could be working within a human resource role or would like to start a new career within the HR sector.

To assess suitability to undertake the qualification, 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 course.

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
  • Data Analysts £31,200 a year
See all 11 careers
  • Sales Accounts and Business Development Managers £48,900 a year

With further study or experience

  • Human Resource Managers and Directors £48,700 a year
  • Business and Financial Project Management Professionals £52,000 a year
  • Management Consultants and Business Analysts £43,100 a year
  • Education Managers £33,400 a year
  • Business, Research and Administrative Professionals £49,700 a year
  • Chief Executives and Senior Officials £75,800 a year
Read more about careers and progression

This course is particularly relevant to people already working in, or looking to develop a career as a people professional.

This course provides a range of skills relevant across a variety of different professions. People who have completed this course have gone on to work in areas of HR including HR Assistants, People Analyst, and Talent Manager.

If you wish to continue studying beyond this course, course progression routes include the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management.

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

Fees and funding

£1450.00

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

Questions about fees?

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Your next step

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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