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Overview
This top-up qualification will build on your PgDip, or equivalent, qualifications. You’ll submit a dissertation or work-based project to graduate with a full Masters in Business Administration.
You’ll learn to translate your management and leadership understanding into practical skills and day-to-day behaviours.
This postgraduate top-up course equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to resolve difficult business challenges, and provides opportunities for you to work on real problems within your own organisation.
Before this course you’ll typically hold a senior management role with key responsibilities for strategic decision making and leadership.
As this course is work-based, you already need to be in a full-time, part-time or voluntary role to apply.
This top-up qualification is normally a 60 credit follow-on from a Postgraduate Diploma such as our Senior Leader (Senior Leader Apprenticeship) (PgDiP). However, we will consider applicants with Postgraduate Diploma level qualifications from other institutions.
This is a new course and we're finalising the detailed information for this page.
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Eligibility
This course is available to EU/International applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa. Applicants should have existing work and study rights in the UK under their current form of leave.
May 2025 start
- A Postgraduate Diploma (or equivalent, including professional qualifications), not necessarily in a business related subject, plus at least 3 years of work experience at a professional or managerial level.
- Alternatively, applicants without formal qualifications, but with a minimum of 5 years of management experience, are welcome to apply.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
September 2025 / January 2026 / May 2026 start
- A Postgraduate Diploma (or equivalent, including professional qualifications), not necessarily in a business related subject, plus at least 3 years of work experience at a professional or managerial level.
- Alternatively, applicants without formal qualifications, but with a minimum of 5 years of management experience, are welcome to apply.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (May 2025 start)
Tuition fees (September 2025 / January 2026 / May 2026 start)
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Modules
Each module on this course is worth a certain number of credits. You'll study modules worth the total number of credits needed for this course.
What you'll study
- Dissertation or Work-based Learning Projects proposal - 10 credits
- Dissertation or work-based learning projects - 50 credits
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
How to apply
Eligibility
This course is available to EU/International applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa. Applicants should have existing work and study rights in the UK under their current form of leave.
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.
Finalising this course
All our courses go through a rigorous approval process to make sure they’re of the highest quality. This includes a review by a panel of experts, made up of academic staff and an external academic or professional with specialist knowledge.
This course is in the final stages of this process and is open for applications. If any details of the course or its approval status change after you apply, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and will be here to discuss your options with you.