Senior Leaders Apprenticeship
Key Details
- mbateam@uea.ac.uk
- Award
- Postgraduate Diploma
- Start Date
- September 2025
Overview
The Senior Leaders Apprenticeship offers the opportunity to gain a postgraduate diploma in Strategic Leadership from UEA, and Chartered Manager status with the Chartered Management Institute.
You will undertake the same theoretical learning as postgraduate students but with no university fees to pay, and the two year programme allows you to earn while you learn.
Upon completion of the SLA, apprentices have the opportunity to enrol on a short top-up programme to qualify for an MBA (at extra cost) through our Executive MBA course. This is separate from the Apprenticeship.
Course details
Designed by employers in conjunction with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), the Senior Leader Apprenticeship focuses on work-based learning, blended with business education that will benefit any organisation. On completion you will be awarded the postgraduate diploma in Strategic Leadership.
The Senior Leader Apprenticeship also qualifies for Chartered Manager status with the CMI. However, if Apprentices enrol on the MBA top-up programme you will also have the option to apply to become a CMI Chartered Fellow.
Course Structure
The programme is designed to allow busy professionals to balance the demands of study with work. It’s specifically tailored to offer flexibility while maintaining the rigour of this type of qualification. Lectures and seminars are scheduled on full workdays and at weekends, enabling you to study while working full-time. Teaching is based around case study analysis, interactive discussion and supported by high quality blended learning materials. The first year focuses on four 20 credit compulsory modules, to ensure you’ll learn about, discuss and analyse core business functions including: leadership, economics, marketing, and operations management. In the second year, apprentices will complete two 20 credit compulsory modules. Additionally, apprentices will have to submit a business proposal and complete their end point assessment.
Modules:
- Operations management, Processes and Digital Systems
- Economic and Environmental Analysis
- Marketing and Customer Focus
- Leading and Managing people
- Financial Investment and Accounting
- Strategy
Teaching and Learning
During your apprenticeship, your studies will be informed by the latest research and real-world business experience and delivered by high-quality business experts and academics in the Norwich Business School. You’ll learn to understand, evaluate and apply current thinking and develop the critical skills needed to take on a strategic leadership role within your current or future organisation.
The first year of your apprenticeship will focus on providing you with the knowledge, skills and attitude needed to better understand how an organisation works. Our teaching focuses on allowing you to understand real-life business challenges while studying the latest conceptual developments. We provide blended, flexible learning that allows you to engage with your cohort and lectures in both online and face to face settings.
You’ll be provided with a mix of bespoke technologies, videos and digital learning to enhance your experience. You’ll work both individually and in groups to apply the concepts discussed during the lectures to real-life managerial problems. During the first year, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with industry experts and discuss the key issues facing organisations.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed throughout the course using a variety of methods, including exams, assignments, group work and presentations.
Entry Requirements
- GCSE English at Grade C/Level 4 or above, or Functional Skills Level 2, or any qualification that is listed on the ESFA approved equivalent qualification list.
- GCSE Math at Grade C/Level 4 or above, or Functional Skills Level 2, or any qualification that is listed on the ESFA approved equivalent qualification list.
If you studied English as a 2nd language overseas, please email apprenticeships@uea.ac.uk for advice.
Benefits of Working with UEA
At UEA we have a range of subject areas that we think can benefit businesses and other organisations. We would be happy to chat about your needs and see if we can help.
Apprenticeships provide a unique opportunity for organisations:
- Succession planning and employee retention
- Immediate and long-term return on investment
- New insights and networks for your business
- Enabling employees to apply academic theory directly to real business challenges means an immediate impact for organisations. This immersive approach also demonstrates the relevance and context of what is being taught in the classroom when back in the workplace.
The Senior Leader Apprenticeship programme will typically takes around two years to complete. Lectures and seminars will be scheduled at weekends and will be supported with high quality online learning materials, enabling employees to continue to work full-time while studying.
Our academic staff include world leading experts with knowledge and insights that can benefit a wide range of sectors, employers and job roles. We have experience in delivering flexible learning online and face-to-face, using innovative and engaging tools and technology.
Further Information/For Businesses
We are looking to work with employers and organisations to form new cohorts for these courses, and to create new programmes, tailored to meet the needs of individual organisations.
For employers considering placing a number of employees on the apprenticeship programme, there is an opportunity to discuss bespoke content within the course that takes account of sector-specific issues.
Find out more information about working together or supporting an employee via an apprenticeship.