are assessed in academic terms as being equivalent to a Master's Degree,?

No, the qualification is not academically equivalent to a Master’s Degree. It is a Level 7 qualification on the Regulated Qualifications Framework, matching the academic level of a Master’s but lacking the full credit volume and research component required for a standalone degree. It serves as a 120-credit bridge. Upon completion, you gain entry to an MBA top-up module at a partner university. Only after passing that final module do you receive the full Master of Business Administration degree. The Diploma itself validates strategic capability and leadership competence at postgraduate level, but it is a stepping stone, not the final award. It is designed for working managers seeking efficient progression into a recognised MBA without repeating undergraduate-level study.