Applicants must normally be at least 21 years old by the 31st of December in the year that they start a UniHaven postgraduate programme.
Programme applicants should have one of the following:
The applicants are normally required to produce two supporting references for Northwood University progression, at least one of which should preferably be academic. For more information, see the general entry requirements for admission to the university.
| Duration | IELTS | |
| 12 Months | 6.0 | No single element below 5.5 |
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Applicants who are not from a majority English-speaking country or who have not completed an undergraduate degree in English need to present with an equivalent to IELTS 6.0.
Students who have completed an undergraduate degree of 3 years or longer in duration through English will have the IELTS requirement for Masters study at Northwood University (US) waived.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership has been created to develop and reward the business managers of today and the future, and to continue to bring recognition and professionalism to the management sectors. The two biggest challenges facing organisations today are the need to innovate and adapt to a rapidly changing environment. The need to be creative and flexible in following sustainable and long-lasting strategies has never been greater and only organisations with imagination and who embrace diversity will survive and flourish.
A particular aim of the Postgraduate Diploma is to promote student aspirations to attain a degree and enter a new world of opportunities, by providing students with flexible entry and study options. The programme is based on 6 mandatory units plus 2 from 4 optional units.
Upon completing this Postgraduate Diploma, learners can join Northwood University with a recognised 9 credits towards the 21 credits required to complete the Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, the Master of Science in Finance, or the Master of Business Administration. Learners also have the option to join a UK university partner to complete a dissertation to then receive a full master’s degree. Learners can also step directly into employment in an associated profession or progress to the UK Level 8 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.
The course is delivered in small groups in our virtual online classrooms with a largely self-directed learning approach.
The programme content below applies to the following:
A particular aim of the Postgraduate Diploma is to promote student aspirations to attain a degree and enter a new world of opportunities, by providing students with flexible entry and study options. This flexible pathway aims at removing “prevalent rigid boundaries and creating new possibilities for lifelong learning”. This qualification has been created to develop and reward the business managers of today and the future, and to continue to bring recognition and professionalism to the management sectors. It is envisaged that this qualification will encourage both academic and professional development so that learners move forward to realise not just their own potential but also that of organisations across a broad range of sectors.
The programme will require learners to critically evaluate, challenge and synthesise a wide range of current management tools, techniques, and models. The emphasis placed on current management concepts and models is on those that are relevant to the 21st century business environment and context and goes beyond the normal examination of Anglo-American management models. The emphasis is also placed on the ability to adapt management concepts, tools, and techniques to align with organisational culture and apply critical reflective thinking.
The qualification scope covers all the primary business functions and how these are interrelated and integrated. The mandatory units provide a holistic study of core organisational issues that are relevant to strategic decisions making, planning, and enabling the organisation to achieve its strategic aims and objectives. The optional units allow learners to select some specialisation in their study to support specific career directions. The qualification will enable learners to become independent, self-directed learners with tools and motivation to continue learning, developing, and reflecting on practice throughout their careers.
Recognised as a UK Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma, the programme comprises 120 equivalent credits. Fulfilling the Diploma requirements enables you to pursue a thesis for an associated Masters programme with one of the partner universities in the UK or to complete your Masters programme via a USA university (i.e., USA universities who accept UK credits).
Programme Structure
The overall structure of the course is based on eight units that cover several topics relating to learning outcomes. Six units are mandatory with learners being able to choose two additional optional units from four. Each unit has the equivalency of 15 credits. Learners must complete all units successfully and achieve 120 credits before the Diploma can be issued.
Mandatory Modules (All 6)
Manage Team Performance to Support Strategy
The unit will explore how team performance can be evaluated and optimised to realise strategic objectives.
Information Management and Strategic Decision Taking
The unit will address the volume and complexity of data and information available to organisations and how to analyse, apply and determine its value in making strategic decisions.
Leading a Strategic Management Project
The unit will involve the learner in formulating research and methodologies to support a strategic management project. They will be required to critically evaluate options and data sources prior to presenting project outcomes.
Strategic Direction
The unit will explore the strategic aims and objectives of an organisation and their significance in setting direction and identifying success and progress for the organisation. The unit will also explore where different strategic options may lead the organisation to change its direction.
 Strategic Planning
This unit is about the value of the strategic planning process in formulating appropriate strategies and designing a plan that will be supported by stakeholders and other organisational leaders. The critical review of the plan and its success is also addressed in the unit.
Development as a Strategic Manager
The unit aims to supports organisational and self-awareness in learners. It provides a foundation for a self-critical and reflective approach to personal development to support the learner when operating at a strategic level. Wider context organisational and environmental factors are also considered as contributors to overall strategic success of the individual and the organisation.
Optional Modules (2 from 4)
Finance for Managers
This unit is geared towards supporting learners in understanding and using financial information and data. This unit is important to learners as it supports decision making.
 Strategic Marketing
The unit will investigate underlying models, techniques and theories that underpin marketing and can contribute to strategic objectives. It will also provide learners with a critical understanding of the marketing function within complex organisations.
Organisational Change Strategies
This unit will examine the changing nature of organisations and the challenges they face. It will examine the main approaches to managing change and show how these relate to the types of change that organisations are undertaking, especially in terms of individual, group and organisational behaviour. The main objective of this unit is to enable learners to understand, plan and achieve organisational change successfully. Managing organisational change is one of the most problematic tasks leaders undertake. The ability to do manage change successfully is a key attribute of successful leaders and successful organisations.
Human Resource Planning
The unit will address issues that are important when planning for and securing a workforce that will be able to deliver strategic objectives. The unit will also consider the constraints and influences on organisational HR practices.
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