is programme provides 120 credits out of the 180 required for a full MBA making it a direct pathway to an MBA?

No, the Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership and Management (120 credits) does not automatically confer an MBA. It provides the academic credits equivalent to the taught component of a master’s degree, but it lacks the final 60 credits required for a full Master of Business Administration. These remaining credits are typically delivered through a dissertation or strategic project at a partner university. Therefore, the diploma serves as a prerequisite entry route, not a direct completion. Learners must apply to an accredited university for the MBA top-up phase. This two-stage process ensures you gain strategic capability through the OTHM qualification before undertaking the independent research required for the final master’s award.