Awards & content

Detailed guides to the content of each unit

Each guide details the characteristics and learning outcomes for each of our study units. The Level 3 Certificate, Level 4 Foundation Diploma, Level 5 Advanced Diploma and Level 6 Graduate Diploma, all contain five units, one of which is an integrative unit.

An integrative unit is designed to draw together the knowledge and understanding achieved in the four other units and to demonstrate how these units should combine and integrate in a working environment.

Which qualification?

The illustration below shows the structure of CIPS ladder of qualifications. You can use the diagram to see the 6 levels and the units you will need to study.

National Qualifications Framework levels

Level 7 Executive Diploma in Purchasing and Supply
A self-managed learning programme
Level 6 Graduate Diploma in Purchasing and Supply
Leading and Influencing in Purchasing		Strategic Supply Chain Management		Supply Chain Management in Practice
Plus any 2 units from 5: Legal Aspects in Purchasing and Supply, Advanced Project Management; Finance for Purchasers, Strategic Public Sector Programme Management, Public Sector Stakeholders and Governance.
Level 5 Advanced Diploma in Purchasing and Supply
Management in the Purchasing Function		Risk Management and Supply Chain Vulnerability		Improving Supply Chain Performance
Plus any 2 units from 5: Marketing for Purchasers; Storage and Distribution; Operations Management in the Supply Chain, The Machinery of Government, Contracting in the Public Sector.
Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Purchasing and Supply
Effective Negotiation in Purchasing and Supply	Developing Contracts in Purchasing and Supply	Measuring Purchasing Performance		Managing Purchasing and Supply Relationships	Purchasing Contexts
Level 3 Certificate in Purchasing and Supply
Understanding the Purchasing Environment	Purchasing Operations	Client and Supplier Relationship		Securing Supply	Purchasing in Action
Level 2 Introductory Certificate in Purchasing and Supply
Element 1: The Role and Scope of Purchasing	Element 2: Systems and Procedures in Purchasing		Element 3: Working with Suppliers		Element 4: The Importance of Purchasing Contracts