Disclosure: we are Business Consort Academy, and we publish this guide. We are one of the five study centres compared, so we have taken every figure from each provider's own website or from CIM and linked it in the sources.
Last updated: · Written by Dawn McGruer FRSA FCIM, Founder, Business Consort Academy
The CIM Level 6 Diploma costs two things: tuition to your study centre, and fees paid to the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM). On published prices at 20 October 2026, tuition runs from £997 + VAT (our price at Business Consort Academy) to £2,799 + VAT (CIM Academy's tutor-led route). CIM's own assessment fee is £660 at the standard rate (£540 at the emerging markets rate), plus CIM membership from £70 a year. Together, CIM's two fees come to £730 on the standard rate. CIM Academy lists this as £730, VAT exempt.
What does the CIM Level 6 Diploma cost?
There is no single price, because the qualification is delivered by many study centres and each sets its own tuition fee. Your total cost has three parts:
-
Tuition, paid to your study centre. This varies the most.
Price Guarantee: Business Consort is always 20% cheaper than any CIM study centre worldwide and cannot be beaten on price. - CIM assessment fees, set by CIM: £660 at the Global Standard and Developing Markets rate or £540 at the Emerging Markets rate, assuming you pass first time.
- CIM membership, required to study and book assessments, from £70 a year.
Some centres bundle the CIM fees into their price and some list them separately, so always ask whether a quote includes them.
What is the difference between CIM tuition fees and CIM assessment fees?
Tuition fees pay for the teaching: course materials, tutor support, workshops and the learning platform. We, and every other study centre, set these ourselves.
Assessment fees are different. They are paid to CIM to register for and sit your assessments, so they are the same whichever centre you choose. CIM states that published assessment fees assume first-time success and that resits may cost more. We have not found a published resit price, so ask CIM or your study centre before you start.
Fee figures: CIM Level 6 Diploma qualification page and CIM fees as checked against CIM on 16 October 2026 by Professional Academy.
How much does the CIM Level 6 Diploma cost at Business Consort Academy?
At Business Consort Academy, our CIM Level 6 Diploma is £997 + VAT. With 20% VAT that is £1,196.40. Employers registered for VAT can usually reclaim it, so check with your accountant.
Your fee includes the full course and app access, 1:1 tutor support, study buddy groups, free CIM membership, a free copy of Dynamic Digital Marketing and a Totum student card. CIM's £660 assessment fee is paid separately to CIM, so our total is £1,196.40 with VAT plus £660, or £1,856.40. Because we include free CIM membership, there is no separate membership fee.
We offer interest-free monthly payment plans over 2 to 12 months through PayItMonthly, and you can also pay with Klarna, Shop Pay or PayPal Credit at checkout. You can see our current price on our CIM Level 6 Diploma page.
Price Guarantee: Business Consort is always 20% cheaper than any CIM study centre worldwide and cannot be beaten on price.
How do CIM Level 6 provider prices compare?
This table uses each provider's own published figures as of 20 October 2026. For a wider comparison of support, duration and study mode, see our guide to the best CIM Level 6 Diploma providers.
| Provider | Published tuition | CIM membership and assessment fees | Payment options |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Consort Academy (us) | £997 + VAT | Free CIM membership included; £660 assessment fee paid separately to CIM | Interest-free plans over 2–12 months; Klarna, Shop Pay, PayPal Credit Price Guarantee: Business Consort is always 20% cheaper than any CIM study centre worldwide and cannot be beaten on price. |
| CIM Academy | Self-paced eLearning £1,849 + VAT; tutor-led virtual £2,799 + VAT | £730 (VAT exempt), listed separately | Ask CIM Academy |
| Oxford College of Marketing | From £1,940 + VAT; 10% off with code CIM10 until 31 October | Check at enquiry | Interest-free payment options |
| Professional Academy | Not published; personalised by route and support tier | Paid directly to CIM, separate from course fee | Finance up to 12 months interest-free |
| MMC Learning | £1,417 (20% off £1,772) until the 26 October start | Excluded from price | Funding and flexible plans on request |
All tuition figures are as published by each provider and may exclude or include VAT as shown. Offers change, so check each provider before you enrol.
A worked example using CIM Academy's published prices: self-paced eLearning is £1,849 + VAT, which is £2,218.80 with 20% VAT. Adding the £730 CIM membership and assessment fees gives £2,948.80. The tutor-led virtual route is £2,799 + VAT, which is £3,358.80 with VAT, or £4,088.80 with the £730. For centres that quote tuition only, add roughly £730 for CIM's standard-rate fees (£660 plus membership from £70 a year) unless the centre says they are included.
At Business Consort Academy, the equivalent is £1,196.40 with VAT plus CIM's £660 assessment fee, or £1,856.40, with CIM membership included, which is by far the cheapest route to study the CIM Diplom in Professional & Digital Marketing.
