Diploma in Negotiation Skills
Online Negotiation Course
Build a deeper understanding of negotiation, persuasion and professional communication with eLearning College. Our Level 5 Online Negotiation Course is free to study and is designed to help you examine the complete negotiation process, from preparation and communication to active listening, body language, anger management and closing techniques.
The programme is delivered online across nine self-paced modules and is suitable for learners who want broader, diploma-level coverage of negotiation skills. If you are comparing more extensive study options, browse our online diploma courses or explore our wider collection of free online courses.
Negotiation also overlaps naturally with leadership, communication and conflict management. You can compare related study through our leadership and management courses and use our negotiation skills guide to explore the wider principles behind effective negotiating.
Who Is This Negotiation Course For?
Our Online Negotiation Course is suited to learners who want to study negotiation in greater depth and understand the communication, preparation and decision-making involved in reaching workable agreements.
The programme can be relevant if you work with colleagues, customers, suppliers, project stakeholders or other parties where disagreements, persuasion or competing priorities need to be handled professionally. It can also suit learners who want to strengthen broader leadership, management or interpersonal skills.
There are no stated entry requirements, so you can begin without a previous negotiation qualification. The Level 5 structure provides broader coverage than our Level 3 negotiation certificate, making it the more extensive option for learners who want to study the subject across a wider range of situations.
What Will You Learn?
The course takes you through the full negotiation process rather than focusing on a single technique. You will consider how successful negotiators prepare, set objectives, recognise alternatives, understand the interests of different parties and select an appropriate approach for the situation.
You will also examine persuasion, influencing, communication, active listening and body language. Later units consider anger management and negotiation tactics used when working towards an agreement. Together, these areas help you understand how strategy and interpersonal behaviour interact during negotiation.
How Online Study Works
Our Online Negotiation Course is delivered online and organised into nine self-paced modules. You can work through the learning materials according to your own schedule rather than attending fixed classroom sessions.
An end-of-unit assessment follows each part of the course, allowing you to check your understanding as you progress. We provide the course materials and learning resources needed for study, and you can continue from one unit to the next after completing the relevant assessment.
If you are new to digital learning, our guide to eLearning explains common online study methods and how flexible learning can fit around other commitments.
Why Negotiation Skills Matter
Negotiation is used whenever people need to reconcile different needs, priorities or expectations. In the workplace this can include project discussions, supplier conversations, team decisions, conflict resolution or agreeing responsibilities and deadlines.
A structured understanding of negotiation can help you separate positions from underlying interests, prepare alternatives before entering a discussion and communicate more deliberately when pressure increases. The course also highlights the importance of listening and body language, both of which can influence how accurately you understand the other party and how your own message is received.
If your learning goal is specifically focused on handling disagreements, compare this programme with our Course on Conflict Resolution, which concentrates more directly on conflict management.
Diploma or Certificate: Which Negotiation Course Should You Choose?
This Level 5 programme contains nine modules and provides the broader negotiation pathway. It includes dedicated study of body language, anger management and closing tactics in addition to preparation, persuasion, communication and active listening.
If you want a shorter and more focused starting point, compare it with our Certificate in Negotiation Skills. The certificate is a separate Level 3 programme with six modules and a listed duration of six months.
Choose according to the depth of study you need rather than the course title alone. Reviewing the syllabus, level, duration and learning outcomes can help you decide which option better matches your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Online Negotiation Course free to study?
Yes. Our Level 5 negotiation course is free to study online. Optional certification is available separately for an additional charge.
What level is the course?
The course is Level 5 and is presented as a Diploma in Negotiation Skills.
How long is the course?
The course duration is 12 months. The programme follows an online, self-paced study format.
Do I need previous negotiation experience?
No. There are no stated entry requirements, so you can begin without a previous negotiation qualification.
How many units are included?
The course contains nine units covering successful negotiator characteristics, preparation, the negotiation process, persuasion and influencing, communication, active listening, body language, anger management and closing tactics.
How is the course assessed?
You complete an end-of-unit assessment as you progress through the course.
What is the difference between this course and the Level 3 negotiation certificate?
This Level 5 diploma is the broader option, with nine modules and a listed duration of 12 months. The Level 3 certificate contains six modules and is listed at six months.
Is certification included with the free course?
No. Study access is free, while certification is optional and separately paid. options include a CPD-accredited certificate and a QLS-endorsed Certificate of Achievement.
Start Your Online Negotiation Course
Develop a broader understanding of preparation, persuasion, communication, active listening, body language and negotiation tactics through flexible online study.
Enrol with eLearning College and begin our Level 5 Online Negotiation Course at your own pace, with no course tuition fee required.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how often we negotiate and the benefits of strong negotiation skills.
