How Much Does an ILM Qualification Cost?

When it comes to giving you the practical skills and expertise you’ll need in a successful management career, qualifications from ILM are considered some of the most useful in the industry.

It’s no surprise then that they’re growing in popularity with students who are looking for more vocational, work-based forms of study that relate to real-life situations.

But how much do they actually cost? Here’s some more information to help you choose the right ILM course for your needs.

What is ILM?

The Institute of Leadership and Management is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for employees working in the leadership roles.

It provides globally recognised qualifications and formal training to employees across the world, developing the skills and expertise needed of supervisors, team leaders, and managers.

An ILM qualification is focused on helping you develop the essential skills you’ll need to manage people in the workplace. They’re particularly useful if you want to cover a wide range of practical management topics that you can use in real-life situations.

What affects the cost of an ILM qualification?

There are several factors that will affect how much an ILM qualification costs to study:

1.   The type of qualification

The type of qualification that you study will affect its price.

There are different levels of ILM qualifications, depending on how advanced the material is and which level of seniority it’s designed for. They’re categorised numerically from Level 2 to Level 7.

ILM Level 2

ILM Level 2 courses are designed for supervisors, team leaders, or professionals who are at the start of their leadership career.

ILM Level 3

ILM Level 3 courses are aimed at first-line managers, or leadership professionals with a little management experience who are looking to expand their existing skills.

ILM Level 4

ILM Level 4 courses are designed for middle managers who have some experience of leadership that they are looking to build on.

ILM Level 5

ILM Level 5 courses are aimed at mid-level managers, or leadership professionals who have a significant level of experience and are looking to progress to more strategic roles.

ILM Level 6

ILM Level 6 courses are aimed at directors of small organisations who have some strategic experience and are looking to enhance it.

ILM Level 7

ILM Level 7 courses are designed for directors of large organisations, or large divisions in a company. They’re the highest type of qualification that you can take.  

At each level, qualifications are further divided into different types based on the length of the course. There are three main lengths of ILM qualification: Diploma, Certificate and Award.

Diplomas

Diplomas are the most comprehensive leadership and management qualifications that exist, covering a wide range of units. These are generally the most sought-after qualifications by employers.

Certificates

Certificates are a shorter version of the Diploma, covering a smaller number of units. They’re useful if you only want to study the essentials.

Example: ILM Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management

Awards

These are short courses that cover one or two units from the diploma.

Generally, the longer and more advanced the qualification, the higher the overall price. This means that a diploma is more expensive than a certificate, and a Level 7 qualification is more expensive than a Level 3 qualification.

Example: ILM Level 2 Award in Leadership & Team Skills

2. The format you study

How you choose to study your ILM qualification will have a direct impact on its price.

There are usually two ways that you study an ILM qualification:

• In person, at a college or learning establishment
• Online, with an online learning provider

Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Classroom-based study is good if you find that you struggle with motivation and you enjoy the face-to-face interaction you get with tutors and other students. It takes place at a set time each week, so it’s good if you don’t have many prior engagements and you can block out a specific time in your schedule regularly.

Online learning is generally much more flexible than classroom-based learning, and you can complete the course whenever you want, wherever you want – all you need is an internet connection. Online learning is popular with people who have existing commitments, like a job or family, who need to balance the demands of life with learning.

Online courses are generally less expensive than classroom courses, making them a great choice for those who are budget conscious.

The prices

It’s hard to give an exact figure on how much an ILM qualification will cost because the price varies between different providers. Here is a rough guide though:

How much does an ILM Level 2 Qualification Cost?

An ILM Level 2 Award generally costs between £200 and £500

An ILM Level 2 Certificate generally costs between £600 and £1,000

An ILM Level 2 Diploma generally costs between £1,500 and £2,500

How much does an ILM Level 3 Qualification Cost?

An ILM Level 3 Award generally costs between £300 and £500

An ILM Level 3 Certificate generally costs between £900 and £1,200

An ILM Level 3 Diploma generally costs between £1,000 and £2,000

How much does an ILM Level 4 Qualification Cost?

 An ILM Level 4 Award generally costs between £400 and £600

An ILM Level 4 Certificate generally costs between £1,000 and £1,500

An ILM Level 4 Diploma generally costs between £1,500 and £2,500

How much does an ILM Level 5 Qualification Cost?

 An ILM Level 5 Award generally costs between £500 and £700

An ILM Level 5 Certificate generally costs between £1,100-£1,600

An ILM Level 5 Diploma generally costs between £1,500 and £2,700

How much does an ILM Level 6 Qualification Cost?

 An ILM Level 6 Award generally costs between £600 and £800

An ILM Level 6 Diploma generally costs between £1,800 and £2,800

How much does an ILM Level 7 Qualification Cost?

 An ILM Level 7 Award generally costs between £700 and £1,000

An ILM Level 7 Certificate generally costs between £1,500 and £3,000

An ILM Level 7 Diploma generally costs between £2,000 and £3,000

Extra costs when studying ILM

Materials

You may need to pay for materials like textbooks over the duration of your course, so chat to your learning provider to find out what’s included and how much extra you may have to pay.

Interest-Free Payment Plans

One of the major worries that a lot of students have when it comes to professional development is about how they’ll be able to afford to study.

The good news is that there are several options available, and one of the most popular is interest-free payment plans.

Learning providers will often allow you to spread the cost of your ILM over several months, helping you save money, with interest-free payment plans. (We do at ICS Learn!)

Interest-free payment plans can help make a course much more accessible, allowing you to access learning even if you don’t have the immediate funds.

We hope you’ve found this guide useful and that you’ve now got a clearer idea of the cost of ILM qualifications. Good luck!

Inspired to start your ILM journey? Get your free ILM course guide here.