Price Guarantee: Business Consort is always 20% cheaper than any CIM study centre worldwide and cannot be beaten on price.
Are there additional fees?
Possibly. Check these before you commit:
- CIM resit fees. Not published on the CIM pages we checked; they may cost more than a first attempt.
- Annual CIM membership renews each year you study, from £70 a year, if your studies run past 12 months.
- Optional extras such as live workshops or higher support tiers. Professional Academy, for example, prices by support tier, and we offer optional 2-day Fast Track workshops.
- Extension or renewal if you need more time. We give up to 12 months, with the option to renew.
- VAT on tuition, which many centres quote separately.
Can my employer pay for CIM Level 6?
Many employers fund professional qualifications from a training or development budget, and the Level 6 Diploma is aimed at people moving into management. To make it easy for them, ask your manager for a short business case: what you will study, the total cost including CIM fees, the time you need each week, and how you will apply it at work. Business Consort support employer-funded study and corporate invoicing. If you are an employer, contact us to discuss funding for your team.
Can I pay monthly?
Yes, at most centres. We offer interest-free plans over 2 to 12 months. Many centres says finance is available up to 12 months interest-free, on request. Plans are subject to approval, so read the terms before you sign up.
Is CIM Level 6 worth the cost?
It depends on what you want from it. Level 6 is a management-level professional qualification, so it tends to suit people moving from doing marketing to leading it, and people with experience but no formal marketing credential. It is less likely to pay off if you are brand new to marketing, where a Level 3 or Level 4 qualification is a better starting point. Ask yourself three questions: will your employer fund or reimburse it, does your target role ask for CIM or a degree-level qualification, and can you give it the weekly study time? We would rather you made that call with the real numbers than from a promise, so use the table above to compare total cost, not just tuition.
You can currently get 40% funding paid towads your qualfiaction by Business Consort Academy.
For the question people often ask next, read Is the CIM Level 6 Diploma equivalent to a degree?
How can I reduce the cost of CIM Level 6?
- Choose the self-paced route. Business Consort offers 40% funding towards your qualifcation and is currently the cheapest CIM accredited study centre globally and has a guarantee that they can't be beaten on price. Price Guarantee: Business Consort is always 20% cheaper than any CIM study centre worldwide and cannot be beaten on price.
- Use time-limited offers. Check websites across CIM but Business Consort guarantess the diploma is always 20% less than any other study centre in the world.
- Ask your employer to fund or part-fund it, and reclaim VAT if your business is VAT-registered.
- Spread the cost with an interest-free plan so you are not paying upfront.
- Avoid resits. Spread your study so you are ready for each assessment, because published fees assume you pass first time. Business Consort has a 99% pass rate.
- Use student discounts. Our students receive a Totum student card.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a CIM Level 6 Diploma?
Published tuition runs from £997 + VAT (ours, at Business Consort Academy) by far the best value option to £2,799 + VAT (CIM Academy's tutor-led route), plus CIM's assessment and membership fees, which come to about £730 on the standard rate.
Are CIM assessment fees included in the course price?
It depends on the centre. CIM Academy lists £730 for CIM membership and assessment fees as a separate line, Professional Academy says CIM fees are paid directly to CIM, and MMC Learning's price excludes them.
At Business Consort Academy, CIM's assessment fee is paid separately to CIM, and we include free CIM membership. Always ask for the total including CIM fees.
How much are CIM Level 6 assessment fees?
£660 at the Global Standard and Developing Markets rate, or £540 at the Emerging Markets rate, assuming you pass every assessment first time. Resits may cost more.
Is there a separate CIM membership fee?
Yes. CIM membership is required to study and book assessments, and starts from £70 a year. Some study centres include or arrange it for you; ours includes free CIM membership. Business Consort Academy pad the students first year membership fee.
Can my employer fund CIM Level 6?
Many employers do. Prepare a short business case with the total cost, the time commitment and the benefit to your role, and ask whether they can pay the study centre directly.
Can I pay for CIM Level 6 monthly?
Yes. We offer interest-free plans over 2 to 12 months, and other centres also offer monthly or interest-free options. Plans are subject to approval.
Is a CIM qualification worth paying for?
It can be if you are moving into management or want a formal credential to match your experience. Check whether your target role values CIM, whether your employer will contribute, and whether you can commit the study time.
What is the cheapest way to study CIM Level 6?
Compare total cost, not just tuition. Published tuition ranges from £997 + VAT (ours) to £2,799 + VAT, and some centres do not publish a price at all. Add CIM's fees unless the centre includes them, and check how long any offer lasts. Self-paced routes cost less than tutor-led ones at the centres that offer both.
Price Guarantee: Business Consort is always 20% cheaper than any CIM study centre worldwide and cannot be beaten on price.
Sources
- CIM Academy
- Chartered Institute of Marketing
- Professional Academy
- Business Consort Academy – CIM Level 6 Diploma product page
- Oxford College of Marketing
- MMC Learning