Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship
Designed for your team members to adopt strategic roles.
Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship
The Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship is a qualification aimed at individuals who are in, or moving into, strategic roles. It will support organisations who want to build leadership capacity within their team. We work closely with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
The apprenticeship is a vocational part-time programme, which allows learners to study alongside work.
It combines personal and professional development with a focus on workplace performance allowing employees to utilise learning in the workplace throughout the programme.
Leadership in an uncertain and ambiguous world is essential. This apprenticeship develops globally responsible and locally connected business leaders.
It gives them the strategic skills, insight and resilience to lead in a global context.
Apprentices graduate with a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship PGDip in Strategic Leadership.
Who is it for?
This is a vocational programme that will develop established and aspiring business leaders, giving them transformative skills.
We welcome professionals from the private, public and voluntary sectors. Students will explore and pioneer solutions to global challenges in their workplace and community.
Programme structure
The programme runs over 19 months on a vocational blended learning basis. There are monthly study blocks of up to 2 days per month during teaching time.* Before study blocks, students will engage with programme and module blended learning materials.
*Information is subject to change and will be in accordance with national guidelines.
Entry requirements
Candidates applying through the apprenticeship route will need to satisfy employer requirements.
Employers need to provide apprentices with a minimum 6 hours off the job time for course activities. Apprentices may need access to organisational data. You may need to stretch project opportunities beyond the scope of their current role. Employers should provide a workplace mentor. The University will support this mentor, as appropriate.
As a Level 7 Senior Leader Apprentice you will need to be able to evidence Skills, Knowledge and Behaviours against the apprenticeship standard.
Fees and funding
The total cost of the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship is £13,979.
This programme is fully funded for levy-paying employers through the apprenticeship levy. Non-levy paying SMEs will receive 95% funding.
We work in close collaboration with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI), leading to a dual qualification.
Our Senior Leader Apprenticeship leads to a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Leadership.
"The Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship has been a game-changer in teaching me different perspectives and offering new insight which I would never have found without the course. Outwardly, my behaviour as a leader may not appear to have changed but this course means that my thought processes have grown and changed how I consider the actions I take."
Katie Matthews, Operations Coordinator, RWE
Progression routes
A progression route is available to achieve the Strategic Leadership MSc at an additional cost. This progression route is not accessible through the Apprenticeship Levy. The Apprenticeship and progression to Master's study can be completed in 24 months.
Rich learning environment
Engagement in real-world challenges brings a rich learning environment. There’s the opportunity to have immediate impact on the organisation and individual performance.
We offer a supportive, flexible and transformative environment.
The programme embody the Business School’s strategic focus and strengths of:
- leading on leadership
- future of work
Leadership for the future of work
We aim to equip leaders and managers with the knowledge and skills to thrive in a range of international business contexts. We prepare leaders for a future they can shape.
Our Business School is one of an elite group worldwide. We hold triple accreditation from three internationally recognised bodies (AMBA, AACSB and EQUIS).
Our programmes are highly recommended
The apprenticeship has been developed in line with CMI guidance as End Point Assessors (EPA) and comes highly recommended.
Employers are entitled to use other EPA Organisations at their discretion.
How to apply
The next programme start date is July 2025. The deadline for all applications is Monday 30 June 2025. Any applications received after this date will not be progressed. Due to a high volume of interest in this programme, early registration of interested in encouraged.
Please email apprenticeships@ncl.ac.uk to progress an application with our Apprenticeship Partnership team.
"I am an advocate of both lifelong learning and supporting colleagues who want to develop themselves. This programme stretches individuals in a positive and supportive way and provides lots to take back into the business."
Sophie Millican, founder and CEO, Moja
Employer with staff on Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship