Introduction

Scottish Qualifications Authority

The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), Scotland’s national body for qualifications, works across the UK and internationally with schools, colleges, universities and training organisations to develop and deliver their qualifications and assessments.

SQA provides a wide range of internationally recognised qualifications and associated services. SQA also awards a range of other qualifications, including customised awards to meet the needs of individual companies and organisations. In addition, SQA provides advice, support and services, such as expertise in assessment, that enable organisations to succeed in meeting a wide range of educational and workforce development challenges.

The SQA Higher National Diploma (HND) is a higher education qualification which enables advanced entry into many undergraduate degree programmes in Universities and Higher Education Institutions across the world. The SQA HND is widely recognised around the world as being equivalent to the first two years of undergraduate study. SQA has partnered with a number of highly regarded international institutions who will consider applications from HND graduates.

For updated and accurate information of SQA, please visit their website at www.sqa.org.uk

Programme Introduction

The Higher National Diploma in Retail Management is designed for students who want to enter into positions in a wide range of retail organisations at an operational, supervisory or team leader or managerial level with the aim to develop skills and knowledge in customer care and retail management. Students will have sound understanding of the everyday operation of the retail industry. Moreover, this programme also broadens and deepens the knowledge, understanding and skills of students in key areas of management, finance and marketing as well as managing, controlling and presenting stock.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be awarded the Higher National Diploma in Retail Management by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, UK.

DIMENSIONS International College is an SQA Approved Centre for the above programme.

The programme consists of two components:

I. Theory and practical class lessons conducted at DIMENSIONS International College (18 months).
II. Industrial Attachment (IA)/ Work Experience*, students will be attached to retail establishments (6 months).

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Curriculum Overview

Programme Structure

Objective
This course is designed with the aim to equip students in the retail sector with the following learning objectives:

• To acquire a sound apprehension of the current and future trends in the retail environment in which the retail sectors operate and their impacts on organisations
• To gain well-rounded insights into the areas of corporate image and identity, comprehending their effects on a retail store
• To broaden and deepen the knowledge in the principles and practices of merchandising, operations management, financial management and marketing
• To grasp an in-depth understanding of the underpinning concepts of management and finance

Designed for

• The Higher National Diploma in Retail Management is a 2-year course, exclusively designed for students who are interested in careers in the retail industry, retailers, store managers, department managers, and students who set their sights on earning a degree in the near future.

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Area of Studies

Course Structure
Higher National Diploma in Retail Management consists of 25 units.

Course Outline

• Outline for Retail Environment
• Outline for Stock Presentation
• Outline for Retail Security
• Outline for Stock Management
• Outline for Retail Law
• Outline for Creating a Culture of Customer Care
• Outline for Marketing Practice: An Introduction
• Outline for Financial Accounting Statements: An Introduction
• Outline for Organisations and Management
• Outline for Consumer Behaviour and the Marketing Process
• Outline for Retail Management: Graded Unit 1
• Outline for Principles and Practices of Selling
• Outline for Using Financial Accounting Statements
• Outline for Economic Issues: An Introduction
• Outline for Corporate Store Image
• Outline for Managing People
• Outline for Principles of Retail Buying
• Outline for Behavioural Skills for Business
• Outline for Personal Enterprise Skills
• Outline for Marketing Planning for a Domestic Market
• Outline for Comparative Retailing
• Outline for Store Design and Layout
• Outline for Retail Management: Graded Unit 2
• Outline for Internet: Introducing e-Commerce
• Outline for Work Experience

* Students must satisfy the following pre-qualifying requirements prior to school’s arrangement for their Industrial Attachment (IA) / Work Experience posting:

• Students must be at least 18 years old at the time of IA posting
• Complete and pass the practical and theory assessments of your Course
• Achieve at least 90% attendance rate
• Pass the Interview Screening Test comprising of:

1. Technical Test
2. Performance Test

Note:

IA posting is not guaranteed and will be subjected to approval of relevant passes by Ministry of Manpower (MOM). No further IA posting will be arranged if a student withdraws or is terminated from the IA centre.

