Senior Leader Apprenticeship, PG Dip in Business Administration
2 - 2.5 years
Our Senior Leader Apprenticeship aims to support organisations wanting to build leadership capability within their teams, and develop individuals into senior or strategic management roles. Funded by the Apprenticeship Levy, the Senior Leader Apprenticeship is a cost-effective way to develop your workforce and bring essential expertise into your organisation.
Course information
Taught by School of Business
Accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
Course description
Course description
Senior leaders are a key component within business and provide clear, inclusive and strategic leadership and direction within organisations. Our Level 7 Senior Leader Apprentice is designed to enable organisations of all sizes and sectors to build leadership potential and capabilities within their team.
Studying predominantly online with additional on-campus learning opportunities, our apprenticeship maximises on-the-job learning and minimises time out the business, enabling apprentices to remain in the workplace applying their developed skills and knowledge, including:
- Leading individuals, teams and organisations to achieve organisational objectives
- Critically evaluating and developing strategic leadership objectives
- Making decisions and managing decision-making in an evidence-based way.
- Managing and integrating across functional and specialist areas, evidencing strategic leadership.
- Thinking about an inclusive and sustainable global economy and being generators of sustainable value for your organisation and society.
Apprentices will benefit from our research-leading academic staff as well as building networks of other motivated and aspirational managers.
Support is available through their School of Business apprenticeship tutor and a work-based mentor. This ensures the apprentice is fully supported - mapping their learning across to the apprenticeship standards and making sure both the apprentice and the organisation get the most out of the programme.
You will spend two years studying the modules on the Postgraduate Diploma, plus a further six months on your End-point Assessment. We also offer an accelerated route through the programme where you can take modules two and three simultaneously, and complete the programme and your apprenticeship in two years.
Following successful completion of the programme and your End-point assessment each apprentice receives a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship. There is also the opportunity to progress and continue onto the AMBA-accredited Leicester MBA programme.
With over 30 years' experience in business and management distance learning education delivery, we have the expertise, reputation and credibility to develop leaders that can transform your organisation.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
You will need to have at least one of the following academic or professional qualifications:
- First or second class honours degree from a UK university, or
- Equivalent degree from a non-UK university or academic institution, or
- Postgraduate degree or diploma from a recognised institution (with the exception of senior leader qualifications), or
- Equivalent graduate level professional qualification, such as the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Chartered Certified Accountant qualification or Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) Professional Qualification.
You will also need a minimum of three years' appropriate and relevant management or professional postgraduate work experience.
We will also require information of prior achievements and conduct a skills scan and initial interview to measure knowledge, skills and behaviours to verify the course suitability and to enable us to tailor individual plans.
Apprentices will need to evidence they have achieved ESFA-approved Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths or ensure they are working towards Level 2 as part of the apprenticeship.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
Fees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in October 2025 or April 2026
The fee for the Senior Leader Apprenticeship is £14,000, funded by the Apprenticeship Levy. This fee covers the two-year Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration.
Please note that for smaller organisations who do not pay into the Apprenticeship, the programme can still be 90% funded. Please contact us for further information.
To progress onto the six-month Leicester MBA there is a progression fee which can be funded by the employer or apprentice. If you join the Senior Leader Apprenticeship in October 2024 and April 2025 and progress straight through to the Leicester MBA the additional fee will be £5,150.
Additional costs
- Your course fee includes attendance at residential workshops, the Leicester Masterclass and study materials.
- The fee does not include travel to, or accommodation at, residential workshops or the Leicester Masterclass.
International Students
Not applicable.
Accreditation
Accreditation
Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
The Leicester Senior Leader Apprenticeship is accredited by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and delivers a professional pathway to Chartered Manager status (CMgr) through the End-point Assessment.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our Senior Leader Apprentices will benefit from our tailored career and employability services and the School of Business' dedicated Careers Team, who can support you with personal and professional development guidance through your programme.
Working closely with the academic team, the Careers Team run a number of initiatives including:
MBA Executive Group Coaching
You will be benefit from our Executive Group Coaching programme designed exclusively for our MBA students. Aligned to module delivery and the stage you have reached in your programme, our expert-led MBA Executive Group Coaching is an opportunity to support you in your personal and professional development and to enhance your academic study.
Tailored to the current business climate, the session focus is to:
- Increase individual confidence levels and personal empowerment.
- Promote collaborate problem-solving and create team cohesiveness.
- Facilitate networking.
- Offer an opportunity to share experiences and differing perspectives.
