How long is the Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy?

The Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy runs 15 to 18 months, with evening pacing for working strategists and founders.

Can the Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy be studied online?

Yes. The Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy is delivered on-campus in London, fully online and by distance learning against the same capstone research paper.

Is the Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy recognised by UK employers?

The Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy is designed around CMI Level 5 and Institute of Consulting practice — references UK employers know.

What are the entry requirements for the Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy?

An Advanced Diploma, HND / HNC or three years' strategy experience, GCSE English (grade 5) and Maths (grade 4), IELTS 6.0 for international applicants.

What does the Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy cost?

Fees for the Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy vary by mode and domicile. Contact LSIBM admissions for the current schedule and top-up terms.

Higher Diploma Business Planning & Strategy | LSIBM | Harold International College of London

Course Overview

The Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy at the London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a Level 5 near-degree qualification inside the Entrepreneurship & Executive Studies faculty, designed for strategy analysts, heads of strategy and senior founders ready to articulate onto a UK Bachelor's top-up. Across 15 to 18 months it consolidates senior-track strategy competence and adds a substantial capstone research paper.

Study is on-campus in central London, fully online or by distance learning. Content is designed around the CMI Level 5 in Management and Leadership, Institute of Consulting practitioner practice and IoD governance material. The capstone is written to become the final-year dissertation at the LSIBM BSc in Business Planning top-up.

Key Features

Designed around the CMI Level 5 in Management and Leadership and Institute of Consulting practice.
Three study modes — central London campus, fully online or distance learning.
Bachelor's top-up hook — confirmed credit transfer at enrolment onto the LSIBM BSc in Business Planning final year.
Capstone research paper defended in front of a working board adviser.
Growth-strategy workshop using real UK PLC and mid-market cases.
Board-narrative teaching aligned with UK Corporate Governance Code expectations.

What You Will Learn

The higher diploma consolidates senior strategy competence and adds a research thread. You will finish with a written capstone research paper that survives practitioner scrutiny and articulates onto a UK dissertation.

Growth-strategy design — organic, M&A, partnership, market-entry.
Portfolio choice at senior level.
Corporate finance for strategists — WACC, ROIC, EVA, DCF.
M&A basics — target screening, valuation, integration.
Scenario planning and stress-testing.
Board narrative aligned with UK Corporate Governance Code.
KPI framework and monthly board pack at senior level.
Change and transformation strategy at group level.
Research methods — data, case-study, replication.
Writing a substantial capstone research paper.

Who This Course Is For

Strategy analysts targeting a UK Bachelor's top-up with confirmed credit transfer.
Heads of strategy at UK PLC and mid-market groups building senior credibility.
Founders scaling from Series A to B and building a strategy function.
Consulting managers targeting strategy-heavy engagements.
Family-business successors taking on group planning.

Career Pathways

Graduates typically move into head-of-strategy, corporate-development and senior-consulting roles across UK PLC, mid-market and consulting employers, and articulate onto UK Bachelor's top-ups. The higher diploma supports applications but does not by itself guarantee an offer. Typical destinations include:

Business Planner (senior)
Strategy Analyst (senior) / Strategy Manager
Founder (scaling)
Startup Programme Manager (senior)
Corporate Development Manager
Head of Strategy

The Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy is the natural step onto the LSIBM BSc in Business Planning top-up and the CMI Level 5 award.

Entry Requirements

A relevant Advanced Diploma (Level 5), HND, HNC, or three years of substantive professional strategy or founder experience.
GCSE English Language at grade 5/C and Mathematics at grade 4/C (or equivalent).
IELTS 6.0 overall (no band below 5.5) for non-native English speakers.
A short statement of intent and two references (one academic or professional-body, one workplace) — applicants presenting a professional-body membership route (CMI Level 5, IoC Associate) are particularly welcome.

Why Study at LSIBM

The London School of International Business and Management (LSIBM) is a specialist business-education provider based in central London and part of Harold International College. Higher Diploma cohorts sit at the near-degree tier — small groups, tutor visibility every week, curriculum reviewed against ACCA, CIMA, CIM, CIPD, CMI and IOE&IT competencies so graduates walk into a UK Bachelor's top-up with confirmed credit transfer.

London puts the City, Canary Wharf, Whitehall, Companies House, the FCA, the Bank of England and the West End within a short tube ride of every classroom. Higher Diploma students attend at least one working practitioner clinic per fortnight and complete a substantial capstone project defended in front of a working professional.

Apply for the Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy

Move onto the top-up track with the Higher Diploma in Business Planning & Strategy. Click Enrol Now and our admissions team will respond within one working day with intake dates, credit-transfer guidance for UK Bachelor's top-up routes, and the current fee schedule. Higher Diploma graduates articulate into LSIBM's Bachelor's final year with confirmed credit transfer at enrolment.