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Why Choose Lincoln
Combines academic learning with workplace skills
100% online – learn flexibly around your schedule
Programme backed by the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP)
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Key Dates
| Subject | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | 22 September 2025 |
| Course Start | 27 October 2025 |
Course Overview
The FdSc Payroll Management (UK Payroll) is a Work Based Distance Learning (WBDL) programme which offers students the opportunity to advance their career through personal and professional development, increasing management competence and enhancing overall employability. The programme has been developed in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, the professional body for payroll.
Course Overview
The FdSc Payroll Management (UK Payroll) is a Work Based Distance Learning (WBDL) programme which offers students the opportunity to advance their career through personal and professional development, increasing management competence and enhancing overall employability. The programme has been developed in collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals, the professional body for payroll.
How You Study
Our Work Based Distance Learning framework has been developed over the course of twenty years and aims to satisfy the study needs of people who are in full time employment within a relevant payroll environment. The work-based teaching and learning strategy allows students to apply their payroll context to different management theory areas throughout the sequentially completed modules.
Students can develop academic skills sets to help them to navigate the course. There will also be opportunities to build tools and techniques for them to utilise in their careers.
Modules are delivered largely through an online learning approach. Learning is primarily independent, with students being guided to appropriate resources. However, there will be online seminars to facilitate discussions, as well as lecture materials and directed reading.
How You Study
Our Work Based Distance Learning framework has been developed over the course of twenty years and aims to satisfy the study needs of people who are in full time employment within a relevant payroll environment. The work-based teaching and learning strategy allows students to apply their payroll context to different management theory areas throughout the sequentially completed modules.
Students can develop academic skills sets to help them to navigate the course. There will also be opportunities to build tools and techniques for them to utilise in their careers.
Modules are delivered largely through an online learning approach. Learning is primarily independent, with students being guided to appropriate resources. However, there will be online seminars to facilitate discussions, as well as lecture materials and directed reading.
Modules
Module Overview
The programme starts, as might be expected, with a traditional study skills module which is aimed at creating the opportunity for the students to build their own body of knowledge. The module’s aspiration is to introduce students to the various tools and techniques of study. At the end of this module it is expected that students will have a basic toolkit which they can draw on throughout their academic journey.
Module Overview
The Managing People module sees the students studying the development of the staff within an organisation. As part of the operational process people will be an important factor in delivering the operation. This module sets the scene for this approach by outlining the theory, practise and individual experiences of supporting and managing people to deliver the operation This module reviews the principles of HRM to understand how people can be developed to meet their own needs and those of the organisation.
Module Overview
The Organisational Effectiveness module sees students studying the purpose and activity within an organisation. This module discusses the theory, practise, and individual experiences of those trying to promote effectiveness. This module reviews the principles of effectiveness to understand how organisations can be developed to meet their own needs and objectives.
Module Overview
Being qualified in management of payroll will not only provide you with knowledge and skills, but the behaviours required to work in a fast paced, professional environment. It will open doors and allow you to rise in the dynamic world of payroll. This module aims to enable you to apply those underpinning elements of payroll professionals, focusing on identifying and fixing problems, managing change to systems, processes, and procedures, enabling you to be creative and innovative in managing payroll systems.
Module Overview
Academic studies at level 2 returns to the tools and techniques of academic skills. Students, having practised initial learning skills at level 1 now focus on more advanced skills and in particular research skills that arm them with the tools and techniques they will need to explore the capstone module and the Operations Challenge.
Module Overview
This module equips students with the necessary understanding of employment law in a UK-Payroll wide context. It introduces students to the sources, principles, and main features of employment law enabling them to gain legal knowledge and skills required to operate effectively in the payroll setting. This module focuses on an array of legal themes designed to support adherence to current and dynamic UK employment law in payroll focused areas including: the employment contract, employee status, legal recruitment and selection, data compliance, and employment benefits.
Overall, it supports the development of detailed knowledge and understanding of the relevant legal regulations, concepts, and rules contained within the payroll-focused areas; to develop in students the ability to apply the law to new payroll situations, to resolve problems, and to develop their ability to critically evaluate the operation of law in practice.
Module Overview
The module Developing as a Leader and Manager moves past basic management skills and looks at the role of the individual in leading and managing a team within the operational context. It draws on level 1 study to review the role of the manager as a leader within a team within the operations setting.
Module Overview
The Work-Based Project is the capstone project of the programme. Providing students with the opportunity to apply, integrate, and deepen the knowledge, insights, and skills that they have learned throughout the programme of study.
This module has a pragmatic and practitioner focus offering students the opportunity to apply the learning to a real-life situation echoing the role a student as producer.
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
Modules
Module Overview
The programme starts, as might be expected, with a traditional study skills module which is aimed at creating the opportunity for the students to build their own body of knowledge. The module’s aspiration is to introduce students to the various tools and techniques of study. At the end of this module it is expected that students will have a basic toolkit which they can draw on throughout their academic journey.
Module Overview
The Managing People module sees the students studying the development of the staff within an organisation. As part of the operational process people will be an important factor in delivering the operation. This module sets the scene for this approach by outlining the theory, practise and individual experiences of supporting and managing people to deliver the operation This module reviews the principles of HRM to understand how people can be developed to meet their own needs and those of the organisation.