Scope of Study
Theories and practices in retail management

Delivery Mode
Lectures, tutorials, discussions and researches

Duration
18 months Institutional Training and 6 months Industrial Attachment (IA)* (Total 24 months)

Maximum allowed period for a student to complete the course is 36 months of Institutional Training excluding Industrial Attachment (IA) period.

Opportunities for Further Education/Career Pathway
Students can look forward to servicing in these industries:

• Retail
• Customer Service
• Merchandising
• Business
• Business Development

Notes:
Foreigner’s application for jobs in Singapore is subject to the approval from the Ministry of Manpower of Singapore (MOM). DIMENSIONS DOES NOT GUARANTEE any success rate of approval.

 

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Entry Requirements

Academic Level:
GCE O-Level with at least 2 subjects pass or 11 years of formal education or relevant Level 3 Diploma or its equivalent. Mature applicants with relevant working experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

English Proficiency :
At least IELTS 5.5 or CAE Level 4 or pass the English Proficiency Test at equivalent level conducted by DIMENSIONS or its equivalent. English proficiency may be considered to have been met and an IELTS score may not be required if applicant possesses a highest qualification where English was the sole medium of instruction.

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Duration & Intake

Programme Duration

Class Periods
3 contact hours per session, 6 sessions per week (Total: 18 contact hours per week)

Full-time
Monday to Friday: 9.30am-12.30pm and/or 1.45pm-4.45pm

Part-time
Weekday (Monday to Friday)
Sessions will be held in the evening
and / or
Weekend (Saturday and/or Sunday)
Sessions will be conducted within 9.00am to 6.00pm

Examination Period
At the end of each semester or course

Assessment Methods
Coursework, projects and portfolio

Assessment Grading Criteria
For Graded Units:
A: (70 marks and above)
B: (60 – 69 marks)
C: (50 – 59 marks)
Fail: (49 marks and below)

All other units: Pass / Fail

Assessment Weighting
100% Coursework with exception of the following units:

• Retail Management: Graded Unit 1: 100% Project;
• Retail Management: Graded Unit 2: 100% Project;
• Work Experience: 100% Portfolio.

Expected Examination Results Release Date
Not more than 3 months after the final assessment.

Qualification Award
Higher National Diploma in Retail Management awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, UK

Graduation Requirements
A “Pass” in all assessments of all units, including Industrial Attachment (IA) / Work Experience*

Note 1: International Student must achieve at least 90% attendance rate (ICA Requirement).
Note 2: International Student must not be absent for more than 7 consecutive days without valid reason (ICA Requirement).
Note 3: Students who do not require ICA’s student’s pass must achieve at least 80% attendance rate.Our College only accept medical certificates as proof for absenteeism. Any other documents should only be accepted on a case-by-case basis with full justification and be acceptable by ICA.
Note 4: In the first week of studies, an induction session will be conducted. The students will be briefed by the Academic Staff on full details of the course including scheme of work, timetable, assessments and grading, assessment and exam dates and venue and many other academic matters.
Note 5: DIMENSIONS has the right to cancel a class/an intake if the minimum number of students enrolled is less than 10 for any programme per class. Students may enroll into a later intake, if any, or withdraw from course. (For refund, please refer to our Refund Policy).
Note 6: Students (both international and local) must achieve an attendance rate of 80% and above in order to qualify for examinations.

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Fees & Funding

Full-time
 

Part-time
 
Miscellaneous Fees:
 
Note 1: All miscellaneous fees are inclusive of 7% GST.
Note 2: Total course fees paid (except application fee and GST) by students are protected under the Fee Protection Scheme (FPS).
Note 3: All students must sign the Advisory Note to Student before signing the Standard PEI-Student Contract.
Note 4: The Standard PEI-Student Contract must be signed by the student prior to making course fees payments to DIMENSIONS.
Note 5: The course fees shown above are effective from 20th June 2017. DIMENSIONS reserves the right to make necessary amendments to the course fees without prior notice.

Payment Mode

For more information on Payment Mode, please go to : https://dimensions.edu.sg/current-students/types-of-fee-and-payment-modes/

For more information on Fee Protection Scheme (FPS), please go to : https://dimensions.edu.sg/current-students/fee-protection-scheme/

For further details, please contact your Admissions Officer at 6334 0600.