1
CERTIFICATE
GFC
Foundation in Business and Life Skills
24 courses + Bachelor thesis with viva defense
12 courses + Master thesis with viva defense
8 courses + dissertation with viva defense
About 60 minutes, online. Your result places you at GFC, GPBC, or straight into the BBA.
Five certificates that build on each other. Start at the level that fits your previous schooling. Earn real, verifiable credentials at every step.
Foundation in Business and Life Skills
Primary school only, partial lower-secondary, or up to ~9 years of school
Pre-Bachelor in Business Studies
Lower-secondary diploma: CSEE, GCSE, O-Level, Form 4, Year 10, SSC, brevet, secundaria
The first year of the BBA.
Upper-secondary diploma: matura, A-Levels, IB, Abitur, baccalauréat, Form 6, Year 12, HSC
The second year of the BBA.
Successful completion of CertHE or equivalent
BBA in Business Administration
Successful completion of DipHE or equivalent
Foundation in Business and Life Skills
Primary school only, partial lower-secondary, or up to ~9 years of school
Pre-Bachelor in Business Studies
Lower-secondary diploma: CSEE, GCSE, O-Level, Form 4, Year 10, SSC, brevet, secundaria
The first year of the BBA.
Upper-secondary diploma: matura, A-Levels, IB, Abitur, baccalauréat, Form 6, Year 12, HSC
The second year of the BBA.
Successful completion of CertHE or equivalent
BBA in Business Administration
Successful completion of DipHE or equivalent
Answer one question about the schooling you have already completed and we will tell you which rung of the ladder you begin on.
Formal name Certificate of Higher Education in Business Administration (CertHE-BA)
Time to BBA About 24 months
Time to BBA Variable
Time to BBA Depends on result
Take the free diagnostic test| What you already have | Start at | Time to BBA |
|---|---|---|
| No school, only primary school, or up to roughly 9 years of schooling | Certificate 1 (GFC) | About 40 months |
| Lower-secondary diploma: CSEE (Tanzania), GCSE / O-Level, Form 4, Year 10, junior high diploma, brevet (Francophone), secundaria básica (Latin America), SMP (Indonesia), SSC (India / Bangladesh / Pakistan), or equivalent | Certificate 2 (GPBC) | About 32 months |
| Upper-secondary diploma: ACSEE (Tanzania), A-Levels, IB, baccalaureate, high school diploma (US), bachillerato (Latin America), SMA (Indonesia), HSC (India / Bangladesh), Abitur (Germany), or equivalent | Certificate 3 (BBA Year 1) | About 24 months |
| Partial or completed bachelor from another institution | Credit-transfer review | Variable |
| No papers, lost papers, refugee status, informal schooling, or unsure | Free Online Diagnostic Test, then placed at GFC, GPBC, or BBA based on result | Depends on result |
Pick where you would start and how many courses you want to take at once. The figures update as you change either one.
Fees have not been published yet. The timings above are complete; get in touch and we will confirm costs.
| Starting point | Courses remaining | Time to finish |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate 1 (GFC) | Course list not published yet | |
| Certificate 2 (GPBC) | Course list not published yet | |
| Certificate of Higher Education in Business Administration (CertHE-BA) | 25 courses | 25 months |
| Diploma of Higher Education in Business Administration (DipHE-BA) | 17 courses | 17 months |
| Bachelor of Business Administration | 9 courses | 9 months |
Built for learners with primary education only, partial lower-secondary schooling, or up to about nine years of formal study. The Foundation certificate covers the practical literacy and numeracy you need to function in any business context — and the first steps of business thinking itself.
Language: local (Swahili, French, Spanish, Arabic per market) · Duration: ~8 months · Unlocks: GPBC (Level 02)
For learners with a lower-secondary diploma. This is the academic bridge — strengthening English alongside foundational business disciplines so the BBA pathway feels like the next step, not a jump.
Language: local transitioning to English · Duration: ~8 months · Unlocks: CertHE (BBA Year 1)
The first year of the BBA. Foundations of business, entrepreneurship, and global commerce — taught in English. Earn a standalone Certificate of Higher Education in Business Administration on completion.
Language: English · Duration: ~8 months · Unlocks: DipHE (BBA Year 2)
The second year of the BBA. Core functional disciplines — management, marketing, finance, operations, law — at the level expected of an intermediate business undergraduate. Earn a standalone Diploma of Higher Education on completion.
Language: English · Duration: ~8 months · Unlocks: BBA final year
The final year. Applied strategy, integrative coursework, and an original Bachelor’s thesis defended in online viva. On completion: a globally recognised BBA.
Language: English · Duration: ~8 months · Final element: 8,000-word Bachelor’s thesis with online viva · Outcome: BBA degree
Pay only for the courses you’re actively taking. Roughly €50–€125 per course depending on level. No bulk upfront fees.
Pause between courses, weeks, or months. No re-enrollment penalty. Your earned certificates don’t expire.
Each level awards a verifiable e-certificate on Moodle. Use them on your CV. Use them to unlock the next level. Stack them into the BBA.
The test covers five practical areas. Your answers map to one of three starting points on the pathway. If you score at the boundary between two levels, we recommend the lower one for a softer landing — you can always accelerate if it feels too easy.
If your placement test result places you above a given level, you don’t need to take that level. If you’re already part-way through a comparable programme elsewhere, talk to admissions about credit recognition.
You can retake any course. There’s no penalty beyond the cost of re-enrolling. Two failed attempts at the same course will trigger a conversation with admissions about whether this level is the right fit.
The Bachelor’s thesis is an 8,000-word original applied research project mentored by a faculty supervisor. It’s defended in an online viva with two examiners. The thesis structure may evolve before launch — final details will be confirmed at enrollment.
The CertHE and DipHE follow the UK Higher Education framework, recognised across the Commonwealth and many other regions. The BBA is an accredited degree (ASIC accreditation in progress). Foundation and Pre-Bachelor certificates are recognised by ESLS as entry into our pathway; their recognition elsewhere varies by country.
Yes. The Foundation and Pre-Bachelor levels are offered in your local language; the BBA pathway is in English. If you start in Swahili and then continue in English, the transition is built into the curriculum (Academic English appears at both Level 01 and Level 02).
The BBA is the gateway. Continue with a Master’s or Doctoral degree at ESLS.
12 courses, taught in English. Built for working professionals who already hold a Bachelor’s (BBA or equivalent). Typically completed in 18 months part-time.
8 courses plus an original doctoral dissertation. For MBA holders, senior practitioners, or academics extending their expertise into applied business research.
The free placement test takes 60 minutes. No documents. Retake as often as you want.