Business-Focused Events
We work closely with business contacts to give you opportunities to interact with industry professionals and alumni and gain insights into a wide range of business areas including sector insights, leadership essentials and journeys along a variety of potential careers paths. Through events, including our Career Development Exhibition, Investment Conference and Management Conference, you will have the opportunity to network with business representatives at all levels from SMEs to large corporates. Previous organisations represented have included J P Morgan, Santander, Lloyds, GSK, Goldman Sachs, Boots, NatWest, DPD, British Gas, National Grid, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Cummins, LinkedIn, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Ericsson and M&C Saatchi.
Chartered Management Institute (CMI) Career and Professional Development Resources
CMI give you access to a wide range of online resources to support:
- Academic studies
- Job search, recruitment and selection and career change
- Skill development
- Business insight
- Events and networking opportunities
Career and Professional Development Resource
Our on-line resources contain a wealth of resources to inform and guide you at every stage of your career journey. There are links to available opportunities, upcoming careers and employability events, awards and competitions, together with recordings of careers sessions and seminars. A selection of interviews with industry professionals and University alumni provides a first-hand insight into a range of business sectors and career success stories. You will also find resources to support you in skills and career planning, including CV and application advice and interview tips.
Through this structured framework of online expert-led sessions, professional development events, and online resources, the aim of the personal and professional development support is to:
- Identify strengths and weaknesses to enable you to progress in a positive direction.
- Develop confidence to support leadership.
- Underpin the ability to implement and drive change.
- Explore strategies to expand networks to enhance career progression and support business development.
- Build lifelong learning and career management skills.
Additional resources:
Career Hub
If you are ever visiting Leicester, our Career Hub @ Brookfield is open Monday to Friday 11:00 to 14:00, no need to make an appointment. The Hub, staffed both by members of the ULSB Careers Team and our student Future Makers, provides an opportunity to talk about all things careers and employability-related and signpost you to available opportunities and further areas of support.
Business Start-up and Enterprise Support
We offer support if you are considering starting your own business, are in the early stages of business or how have an established business you wish to develop. Support includes events, online resources and our Entrepreneurs in Residence programme.
Lifelong Support
Our careers support to you is lifelong and continues even after you have completed your studies and we have welcomed you into our alumni community.
Our award-winning University Careers and Employability Team is here to support you – by email, phone or skype – with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience and more. From registration to graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Course structure
Modules
Modules
- Managing and Developing People and Organisations
- Managing Value Creation Processes from Idea to Market
- Managing Finances and Strategic Decision Making
- Strategic Leadership
Running alongside these modules, and throughout the duration of the programme is the Evidencing Senior Leader Praxis.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
The School of Business holds a prestigious Small Business Charter Award for our contributions to businesses and entrepreneurs, and sharing of innovation expertise.
At Leicester you will be taught by leading experts, who have both an excellent academic reputation and real-world industry experience.
The School of Business has over 30 years experience of offering business and management distance learning education and developing senior leaders across the globe.
We are a proud signatory to PRME – the Principles for Responsible Management Education, organised by the United Nations and business schools worldwide.
Teaching and learning
As leaders in distance learning management education, we know that flexible delivery is key for working professionals.
When studying a module, each week you will either view a two-hour recorded lecture or participate in a one/two-hour live online seminar. These will be further supported by our online study guide, additional learning materials and online forum discussions with tutors and peers. Online teaching takes place via our Leicester learning environment, which also houses your learning materials. Live seminars are undertaken in small groups.
During each module you will have the opportunity to participate in a residential workshop, held online in February and at our Brookfield campus in August. In addition you will also be invited to our annual Leicester Masterclass where you can learn and network with senior leaders from across the globe.
Modules will be assessed through a mixture of individual and group assignments as well as online, open book-examinations (lasting 72-hours).
Before an apprentices can progress onto the End-point assessment, we need to ensure that:
- The organisation is satisfied the apprentice is working at or above the occupational standard
- There is a portfolio of evidence submitted during the programme
- The apprentice has achieved English and Maths at Level 2.
The End-point assessment takes place after the completion of the modules and consists of a strategic business proposal, presentation and professional discussion. All underpinned by the portfolio of evidence.
Distance Learning
As a distance learning student, you will have access to the University Library's electronic service, the Leicester Digital Library, which includes a large number of e-journals and e-books as well as access to the David Wilson Library at the University.
Key dates
Start date: 7 April 2025
Registration deadline: 2 April 2025
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Senior Leader Apprenticeship | Qualification PGDip | Duration 1.5 - 2 years | Start Dates April and October each year | Availability |