Module Overview
The Organisational Effectiveness module sees students studying the purpose and activity within an organisation. This module discusses the theory, practise, and individual experiences of those trying to promote effectiveness. This module reviews the principles of effectiveness to understand how organisations can be developed to meet their own needs and objectives.
Module Overview
Being qualified in management of payroll will not only provide you with knowledge and skills, but the behaviours required to work in a fast paced, professional environment. It will open doors and allow you to rise in the dynamic world of payroll. This module aims to enable you to apply those underpinning elements of payroll professionals, focusing on identifying and fixing problems, managing change to systems, processes, and procedures, enabling you to be creative and innovative in managing payroll systems.
Module Overview
Academic studies at level 2 returns to the tools and techniques of academic skills. Students, having practised initial learning skills at level 1 now focus on more advanced skills and in particular research skills that arm them with the tools and techniques they will need to explore the capstone module and the Operations Challenge.
Module Overview
This module equips students with the necessary understanding of employment law in a UK-Payroll wide context. It introduces students to the sources, principles, and main features of employment law enabling them to gain legal knowledge and skills required to operate effectively in the payroll setting. This module focuses on an array of legal themes designed to support adherence to current and dynamic UK employment law in payroll focused areas including: the employment contract, employee status, legal recruitment and selection, data compliance, and employment benefits.
Overall, it supports the development of detailed knowledge and understanding of the relevant legal regulations, concepts, and rules contained within the payroll-focused areas; to develop in students the ability to apply the law to new payroll situations, to resolve problems, and to develop their ability to critically evaluate the operation of law in practice.
Module Overview
The module Developing as a Leader and Manager moves past basic management skills and looks at the role of the individual in leading and managing a team within the operational context. It draws on level 1 study to review the role of the manager as a leader within a team within the operations setting.
Module Overview
The Work-Based Project is the capstone project of the programme. Providing students with the opportunity to apply, integrate, and deepen the knowledge, insights, and skills that they have learned throughout the programme of study.
This module has a pragmatic and practitioner focus offering students the opportunity to apply the learning to a real-life situation echoing the role a student as producer.
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
What You Need to Know
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, and contact hours.
What You Need to Know
We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, and contact hours.
How you are assessed
A range of assessment strategies are used on this programme with assignment briefs available for each module. There may also be opportunities to build a portfolio of work which includes, case studies, reports, reviews, presentations, and reflective learning accounts.
How you are assessed
A range of assessment strategies are used on this programme with assignment briefs available for each module. There may also be opportunities to build a portfolio of work which includes, case studies, reports, reviews, presentations, and reflective learning accounts.
Entry Requirements
Level 4 Entry Requirements
- All Applicants (home and international) must submit a CV & reference at application, detailing a minimum of 1-year evidenced work experience in a Payroll job role
- All Applicants must be currently working in the Payroll environment, and must be able to evidence this via CV & reference
- All Applicants must also be able to evidence a minimum of 3 GCSEs at grade 4 or above (or equivalent) including English and Maths, or if these qualifications are not held, evidence a minimum number of 2 years work experience in a Payroll job role, detailed in their CV & reference
- All Applicants must hold membership with Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals or agree to obtain this by the time you enrol on the course.
Level 5 Entry Requirements
Students who have already completed at least 120 credits of the discontinued Foundation Degree in Payroll Management (FdA) at the University of Worcester may be eligible to apply for advanced entry to Level 5 of the programme. The 120 credits from the FdA should be made up of either RPL or year one completion (75 credits) plus the three Level 4 modules of year 2 (45 credits total).
Alternatively, applicants with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experiential learning may also be considered for entry at this level. While these students are expected to possess the foundational skills necessary for study, additional support in study skills is available through open access materials.
Applicants entering the programme at Level 5 via APEL will still be required to complete Module 3 (Payroll Practitioner) at Level 4.
All Applicants must hold membership with Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals or agree to obtain this by the time you enrol on the course.
If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk.
English Language
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.
Overseas students will also be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall.
All English language skills are automatically assessed through the nature of the admissions process and you will be advised on an individual basis if you are required to provide further evidence of your competency.
For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.
For further advice on IELTS and the support available, please contact the International College by email at internationalcollege@lincoln.ac.uk.
Fees and Scholarships
Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.
For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. To help support students from outside of the UK, we are also delighted to offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
Fees and Scholarships
Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.
For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. To help support students from outside of the UK, we are also delighted to offer a number of international scholarships which range from £1,000 up to the value of 50 per cent of tuition fees. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.
What Can I Do with FdSc Payroll Management (UK Payroll)
The programme is designed to equip students with management skills and knowledge applicable to the payroll operational context. It aims to ensure that students acquire and demonstrate the expertise, understanding, and competencies required for a management role in payroll.
While this programme provides a standalone qualification, students also have the opportunity to top-up their foundation degree by joining the Leadership and Management BSc. This will typically take 18-24 months of further study to achieve.
Working in Partnership
Lincoln International Business School works with students and organisations to enhance the contribution of business to society. For students, that means developing their business skills and knowledge to improve their career readiness.The University of Lincoln is a member of AACSB, a global nonprofit association connecting educators, students, and businesses to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders.
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Academic Contact
For more information about this course, please contact the Programme Leader:
Dr Charlotte Smith