- Recognise the importance of preparing for the negotiation process, regardless of the circumstances.
- Identify different negotiation styles and their advantages and disadvantages.
- Develop strategies for dealing with tough or unfair tactics.
- Develop alternatives and recognise available options.
- Understand basic negotiation principles, including BATNA, WATNA, WAP and ZOPA.
- Make informed decisions about persuasion versus manipulation.
- Apply the concepts of pushing and pulling when influencing others.
- Describe techniques for starting persuasive conversations and presentations.
- Improve communication skills, including listening, questioning and assertiveness.
- Define active listening and its key components.
- Identify ways to become a better listener.
- Use body language to reflect a positive listening attitude.
- Understand the difference between sympathy and empathy and when each is appropriate.
- Recognise what non-verbal messages can communicate.
- Read visual cues more effectively.
- Control your own body language to strengthen communication with others.
- Communicate with others in a constructive, assertive manner.
- Understand techniques for managing and dealing with anger.
- Develop coping strategies for difficult people and difficult situations.
- Explore negotiation techniques.
- Discuss different phases of negotiation.
Certification
On course completion the candidates will have the opportunity to request one of the following certificates as proof of your new skills:
- A CPD Accredited Certificate to boost your CPD profile
- An Endorsed Certificate issued by the Quality Licence Scheme
A certificate confirming the successful completion of your course could be just the thing to boost your CV, giving you an edge over rival candidates. A small fee is payable for each of these certificates, for which more information can be found on our pricing page.
However, there is no obligation to claim any of these certificates, and there is nothing to pay to take part in any of our online programs.
For more information on our free online courses or to learn more about the three certificate options above, contact a member of the team at eLearning College today.
COURSE CONTENT
This unit introduces the qualities and behaviours associated with effective negotiation. You will consider why negotiation is part of many everyday and professional situations and examine the value of approaching discussions with preparation, awareness and a clear understanding of the outcome you want to achieve. The unit provides a foundation for recognising different negotiation styles and the strengths and limitations each approach can bring.
Preparation is one of the most important stages of any negotiation. This unit examines how to define objectives, assess the circumstances and consider alternatives before a discussion begins. You will also explore core negotiation concepts such as BATNA, WATNA, WAP and ZOPA, helping you understand how options, limits and areas of possible agreement can influence your strategy.
This unit looks at negotiation as a structured process rather than a single conversation. You will consider the different phases involved and how each stage can shape the final outcome. Attention is also given to recognising options, responding to difficult or unfair tactics and adapting your approach as the negotiation develops.
Negotiation often requires you to present a position convincingly without crossing the line into manipulation. This unit explores the distinction between persuasion and manipulation and introduces the concepts of pushing and pulling when influencing other people. You will also consider ways to begin persuasive conversations and presentations with greater purpose and clarity.
Clear communication can determine whether a negotiation progresses constructively or becomes confused and adversarial. This unit focuses on listening, questioning and assertive communication, helping you consider how your choice of words and communication style can influence the direction of a discussion. The emphasis is on communicating in a clear, constructive and professional way.
Effective negotiators need to understand what the other party is saying as well as what they themselves want to communicate. This unit examines active listening and its key components, including how to become a more attentive listener. You will also consider the role of empathy and sympathy and how a positive listening attitude can support more productive conversations.
Negotiation is influenced by more than spoken words. This unit explores non-verbal communication and the information that posture, expression and other visual cues can convey. You will consider how to read body language more carefully and how greater awareness of your own non-verbal behaviour can support clearer, more confident communication.
Disagreement and pressure can sometimes bring strong emotions into negotiation. This unit examines techniques for managing anger and responding more constructively when situations become tense. You will also consider coping strategies for dealing with difficult people and challenging circumstances while maintaining a professional approach to the discussion.
The final unit brings together the ideas developed throughout the programme and focuses on practical negotiation tactics used when moving towards an agreement. You will consider how the phases of negotiation connect, how different techniques can be applied and how preparation, communication and awareness of alternatives can support a more considered approach to closing a deal.
HOW IT WORKS
Explore engaging course materials designed to build useful knowledge and practical understanding.
Complete each end-of-unit assessment as you progress, studying whenever it suits you.
Finish your course successfully and order an optional certificate or diploma separately.
MAKE YOUR CERTIFICATE COUNT
An optional certificate provides a clear record of your completed learning. Add it to your portfolio or share it whenever relevant.
Completing the course and its assessments reflects motivation, consistency and a genuine commitment to developing your knowledge.
Use your learning as a foundation for further study, workplace development or personal goals. Certification records course completion but does not guarantee employment or professional status.