Overview
Course overview
The Level 6 Extended Diploma is an advanced senior-level business qualification preparing learners for executive responsibility, complex strategic decisions, and leadership excellence. Equivalent to final-year undergraduate study, this programme develops expert-level business thinking, strategic vision, and executive capability for top management roles and postgraduate advancement.
Focused on executive excellence and strategic value creation, this course develops capability for C-suite roles and transformational leadership. You'll tackle complex strategic challenges, analyse sophisticated business scenarios, and demonstrate expert-level judgement. The programme combines academic excellence with professional relevance for executive advancement.
Programme Positioning
Level: Level 6 (QCF/RQF), Equivalent to final-year undergraduate/honours degree
Duration: 9-12 months (full-time)
Focus: Strategic management, executive leadership, complex decision-making, performance excellence
What you will study
Master strategic management for executive-level decision-making. Analyse complex strategy frameworks, global competitive dynamics, and strategic transformation. Develop and evaluate long-term strategic visions aligned with stakeholder value.
Develop expert financial management and value creation capability. Covers corporate finance, investment strategy, financial engineering, M&A analysis, and shareholder value. Evaluate financial decisions for executive-level impact.
Develop strategic marketing capability for growth and brand value. Analyse digital transformation, customer experience strategy, brand portfolio management. Create integrated marketing strategies driving competitive advantage.
Develop transformational and visionary leadership for executive roles. Covers executive presence, team excellence, succession planning, and organisational transformation. Demonstrate executive-level leadership through applied projects.
Develop ethical leadership and corporate governance expertise. Covers stakeholder ethics, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and responsible business. Lead ethical decision-making in complex business environments.
Undertake major consulting project addressing strategic organisational challenge. Conduct original research, analyse complex business problem, develop executive recommendations. Demonstrate mastery across business domains.
Analyse and build sustainable competitive advantage. Covers resource-based strategy, disruptive innovation, digital advantage, market positioning. Develop strategies creating defensible competitive positioning.
Lead innovation for organisational growth and transformation. Covers innovation strategy, product/service development, digital transformation, and innovation culture. Create innovation systems and manage innovation portfolios.
Create and capture stakeholder value across constituencies. Covers shareholder/stakeholder perspectives, value creation, ESG integration, and social value. Balance competing stakeholder interests for sustainable value creation.
Achieve and sustain performance excellence across organisations. Covers performance metrics, operational excellence, quality management, and continuous improvement. Develop performance frameworks and excellence cultures.
Who is this for?
Target Audience: Senior professionals, aspiring executives, entrepreneurs, and honours-degree-level learners preparing for C-suite or senior leadership roles.
Entry Requirements: Level 5 qualification or equivalent senior professional experience (typically 5+ years management background).
Ideal for: Executive advancement, MBA entry, board-level preparation, transformational leadership roles, strategic consulting.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the Level 6 Extended Diploma, you will be able to:
- Create and execute transformational business strategies driving competitive advantage
- Lead complex organisations and lead change at executive level
- Analyse and manage stakeholder value across competing interests
- Evaluate and create sustainable competitive advantage and innovation
- Demonstrate expert-level business acumen and strategic decision-making
- Produce sophisticated business strategies, consulting recommendations, and executive briefs
Assessment and delivery style
Honours-level academic delivery emphasising critical evaluation and executive thinking. Assessment includes strategic consulting projects, research dissertations, complex case analysis, business simulations, and board-style presentations. Emphasis on independent research, executive perspective, and business impact.
Career pathways and progression
- Executive positions: C-suite roles (CEO, CFO, COO), board directorships, executive leadership
- Strategic roles: Chief strategy officer, business transformation, corporate development
- Postgraduate study: Executive MBA, doctoral study, academic careers
- Consulting: Strategy consulting, senior advisory roles, business transformation leadership
- Entrepreneurship: Venture capital backing, scaling international businesses
