What to do if you want to start the WSET Level 4 Diploma but are waiting on your Level 3 results

By Noelle Hale, Program Director, WSET Diploma

(Updated July 22, 2026)

The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines results take up to 12 weeks to arrive, during which candidates cannot yet enroll in the WSET Level 4 Diploma. Napa Valley Wine Academy recommends using this waiting period to pre-read Diploma-level viticulture and wine business texts, review your Level 3 material, and sharpen your tasting calibration — so you can start Diploma studies at full speed the moment your results land.

Many students hope to someday complete the WSET Level 4 Diploma and be able to put the letters DipWSET after their name. Of course, a major hurdle is completing WSET Level 3. After you take the Level 3 exam, there is a long wait (up to 12 weeks) to receive your results before you can enroll in the Diploma. So if you’re motivated to continue on Diploma-level studies, how can you keep your study momentum up during the waiting period for your results? Here are some resources I recommend to students:

Reading

• Your Level 3 book. Yes, it may be the last thing you want to look at again after the Level 3 exam, but the better you know everything in those pages, the more prepared you’ll be for Diploma studies.

• “Viticulture” by Stephen Skelton MW is a comprehensive overview of general viticulture topics that you’ll cover in the first Diploma unit (D1 Wine Production), but it’s still a user-friendly read.

• “Understanding Wine Technology” by David Bird is a similarly comprehensive book focused on a broad array of winemaking topics also covered in D1 Wine Production.

• “The Concise Guide to Wine & Blind Tasting” by Neel Burton is an excellent resource for tasting practice, which is one of the things students are always most excited (and nervous) about at the Diploma level.

• “I Taste Red,” “The Science of Wine” and/or “Flawless” by Jamie Goode. I always learn something new whenever I pick up one of Jamie’s books, and he does a fantastic job of making complex, scientific wine topics easier to digest. You can also check out his article for NVWA about wine aromas!

• And if you haven’t yet purchased the two indispensable reference books for higher-level wine studies, “The Oxford Companion to Wine” and “The World Atlas of Wine,” both by Jancis Robinson et al., now is a great time to do so.

Watching

Sometimes when you feel like you just can’t stand to read another page (we’ve all been there!), watching something wine-related is a nice change of pace. Plus, seeing winemaking equipment in use helps you understand how it works!

• The NVWA YouTube channel features a wealth of content from wine experts and lots of recorded webinars.

• NVWA also has dozens of additional videos available to Premier Crew members. Plus regular live tasting webinars to keep your calibration sharp!

• The YouTube channel for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) also has a variety of videos, including some excellent overviews of wine regions and winemaking.

• The YouTube channel for the Australia Wine Research Institute (AWRI) has a number of great viticulture and winemaking videos

• “A Year in Champagne” and “A Year in Burgundy” documentaries

• The movie Sour Grapes

• Any of the documentaries from Winemasters TV

Listening

I spent several years as a wine sales rep doing a lot of driving, including while I was a Diploma student, and podcasts were invaluable study tools for me. I always learn something new from the following podcasts:

• Inside Winemaking

• ARENI Global

• Guildsomm

• Wine Scholar Guild

• Roadside Terroir

• Bottled in China

• I’ll Drink to That!

• XChateau

• Business of Drinks

The wait time for WSET Level 3 results can feel like it stretches on forever, but using the time wisely can help you start your Diploma studies feeling confident!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get WSET Level 3 results?
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines results typically take up to 12 weeks from the exam date.

Can I start the WSET Level 4 Diploma before I receive my Level 3 results?
No — a passing result in WSET Level 3 is a prerequisite for Diploma enrollment, so candidates must wait for official results before starting.

What should I study while waiting for WSET Level 3 results?
Candidates can review Level 3 materials, read foundational Diploma texts on viticulture and wine business, watch recorded tasting webinars, and listen to wine industry podcasts.

Ready the moment your results arrive. Explore the WSET Level 4 Diploma or book a coaching session to build your study plan now.