Designed as a 10-credit, part-time Level 9 programme, this course builds your ability to analyse complex business environments, develop robust strategic options, and lead purposeful organisational change. Whether you’re seeking to accelerate your leadership career or bring new strategic capabilities to your organisation, this programme equips you with the tools, frameworks and confidence to make a difference.
Why Choose This Programme?
This programme offers industry-relevant strategic expertise, teaching you how to evaluate industries, interpret competitive forces, assess organisational capabilities, and identify opportunities for strategic advantage. Through practical, case-based learning, you will apply leading strategic models to real-world scenarios, collaborate with peers, and develop hands-on solutions to contemporary business challenges. Focused on delivering real organisational impact, the programme equips you with methods for influencing culture, shaping strategic direction, and navigating uncertainty. Designed for busy professionals, it is delivered part-time with just three contact hours per week, making it easy to fit alongside full-time work commitments. The skills gained are ideal for leaders across all sectors, including corporate, SME, public sector, not-for-profit, and start-up environments.
What You Will Learn
By the end of the programme, you will be able to:
Interpret and evaluate industries, competitive environments, resources, competences, and stakeholder influences.
Develop and test strategic options for suitability, feasibility and acceptability.
Allocate and manage the people, finance, technology and information resources required for strategy execution.
Understand corporate and parent-level strategy, including diversification, mergers, alliances and internationalisation.
Lead and manage strategic change, from diagnosing the need for change to selecting and implementing the best approach.
Analyse global opportunities, including emerging markets, ethical considerations, CSR, and the unique risks of international expansion.
You will explore key areas such as strategic analysis tools (PEST, Five Forces, value chain, benchmarking, SWOT), business-level strategies and competitive positioning, innovation, entrepreneurship and growth strategies, corporate strategy including diversification, acquisitions, alliances, and global strategy, managing strategic change both transformational and incremental, as well as ethics, CSR, and emerging market opportunities. Learning is delivered through engaging lectures, group work, and real case studies, ensuring you develop both knowledge and practical strategic insight.
Who Should Apply?
This programme is ideal for managers and aspiring leaders seeking structured strategic leadership development, professionals looking to progress to senior roles, entrepreneurs aiming to strengthen their strategy toolkit, and individuals considering further postgraduate study in business or leadership. If you are ready to enhance your strategic thinking and accelerate your leadership journey, this certificate offers a powerful next step.
Programme entry procedures are an existing Level 8 qualification or demonstrating relevant industry experience or RPL.
Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:
Programme entry procedures are an existing Level 8 qualification with a minimum of a 2.1
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and/or evidence of other academic standing.
Professional employment in a relevant business sector.
Professional experience in a HR or a management role for a minimum of 2 years full-time employment.
Students who do not meet all of the above criteria may apply to have prior learning recognised.
This course is part of our Master of Business in Executive Leadership
Explore our Postgraduate Prospectus to view the full range of postgraduate study options, including course details, entry requirements, and progression routes. Download the prospectus to help you choose the programme that best suits your goals.
