Description
The key to effective management and leadership lies in developing a critical understanding of your organisation and the practices of those who work in it, including your own. If you aspire to a middle level management role in a large organisation, or have a leadership role in a smaller one, this diploma will enhance your ability to manage projects and change and improve performance. You will gain a broad, integrated picture of how your organisation works – enabling you to respond quickly and flexibly to rapidly changing markets and environments – and consider the compromises, tensions and interdependencies between operational, accounting, marketing, information, financial and ‘people’ issues. The skills of the reflective practitioner are an important theme throughout, and everything you study is related to the management roles and responsibilities you exercise.
Key features of the course
- A strong emphasis is on your own professional development
- Focuses on the management of teams, departments and projects
- Encourages you to apply newly learned skills and techniques as you study
- A recognised qualification in its own right, and Stage 1 of our triple-accredited MBA.
Planning your studies
To study for the professional diploma you must already hold the Professional Certificate in Management (S01) (previously coded C31) or a qualification accepted by the University as equivalent.
You will already have some first-hand experiential knowledge of managing some part of an organisation.
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 6.5 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.
How long it takes
The minimum time to complete this qualification is seven months, depending on whether you choose to study B716 which takes 12 months or the fast-track version BXFT716 which takes seven months. Please note to complete within seven months, you will need to be able to devote 20-25 hours a week to your studies. You must complete this qualification within four years.
Career relevance and employability
The Professional Diploma in Management is a generalist qualification in the core aspects of management: marketing, accounting, operations, human resource management etc. It is appropriate for all sectors: private, public or voluntary/third sector; the models and ideas are sufficiently general to be useful for people in all sizes of organisation, from multi-national to individual entrepreneur. As a stand-alone qualification it is intended mainly for first-line or middle management and as the first one-third of our MBA is appropriate for all levels of manager.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Modules
To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits from either:
| Compulsory module |
Credits |
Next start |
- MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (B716) (now discontinued)
|
60 |
|
- MBA stage 1: management: perspectives and practice (fast-track)* (BXFT716) (now discontinued)
|
60 |
|
*This version is for the accelerated study route and should only be selected if you intend to complete your MBA in two years. See How long it takes for more information.
Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules B700, BZX700.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 20 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
Credit transfer is not available for this qualification.
On completion
On successful completion of the required module you can be awarded a Professional Diploma in Management entitling you to use the letters Dip Mgmt (Open) after your name.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
How to register
If you want to study for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of
our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the
module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
During the registration procedure you will be asked to declare which qualification you are studying towards.
See a full list of modules available for this qualification