DO I NEED TO HAVE MY OFFICIAL PASS FOR LEVEL 3 TO START DIPLOMA?
Yes, WSET will not let you enroll in Diploma until you have officially received your pass grade for the Level 3 Course. If there is an in person Diploma D1 course offered you may be able to attend those classes if you have taken the Level 3 exam and are awaiting your exam grade. You may not sign up for the Online program, however, until you have officially passed Level 3.
CAN I START WITH A SEGMENT OTHER THAN D1 WINE PRODUCTION & D2 WINE BUSINESS?
No, the WSET mandates that you must first sit the D1 and then D2 exams before doing any other Diploma segment exam or paper. Diploma D1 and D2 are sold together.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T PASS D1 or D2?
You can still proceed to other units as long as you have taken the D1 and D2 exams. If you do not pass it we can arrange for a retake, but you do not have to wait until that retake before moving on to other units.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I CAN’T MAKE AN EXAM DATE?
Exam dates are set globally by the WSET headquarters, not by the provider. They are not at all movable. Exam registrations are due 8 weeks prior to the exam date. If you are within that 8-week timeline – say 7 weeks – you cannot enroll in an exam or get out of taking it. The only exceptions are for documented medical or legal excuses. If you miss an exam it goes down as a “non-attend,” which is the same as a fail. You will need to pay for the exam when it is next offered, which may not be for a year. Exam dates are published well in advance so you really need to schedule you life around these dates.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO FINISH DIPLOMA IN ONE YEAR?
No. The basic reason is that it would be impossible to get all the segment exams completed in a year, given the way they are scheduled. More practically, Diploma is a very comprehensive and difficult course and really takes at least 18 months to complete.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO COMPLETE ALL DIPLOMA SEGMENTs?
When you enroll in Diploma it is for a term of three years. You are able to get an extension for a fee beyond that time if needed.
WHAT READING MATERIALS COME WITH THE TUITION AND WHAT DO I NEED TO GET ON MY OWN?
Diploma registration gives a student access to the WSET Diploma Student Online Classroom. This site is where the student can download the digital-only Diploma textbook, along with several study support documents. These are the only materials that you need but we do encourage you to explore any other reputable material that you feel will expand your knowledge. The textbook itself contains references to great websites for further reading.
CAN I TAKE SOME SEGMENTS ONLINE AND OTHERS IN THE IN-PERSON TRADITIONAL COURSE FORMAT?
Yes, you may switch formats between Segments.
CAN I SWITCH PROVIDERS FOR INDIVIDUAL SEGMENTS?
The basic answer is no. The WSET expects you to complete Diploma with the provider you originally enroll with. If that provider is not offering a segment or segment exam that you need it is ok to take it with another provider. If you move to another provider’s area you may also switch to that provider.