Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
This course is endorsed by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Upon completion, students receive the Foundation Chartered Manager status.
About this course
Why This Course
The Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership and Management is a CMI-endorsed Level 7 qualification built for educators, school leaders, and education administrators who are ready to step into or strengthen senior institutional roles.
Delivered entirely online and fully self-paced, this programme allows you to develop advanced leadership capability without disrupting your teaching commitments or school calendar. You will study six rigorous modules that address the full scope of modern educational leadership: from leading organisational change and managing diverse teams to navigating digital transformation, driving pedagogical innovation, and conducting action research that improves real learning outcomes.
The curriculum connects theory directly to practice, equipping you to lead with evidence, purpose, and inclusivity.
On completion, you hold a globally recognised 120-credit postgraduate qualification and Foundation Chartered Manager status through CMI, with a pathway to a full master's degree at a UK partner university.
Programme Modules
What You'll Study
Study the disciplines that matter most, from finance and marketing to leadership, operations, and sustainability, all connected directly to your working life.
Inside the programme
Your Learning Journey
Key learning outcomes
This qualification develops the kind of leadership that educational institutions genuinely need: strategic, inclusive, evidence-based, and forward-looking.
You will graduate with a CMI-endorsed Level 7 diploma worth 120 postgraduate credits and Foundation Chartered Manager status, a professional designation recognised by employers in the education sector and beyond. You will have the tools to lead complex institutional change, manage diverse teams with confidence, and embed a culture of continuous improvement that raises outcomes for learners.
Globally applicable and practically grounded, this qualification is relevant whether you lead a primary school in Lagos, a further education college in London, or a university department in Singapore.
Check Your Eligibility
Entry Requirements
This programme is designed for motivated people who are ready to invest in their future. Here is what we look for.
If you have formal qualifications:
- A bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification, plus a minimum age of 22.
- If English is not your first language, an IELTS score of 6.5 or equivalent is required. A free online English assessment is available if you are unsure of your level.
Or
If you do not have formal qualifications:
- A minimum of five years of relevant experience in education, school leadership, or a related management role.
- The same English language and age requirements as above.
Accreditation
Programme Accreditations and Recognitions
Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
LIBT is a member of the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)
LIBT is a full member of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).
Fees & Payment
Regionalised Discounts and Flexible Payment Plans
We offer regional discounts to keep education accessible worldwide. Select your country of residence below to get your local fee.
Tier 1
£2,880
Application feeFree
Pay in full (5% off)£2,736
6 Instalments£480 × 6
Awarding Body
Why choose the London Institute of Business and Technology
The London Institute of Business and Technology (LIBT) is a British online institution committed to making world-class professional education accessible to working adults everywhere. We deliver accredited, industry-aligned qualifications to learners in more than 100 countries, combining rigorous academic standards with the flexibility that busy professionals need to advance their careers without pausing them.
Quality and Regulation
LIBT is a full member of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), the UK's independent body responsible for safeguarding standards and improving the quality of higher education. This membership confirms that LIBT's programmes, processes, and academic practices meet the rigorous standards expected of a recognised UK higher education provider.
Our qualifications are further recognised and regulated by Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation, an executive non-departmental public body of the UK Government, through our partnerships with ATHE and Qualifi. LIBT is also recognised by the Awards for Training and Higher Education (ATHE).
Professional Accreditations and Endorsements
LIBT holds accreditation and endorsement from some of the UK's most respected professional bodies:
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) accredits and endorses a range of LIBT programmes, recognising them as meeting CMI's rigorous standards for management and leadership education. Completing a CMI-accredited programme at LIBT makes graduates eligible for Chartered Manager status, one of the most respected professional designations in management globally.
The Association for Project Management (APM) has recognised LIBT's Postgraduate Diploma in Project Management under its Pathway 2 Recognised Assessment for the Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) designation, making LIBT one of a select group of institutions whose assessment meets APM's professional standard.
University Partnerships
LIBT's qualifications are designed as direct pathways to prestigious university degrees. On completing an LIBT diploma, graduates gain advanced entry to the final taught stage or dissertation of a master's, bachelor's, or doctoral degree at one of our partner universities, without repeating what they have already studied.
LIBT's current university partners include:
University of London — Global MBA and specialist MBA pathways in Accountancy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Finance, Health, Law, and Leadership
Coventry University — Global Business MBA, MSc in Business and Organisational Psychology, MSc in International Project Management, MA in Education, and BA (Hons) in Business Management and Leadership
University of Lancashire (UCLan) — LLB (Hons) Law, MSc in Finance and Management, and BSc (Hons) in Cyber Security and Networking
University of Portsmouth — MSc in Security and Risk (Work-based, for military personnel)
University of Essex — BA (Hons) in Business and Management
University of Wolverhampton — International MBA
Acacia University (USA) — Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA), advanced entry
These articulation agreements are based on each university's independent review of LIBT's learning programmes and outcomes, confirming that LIBT graduates arrive academically prepared for degree-level progression.
Our Commitment
LIBT believes that a demanding professional life should never be a barrier to academic achievement. Every programme we offer is built to the highest standard of academic rigour, delivered with the flexibility working professionals require, and recognised by the institutions and professional bodies that matter most to employers worldwide.
From our community
Reviews from students across programmes we offer.
Hear from the professionals who studied with LIBT, the skills they gained, the goals they reached, and the moments that changed how they work.
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FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I study this diploma while working full time in education?
Yes, and it is built precisely for that. The programme is 100% online and entirely self-paced, so you study when your schedule permits, whether during school holidays, evenings, or weekends. There are no examinations. Assessment is through written assignments that you can anchor directly to your own institution, making your coursework immediately relevant to the school or organisation you lead.
Do I need a degree to apply?
Not necessarily. If you do not hold a bachelor's degree, you may still qualify through our professional entry pathway, provided you have at least five years of relevant experience in education, teaching, or school management. Our admissions team will review your professional background and confirm your eligibility before you apply.
What does CMI endorsement mean for this programme?
The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) is the UK's leading professional body for managers and leaders. CMI endorsement means this programme meets its recognised standards for leadership education. Upon completion, you will receive Foundation Chartered Manager status through CMI, a professional designation that strengthens your leadership credentials with employers and institutions across the education sector globally.
Can I complete this diploma faster than 12 months?
Yes. Because the programme is fully self-paced, you can progress as quickly as your time allows. Learners with prior postgraduate qualifications or substantial relevant professional experience may also be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which can reduce the number of modules required and shorten your total completion time.
What support is available once I enrol?
You will have 24-hour access to on-demand tutoring at no additional cost. Tutors are reachable via email, phone, or video call. Your learning platform provides continuous access to recorded lectures, course materials, and optional supplementary resources. If school commitments or personal circumstances require you to pause your studies, our student support team can arrange a formal deferral with no loss of completed credits.