All four Diploma level courses have the following in common: To prepare candidates for the ICSA Diploma in Business Practice examination by concentrated, directed, distance learning courses of twelve weeks covering the complete syllabus.

METHOD: By directed reading; by specially written distance learning notes from Campbell's College; by completing past exam questions on a weekly basis and their quick return including a marking code; by phone availability as agreed between candidate and lecturer.

Please note, the brief summaries given below are to give you an indication of how the courses are organised and do not include everything covered in the notes.  ENROLMENT FORM

CASE STUDY: with all courses we send out guidance on preparing for the case study element. This is sent by email about 5 weeks before the exam.

Mailing One: Introduction to the exam -Strategy models, Mission, stakeholder expectations, strategy in organisations, Ideas and examples (including Green and Black - you will receive a free chocolate bar with mailing one of this course!).

Mailing Two: Analysing external environment and internal resources, environmental analysis, Strategic tools, including - STEP, Scenario planning, product life cycles, Kenichi Ohmae's three C's, Porter, Four Links, Boston Matrix, Ansoff Matrix, SWOT, Kay, Hamel & Prahalad

Mailing Three: Planning, resource planning, planning techniques, Management by objectives, Business plans

Mailing Four: Change, Corporate Culture, change theories, Lewin's change programmes, Kotter's change model, learning organisations, Handy, Mintzberg, Drucker.

Past questions:  With each mailing we will include sample examination questions relating to the subjects. We suggest that at the end of each week you attempt one question we set. Use whatever system you wish i.e. examination conditions, model answers or open book. The only requirement we would set is a request that it be no longer than the type of answer you would provide in an examination.

DiBuP Business Law in Practice Lecturer: Vivien Campbell Text book provided: The ICSA manual: Business Law in Practice-  by Tom Mortimer.

Mailing One: Business Transactions - Contract and Agency Contract. Read sample pages (pdf updated June 2010)

Mailing Two: Stakeholder Relations - Companies, Aspects of employment law

Mailing Three: Conducting Business Ethically - civil liability, criminal liability, intellectual property

Mailing Four: Company Compliance and Managing risk - compliance, tax, competition law, managing risk

Past questions:  With each mailing we will include sample examination questions relating to the subjects. We suggest that at the end of each week you attempt one question we set. Use whatever system you wish i.e. examination conditions, model answers or open book. The only requirement we would set is a request that it be no longer than the type of answer you would provide in an examination.

DiBuP Marketing Lecturer: Jennifer Rose Text book provided: The ICSA manual: Marketing

Mailing One: The marketing environment- customer needs/wants, product, sales, development of marketing and consumerism, overseas, ethics. Market identification- role and scope of marketing intelligence, market research, evaluation of data and choice of target markets.

Mailing Two: The marketing mix - people, physical evidence and process management, services, product, price, place, promotion.

Mailing Three: Marketing communications - process model, building relationships, buyer behaviour, promotional mix

Mailing Four: Marketing strategy and planning - as part of overall plan, audit - PESTLE, Porter, SWOT,, setting objectives, budgets and finance.

Past questions:  With each mailing we will include sample examination questions relating to the subjects. We suggest that at the end of each week you attempt one question we set. Use whatever system you wish i.e. examination conditions, model answers or open book. The only requirement we would set is a request that it be no longer than the type of answer you would provide in an examination.

CeBuP  Business Finance Lecturer: Jim Skinner Text book provided: The ICSA manual: Business Finance

Mailing One: Users of Accounting Information, Profit & loss, Balance sheet, Annual report, fixed assets, cash flow

Mailing Two: Internal and external finance, cost of capital, working capital, financial gearing

Mailing Three: Marginal costing, cost/volume profit, transfer pricing, pricing decisions, accounting ratios, the three E's: economy, efficiency and effectiveness

Mailing Four: Budgeting, fixed and flexible budgets, standard costing and variances, investment appraisal.

Past questions:  With each mailing we will include a mock exam which should be attempted and sent to Jim for marking.