CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice
Lead at the highest level with the qualification that carries chartered weight. The CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice is the postgraduate-equivalent credential for senior leaders, the route to Chartered Manager (CMgr) and the benchmark of strategic leadership capability. Studied 100% online.
✓Are aged 19 or over and ready to commit to 8 to 12 hours per week
✓Need flexible, self-paced online study around work or family
✓Want a regulated qualification recognised by UK employers and leading professional bodies
✓Prefer portfolio assessment over traditional written exams
✓Have existing experience in your field that you want formally accredited
Your career after this course
✓You need a face-to-face classroom environment to learn
✓You require traditional written exams for assessment
✓You cannot commit 8 to 12 hours of study per week
✓You expect to qualify in less than the typical course duration
✓You do not have access to the workplace evidence required (where applicable)
About this qualification
What you'll learn
You are operating at the level where decisions have long-range consequences, where you shape culture, set direction, and are accountable not just for outputs but for the strategic health of an organisation. The CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice is the qualification built for that level of responsibility. It is the postgraduate equivalent in professional management, and it sits at the same RQF level as a master's degree.
This is an Ofqual-regulated Level 7 qualification awarded by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Level 7 is the CMI's highest taught leadership qualification and is positioned at master's degree level on the Regulated Qualifications Framework. It is for senior leaders, directors, and chief executives who carry strategic rather than operational accountability. The programme covers strategic leadership and organisational performance, developing strategic plans and managing strategic change, financial strategy and resource optimisation, organisational culture and ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship at strategic level, and governance, risk, and compliance.
The programme is studied 100% online at your own pace, with 12 months of full course access. A senior UK tutor with practitioner experience at strategic level provides written feedback within 2 working days of each submission. Assessment is by strategic reports, management case studies, and a capstone leadership portfolio, all drawn from your real strategic context. There are no written examinations. The work you produce is a body of evidence directly applicable to your organisation.
Completing the Level 7 Diploma makes you eligible for Chartered Manager (CMgr) status and positions you for executive roles including Director, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Executive Officer, and equivalent strategic leadership positions. Salaries at this level vary significantly by sector but typically range from £70,000 to well over £120,000 in corporate and public-sector contexts. Some graduates use the Level 7 as the basis for Credit of Prior Learning (CPL) toward an Executive MBA.
The CMI Level 7 is the credential that signals genuine strategic capability to boards, investors, and executive search firms. It is held by senior leaders across the NHS, the Civil Service, FTSE-listed companies, and third-sector organisations. Online delivery is essential at this level, senior leaders cannot step away from their organisations for residential programmes. Self-paced study allows you to apply each module's thinking directly to the strategic challenges you are facing in real time.
The course is available with interest-free monthly payments, spread the cost at 0%, no lump sum required, start any day of the year. Employer sponsorship is common at this level, and we can provide documentation to support a business case for your organisation. This qualification is for senior leaders who want the formal credential to match their experience, directors preparing for a step up in scope, and ambitious managers in accelerated development. If you are leading at the top table, this is your qualification.
Chartered Management Institute (CMI)RQF Level 7100% Online12 to 18 months8 unitsSelf-paced
Curriculum
What you'll study
8 units across 2 levels of study. Portfolio-assessed — no exams.
What you'll need
Entry requirements
You need to be aged 18 or over to enrol.
Functional Skills English at Level 2 or GCSE English at grade 4 (C) or above.
A reliable internet connection, computer or tablet, and basic word-processing skills.
There is no minimum study commitment. As a guide, most learners spend around 8 to 12 hours a week, but you can study more or less based on your own pace and how you feel at the time. The course flexes around your life.
At least 5 years of senior management experience.
Not sure if you qualify?
Our admissions team can talk you through your options.
The qualification is fully portfolio-assessed. There are no written exams. You complete a mix of assignments, case studies, reflective accounts, and a final project demonstrating competence against every assessment criterion.
Each unit is graded as Pass or Refer. Tutor feedback is delivered within 2 working days, every time, with the option to refine and resubmit work. You always have a clear picture of what is due, when, and what good looks like, every brief includes a worked example and a marking rubric.
Assessments are submitted through your online learner dashboard. Final certification follows internal quality assurance and external moderation by the CMI.
01
Portfolio-based
Coursework and a written portfolio. No traditional written exams.
02
Submit online
All assignments submitted through your learner dashboard.
03
Tutor feedback
Detailed feedback in 3 to 5 working days. Refine and resubmit until you reach the grade you want.
04
Graded across units
Pass, Merit or Distinction on each unit. Top grades stack to the highest UCAS point total.
Careers
Where this can take you
Typical roles and salary ranges this qualification opens up.
Senior Leader / Head of Function
Typical salary range
£70,000 to £130,000+
Lead a major function (operations, finance, HR, marketing) reporting to the CEO or COO.
Director
Typical salary range
£80,000 to £180,000+
Hold board-level responsibility for strategy, P&L, and organisational performance.
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Typical salary range
£100,000 to £250,000+
Lead operations across a multi-site or multi-function business, reporting to the CEO.
Managing Director (SME)
Typical salary range
£75,000 to £200,000
Run a small or medium enterprise as the most senior executive, often the founder or owner.
Programme Director / Portfolio Lead
Typical salary range
£75,000 to £130,000
Lead a portfolio of major change or transformation programmes, often in financial services or government.
Independent Consultant / Non-Executive Director
Typical salary range
£500 to £2,000 per day
Apply senior leadership experience to consulting, advisory, or NED portfolio roles.
✓Talk to our support team by phone, email or live chat
✓See your progress and next steps on your dashboard
✓Join the learner community forum when you want to chat to others
Funding and finance
✓Pay monthly to spread the cost with no interest
✓Pay in full and save versus monthly
✓No credit checks and no contract. Pause or cancel anytime
✓We can send funding paperwork to your employer if they sponsor you
✓Our enrolment team will talk you through every option
✓14 day money back guarantee on every enrolment
Accreditation and recognition
✓Awarded by a recognised UK awarding body
✓Regulated by Ofqual, the same standard as college courses
✓Accepted by UK universities, employers and professional bodies
✓You get a certificate when you finish
✓Listed on the Ofqual Register of Regulated Qualifications
✓Independently quality checked through IQA and EQA
How it works
✓Start any time. There are no set term dates or cohorts
✓Study at your own pace around work and family
✓No exams. You complete coursework, a portfolio and assignments
✓Resubmit your work at no extra cost to reach the grade you want
✓Use the optional study planner if you like a bit of structure
✓How long you study is entirely up to you. Most learners spend a few hours each week, but you can do more or less based on your own pace
What learners say
Trusted by thousands of learners
Real feedback from learners studying with Lift College.
The flexibility was a game changer for me. I studied around my shifts and my tutor was incredibly supportive throughout.
I was nervous about going back to study after 15 years, but the platform is so easy to use and the feedback I got on assignments was genuinely useful.
Got into my first-choice university with a place on a Nursing BSc. The Access to HE Diploma gave me exactly what I needed.
Good value and well structured. I appreciated that I could resubmit work without extra cost — really helped me improve.
Customer service was excellent. Any time I had a question it was answered within hours. Highly recommend.
I needed a qualification that actually meant something to employers. Ofqual regulation was the deciding factor, and it delivered.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Chartered Manager (CMgr) status is awarded by the CMI to professionals who hold a Level 5 or higher CMI qualification plus 3+ years of management experience. The CMI Level 5 Diploma counts toward the academic requirement.
