Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management
Accredited by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), the programme is equivalent to level 7 on the National Qualification Framework (NQF). The qualification provides a route for students to gain advanced entry to a Masters degree at UK universities.
The ABE Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management has been developed by a senior university professor, utilising current academic learning and research as well as employer knowledge and practice. It is therefore an ideal progression route for those who:
- are currently studying professional qualifications and wish to proceed to a Masters degree in business/management
- have a related Honours degree but wish to proceed to a Masters level business/management qualification
- are in employment, at managerial level, and wish to achieve a Masters level qualification
Students may take the programme independently or through a college. If studying independently please pay particular note to the points on assessment of the assignment, below.
At a time when global economies are in difficulties, the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management represents an excellent, cost-effective opportunity to demonstrate talent and ability.
About the programme
The Postgraduate Diploma is QCA accredited at level 7 and comprises five units:
- Strategic Business Management and Planning
- Organisational Resource Management
- Management of Financial Resources and Performance
- Leadership and Change Management
- Corporate Management in Action (integrative case study assessment)
Please note that the programme does not carry study manuals. This is because students at level 7 are expected to be capable of carrying out their own research and reading, which is the practice at Masters level.
Assessment
Each unit requires two pieces of assessed work which carry equal weighting:
- an examination (marked externally by ABE); and
- an assignment (marked internally by the college or by Business Education Associates and moderated by ABE)
Students will be given a grade each time a piece of work is assessed. To pass the unit requires a pass mark of 40% or above in both pieces of assessed work.
For example, achieving a mark of 70% in one piece of work and 35% in the other will not qualify for a pass in the unit. When a student has passed both pieces of assessed work, he or she will be issued with a final grade, which will be based on the average of the two marks.
Students should apply for assessment on the Postgraduate Diploma Examination and Assignment Entry Form. On the form students should indicate which examinations they wish to sit and which assignments they intend to submit – there is no requirement to attend an examination and submit the corresponding assignment at the same sitting. If either piece of assessed work is passed it can be carried forward to future sittings. Similarly, a re-sit of either piece of assessed work that was not passed is also permitted.
Examinations will be conducted according to the ABE Examination Regulations. The examination scripts are marked externally by ABE.
Assignments
The assignment is marked by the college.
All College students must submit their assignment to their college for marking. Only an approved college can mark assignments, therefore all College students must check that their college is accredited to offer the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management and make all necessary arrangements prior to registering with ABE and embarking on the course.
All independent (private self-study) students must contact Business Education Associates (BEA) at least two months prior to the submission date for advice on how to submit their assignment, and support (if required).A separate fee is payable to BEA for this service
MARKED assignments must reach ABE by 1st June (for results in August) or 1st December (for results in February).
Students should therefore comply with the deadlines set by their College tutor for the submission of assignments to ensure that they get marked on time, and submitted to ABE by the closing dates above. If the assignments are not received by ABE until after the closing date, the results may be delayed until the following sitting. Students should retain a copy of their assignment and ensure that a physical copy reaches ABE by the closing date (assignments received electronically will not be accepted).
Entry Criteria
A student must fulfill at least one of the following criteria to be allowed entry to the programme:
- Possession of the ABE’s Advanced Diploma in Business Management or Business Administration*
- Possession of an ABE Advanced Diploma in another subject*
- Possession of an honours degree in a related subject
- Possession of a level 6 qualification from another internationally recognised awarding body
- Five years senior management experience
* Note that a student may progress to the Postgraduate Diploma if he/she has one unit of the Advanced Diploma yet to be passed, but cannot be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma until subsequently passing the remaining Advanced Diploma unit.
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