Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management & Leadership
Overview
The Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership is an advanced qualification for learners who want to strengthen their ability to set direction, lead people and use research to address complex business questions. The programme connects strategic management with leadership, human resources and applied research.
Learners complete four mandatory units and two optional units. The optional structure allows the programme to reflect priorities such as finance, operations, innovation, governance, change or marketing, subject to the approved centre’s offer.
Key facts
| Key fact | Current information |
|---|---|
| Qualification | OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership |
| Qualification number | 603/2181/7 |
| RQF level | Level 7 |
| Credit value | 120 credits |
| Qualification size | 1,200 hours TQT, including 600 guided learning hours |
| Normal duration | One year |
| Assessment and grading | Coursework; Pass or Fail |
| Awarding organisation | OTHM Qualifications |
Who is this course for?
The qualification is designed for graduates, managers, professionals and entrepreneurs who already have substantial business knowledge and want to study strategic management at postgraduate level. It is most appropriate for learners able to analyse ambiguous organisational issues and work independently.
What you will learn
- Evaluate strategic position, options, implementation challenges and organisational performance.
- Critically examine leadership approaches in complex and changing contexts.
- Align people strategy and organisational capability with long-term priorities.
- Design an ethical and feasible business research proposal.
- Apply advanced concepts from selected optional units to organisational decisions.
- Present evidence-based recommendations to senior and specialist audiences.
Course modules
Learners complete all four mandatory units and two optional units. LSBI must publish only the optional units confirmed in its approved delivery plan.
| Module | Credit/status | Module focus |
|---|---|---|
| Strategic Management | 20 credits; mandatory | Strategic analysis, choice, implementation, control and evaluation. |
| Strategic Leadership | 20 credits; mandatory | Leadership theory, culture, power, ethics and leading in complexity. |
| Strategic Human Resource Management | 20 credits; mandatory | Strategic workforce capability, talent, performance and organisational alignment. |
| Advanced Business Research Methods | 20 credits; mandatory | Research design, methods, ethics, evidence quality and proposal development. |
| Strategic Financial Management | 20 credits; optional | Financial strategy, investment, risk, performance and value-informed decisions. |
| Supply Chain and Operations Management | 20 credits; optional | Operations strategy, supply networks, resilience, quality and improvement. |
| Entrepreneurship and Innovation | 20 credits; optional | Opportunity, innovation systems, business models and entrepreneurial implementation. |
| Globalisation and Corporate Governance | 20 credits; optional | Global forces, governance, accountability, ethics and stakeholder expectations. |
| Strategic Change Management | 20 credits; optional | Change diagnosis, implementation, engagement, resistance and sustainability. |
| Strategic Marketing | 20 credits; optional | Market orientation, strategic choice, brand, customer value and marketing performance. |
Teaching and assessment
Teaching should combine postgraduate seminars, facilitated discussion, case analysis, independent research and tutorials. Assessment tasks should require critical evaluation and application to organisational contexts rather than simple description.
Assessment is by coursework. Assignments are internally assessed by the approved centre and externally verified by OTHM. The qualification is graded Pass or Fail.
Entry requirements
Applicants should normally hold a relevant honours degree, a Level 6 qualification or an equivalent award. Mature applicants with significant management experience may be considered through the approved admissions process.
Learners are normally aged 21 or over and must demonstrate English-language ability appropriate to postgraduate-level reading, research and assessment.
Progression and career relevance
Successful completion can support career development and may provide a route to an MBA or master’s top-up at a university that accepts the qualification. The receiving university determines entry, credit recognition and any additional modules or research project.
The diploma is 120 credits. A typical UK master’s degree is 180 credits, so a further university-approved top-up—often a 60-credit project—is normally required to obtain a complete master’s award.
Award
Learners who successfully complete four mandatory and two optional units receive the OTHM Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership, an Ofqual-regulated qualification awarded by OTHM Qualifications.
Important information
The qualification is at RQF Level 7, the same difficulty level used for master’s study, but it is not an MBA or a master’s degree. LSBI must not imply that a university top-up is automatic or available without a named, current partner arrangement.
