Is the Level 7 Diploma equivalent to a Master's degree?

No, the Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Online – MBA Top-Up Route (120 Credits) is not a Master’s degree. It is a regulated qualification at RQF Level 7, which denotes master’s-level academic standard, but it does not confer the title of Master of Business Administration. The distinction is critical for career progression. The diploma provides the 120 credits required for the final year of an MBA. To achieve the full degree, you must complete a dissertation or final project through a partnered university. This two-stage route allows working managers to gain master’s-level strategic competence immediately, with the option to secure the formal degree later. It offers flexibility, lower upfront costs and immediate applicability to organisational capability, whereas a full MBA requires a single, continuous institutional commitment.