Earn Academic Credits Alongside Volunteering!
Are you ready to elevate your resume and make a real difference in the world? We’re thrilled to introduce our fully accredited Diploma in International Volunteering, a unique opportunity to earn valuable academic credit while immersing yourself in meaningful volunteer work.
In an exclusive collaboration with the Centre for Global Citizenship Studies (CGCS), a leading authority in international development, we’ve crafted a one-of-a-kind, accredited Level 3 International Volunteering Diploma. This is an exceptional chance to blend real-world volunteering experience with significant academic advancement.
This Level 3 Diploma is a 41-credit qualification, accredited in the UK* and designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of international volunteering. It encompasses 173 guided learning hours, including 26 hours of invaluable on-site volunteering, plus all recommended readings, videos, and supplementary materials. Despite its depth, the program is designed to be manageable, requiring approximately 41 hours of dedicated student work.
We recommend starting your coursework about two months before your project, dedicating just a couple of hours per week. You’ll then complete your transformative volunteering experience and submit your final reflections and assessment upon your return, cementing your learning.
The minimum age to complete the course is 16, meaning you can enroll at 15 and still achieve this incredible qualification!
Course information
- Delivery: Online and self paced
- Length: Up to 12 months
- Weekly hours: as many as you can commit
- Price: £699
*For our US students, here’s a quick guide: 20 CGCS credits = 5 US credits; 41 CGCS credits = 10 US credits.
FAQ’s:
How Does the Diploma Work?
Our Diploma in International Volunteering is divided into five modules, each designed to guide you through different phases of your volunteer journey. You’ll complete three modules before starting your placement, one during your project, and one after you return home. Since the entire course is online, you can work at your own pace, engaging with other volunteers through interactive elements and discussion boards as you go.
What Are the Diploma Modules?
Our Diploma consists of five modules, each offering unique learning outcomes and skills development:
Module 1: Preparing for an International Volunteering Placement (6 Credits)
Gain insights into cultural differences, safeguarding practices, project planning, and more.
Module 2: Planning for an International Volunteering Placement (4 Credits)
Focus on your motivations, relevant skills, and placement planning.
Module 3: Specialisation Paths (9 Credits)
You can choose from Marine Environment & Conservation, Wildlife Conservation, or Global Citizenship, with a tailored focus and skills for each pathway.
Module 4: Undertaking Your International Volunteering Placement (20 Credits)
Immerse yourself in your placement and complete a community research project.
Module 5: Evaluating Your International Volunteering Placement (2 Credits)
Reflect on your experiences, evaluate project outcomes, and develop responses to global issues.
Am I Guaranteed University or Job Placement After the Course?
Completing our Diploma programme gives you valuable credentials and experience to strengthen your applications. You’ll gain practical voluntary work in a field you care about, earn an A-Level (UK) equivalent qualification, and receive 16 UCAS points (UK students) or up to 10 university academic credits (US students). While CGCS cannot guarantee university or job placements, your enhanced application will stand out from the crowd.
How Is the Diploma Accredited/Validated?
The International Volunteering Diploma is a Level 3 qualification accredited by the UK National Open College Network (NOCN). Its credits are internationally transferable, regardless of where you’re from or which university you attend. Equivalent to 16 UCAS points in the UK, it also provides 20-21 academic credits in Europe and 10 academic credits in the US, ensuring its recognition and value across global education systems.
What is the hourly breakdown?
The Level 3 Diploma in International Volunteering is a 41-credit UK qualification, and while one UK credit generally equates to 10 notional hours of learning (so 410 hours total), this does not mean students are expected to complete 410 hours of solid work.
Instead, that number includes everything involved in the qualification — including prior learning, guided study, independent work, volunteering time, and reflection time. The diploma is structured to be accessible and manageable both before/after and alongside a volunteering placement.
Here’s what students actually do:
- 173 Guided Learning Hours (GLH), including:
- Pre-departure online learning (approx. 12–18 hours)
- Volunteering experience (approx. 26 hours on site)
- Reflection and final assessments (approx. 8–10 hours post-placement)
- Ongoing reading, journaling, and learning tasks
- Most students complete the full diploma alongside a 2–4 week volunteering placement, often dedicating 30–50 hours in total outside of their volunteering — spaced over a few weeks before and after their trip.
