Diploma Programs
Beyond Classrooms offers accredited pathways that allow students to turn service learning into recognized qualifications. Through our partnership with the Centre for Global Citizenship Studies (CGCS), students complete structured learning modules, on-site fieldwork, and guided reflection to earn an internationally recognized diploma.
Diploma Program Highlights
By adding our Diploma Program to a school trip, students go beyond participation to complete assessed work that earns university-recognized credit. Students return not only with meaningful service experience but with real-world skills and evidence of their learning.
How It Works
Once a school enrolls in a Diploma trip, students gain access to the CGCS Diploma coursework. They complete the pre-trip modules either independently or as part of a co-curricular program. Students then join a service learning trip led by WildChina Education. After the trip, they complete their reflections and submit their coursework to earn their Diploma.
Benefits of the Diploma Programs
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Students earn an accredited NOCN Level 3 Diploma regulated by Ofqual, valued at 16 UCAS Tariff Points, 9 US College Credits, and 21 ECTS Credits. This provides a measurable academic outcome for service learning and strengthens university applications across international systems.
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All coursework, teaching, and assessment are delivered by CGCS, requiring no additional preparation or supervision from school staff. Students receive full academic support throughout the process.
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Diploma graduates can demonstrate tangible impact, reflective thinking, and commitment to global citizenship—qualities valued by universities and scholarship committees. The Diploma provides credible evidence of these achievements.
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Students can complete the Diploma coursework remotely and participate in volunteer projects in China or other destinations. This adds recognized academic value to programs schools are already running.
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Through fieldwork, service, and reflective assessment, students develop skills in communication, leadership, cross-cultural understanding, and ethical decision-making. These competencies translate directly into university and workplace readiness.
Explore Featured Diploma Program Trips
Explore service learning opportunities around the world, where students connect with local communities, contribute to meaningful projects, and turn their experiences into recognized learning.
Vietnam
Mai Chau
Vietnam Village Voices
Work on a community infrastructure project
Learn local crafts, cooking, music, and dance
Reflect on community partnership and global citizenship
Ha Noi& Ninh Binh
Creating Spaces, Creating Smiles
Build a children’s playground
Join a pottery workshop in Bat Trang Ceramic Village
Visit wildlife conservation centres and explore Ninh Binh’s landscapes
Thailand
Chiang Mai
La Na: Connect& Contribute
Help renovate a village community center.
Join Thai dance, storytelling, and a Baisii ceremony.
Trek through forests and learn about coffee and tea plantations with local guides.
Nepal
Nepal
Valleys, Villages and Vibrant Traditions
Support community projects through farming and greenhouse building.
Learn copper working and prepare traditional Nepali dishes.
Explore Kathmandu Valley’s historic cities and sacred sites.
Explore Diploma Programs in China
The Diploma is also available on select service-learning programs in China delivered by our sister brand, WildChina Education. These programs allow students to engage with local communities and conservation projects while working toward a recognized qualification through the same structured Diploma framework.
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Upon successful completion, students receive an official Diploma transcript issued by the Centre for Global Citizenship Studies (CGCS). The Diploma carries recognized academic credit (including UCAS points and indicative US and ECTS credit equivalencies), which students may submit to universities during applications or after enrollment.
Credit transfer and recognition are determined by each university’s admissions or registrar office. CGCS provides formal transcripts, qualification specifications, and supporting documentation to assist students in the evaluation process.
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All Diploma coursework is completed online, allowing students to work independently from anywhere in the world. The only in-person component is Module 4, which is completed through the fieldwork experience on a WildChina Education program.
Schools may also integrate the Diploma into their curriculum or run it as an after-school program. In these cases, we provide teacher training and ongoing support to help schools keep students on track, facilitate discussion, and meaningfully extend learning—without requiring teachers to manage assessment or grading.
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The Diploma programs are structured around five modules. Modules 1–3 and 5 are completed online and typically require 8–10 hours per module, depending on the student’s pace and depth of engagement.
Module 4 is completed through the fieldwork component on a WildChina Education program and includes a minimum of two full days of supervised service.
This modular structure allows schools to deliver the program flexibly while maintaining university-level expectations. -
The key difference between the two Diploma pathways is where the fieldwork is completed.
The Diploma in Social Impact and Community Engagement can be completed domestically, making it a strong fit for international and bilingual schools in China that wish to complete the full Diploma program within China.The Diploma in International Volunteering must be completed abroad, and is therefore well suited to schools in China that plan to conduct their fieldwork outside of China with our Beyond Classrooms programs.
Schools outside of China are also eligible for both pathways and will qualify based on the destination in which they choose to complete the in-country fieldwork.
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Students must be 14 years old to be awarded the Diploma, making it a strong fit for upper secondary students.
FAQs
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