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Senior Leader, Level 7 Apprenticeship

About this course

Don't miss out: Government funding for Level 7 apprenticeships is changing from January 2026. Apply now for the September 2025 cohort.

The Senior Leader Apprenticeship (SLA) is designed for specialists who want to or have moved into a managerial role and wish to propel their career. The apprenticeship offers the opportunity to consolidate your managerial and leadership experience so far to be able to work more effectively across functions. The apprenticeship is designed around two key themes of Leading with Purpose and Leading Agile Transformation.

The apprenticeship will support you as you expand your network and gain a broad knowledge of business management and cover topics such as data driven decision making and change management. The ability to personalise your learning and apply it directly to your organisation puts you at the heart of our learning model and ensures both you and your organisation benefit directly from your studies.

Upon completion of the SLA, you have the choice to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or progress onto the Top Up Executive MBA where you will have the chance to undertake a live global consultancy project abroad and work with a global organisation as well as understand digital transformation and understand governance. By undertaking your MBA with NBS we offer you the opportunity to expand your reach as a leader within your organisation and sector. An Executive Coach will also work with you to explore the 'what next' post MBA.

Whichever route you choose, you will acquire the knowledge you need to work effectively at a senior, strategic management level, empowering organisations to achieve their objectives.

Find out more about our routes to qualification.

  • Upon completion of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, you have the opportunity to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or progress onto our Executive MBA Top Up programme.
  • Since the introduction of the End Point Assessment, Nottingham Business School has a 100% success rate.
  • 100% of our Senior Leader Apprenticeship students are satisfied by the quality of the course (PTES 2024).

What you’ll study

At the start of the course, you will undertake some pre-study activities and a three day induction where you will get to know your tutors and peers.

As part of your onboarding,  we will meet with you to identify your learning needs, you will undertake some pre-study activities and induction. Induction is held at our Postgraduate Centre, to allow you, your fellow learners and tutors to get to know each other, gain the skills needed to succeed and start your leadership journey with a deep dive into your individual learning needs.

Successful completion of the SLA End Point Assessment (EPA) provides you with the opportunity to be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma or progress onto the EMBA Top Up programme, you can find out more below.

Since the introduction of the EPA, Nottingham Business School have a 100% success rate.

Leading with Purpose

  • Leading People and Organisations
  • Customer Centric Marketing
  • Leading Responsible and Sustainable Organisations
  • Leading Strategy
  • Leading Innovation

Leading Agile Transformation

  • Finance for Strategic Decision Making
  • Operations and Supply Chain Management
  • Change Management
  • Data Driven Decision Making
  • Strategic Business Planning

On-going learning

Professional Leadership Development

This module is taught throughout the course develops professional, strategic transferable skills which students can deploy in the workplace.

The purpose of the module is to increase students understanding of how to manage their own continuous professional development in order to be a more effective leader and to enable sustained career success.

The module content can be grouped into three core themes:

  1. Developing core personal and professional competencies
  2. Developing leadership capability
  3. Reflective practice, development planning and career management.

Following successful completion of the Senior Leader Apprenticeship, you may choose to complete the EMBA Top Up. This eight month route will allow you to gain an EMBA qualification.

Building and Leading a Resilient Organisation

  • Governing Organisations
  • Digital Transformation
  • Global Consultancy Experience
  • Business Research Project

Completing your Apprenticeship

To achieve the apprenticeship, all apprentices must complete an End-Point Assessment (EPA). The EPA is an independent assessment that ascertains whether an apprentice is competent in their occupation.

Gateway

Gateway is the period of time between the end of the off-the-job training (practical period) and the beginning of the assessment period when EPA will take place.

At Gateway, the apprentice, employer and training provider will review the apprentice’s knowledge, skills and behaviours to determine whether they are ready to take their EPA. This is normally done at a Gateway review meeting which takes place near the end of the apprenticeship. At this meeting, all three parties will check that the mandatory aspects of the apprenticeship have been completed and that the apprentice is ready to take their final assessment(s).

Apprentices must meet the Gateway requirement set out in the assessment plan before taking their EPA.

End-Point Assessment

This apprenticeship is non-integrated. This means that the end-point assessment is administered and assessed by an external organisation. For this apprenticeship standard there are eight End-Point Assessment Organisations, previous apprentices have completed their EPA with the Chartered Management Institute.

Details of the assessment elements can be found in the assessment plan.

There are two elements to this end-point assessment:

  1. Strategic business proposal, presentation with questioning
  2. Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

We regularly review and update our course content based on student and employer feedback, ensuring that all of our courses remain current and relevant. This may result in changes to module content or module availability in future years.

Don’t just take our word for it, hear from our students themselves

Student Profiles

Colette Doherty

Senior Leader, Level 7 Apprenticeship

NBS placed great emphasis on using real-world experiences and international perspectives to support my learning, which I felt would add significant value in applying the theoretical knowledge within my current and future roles.

Andrew Hunter

Senior Leader, Level 7 Apprenticeship

The apprenticeship has already had an impact on my performance in my current role. It’s given me a much broader understanding of many different areas of business, and improved my approach to the people and the projects that I work on.

Joy Weldin

Senior Leader, Level 7 Apprenticeship

I have been able to already positively apply my learning to my role and have had successes from that. We also have some incredible expertise in differing fields in my cohort from who I have also been learning.

Ryan McCole

Senior Leader, Level 7 Apprenticeship

I am able to engage and solve business issues in a more strategic and holistic manner now.

Alice Veldtman

Senior Leader, Level 7 Apprenticeship

I have grown in confidence as a leader, through improved self-awareness and greater focus on my personal development goals. I’ve also been able to deliver more for the business – the SLA + EMBA has given me a higher-level perspective of the macro and micro environment.

Nick Martin

Senior Leader, Level 7 Apprenticeship

Without a doubt, the MBA has enabled me to obtain a C-suite executive role. Being able to ask questions on all aspects of business operations confidently has offered me the opportunity to continue leading an area of technical expertise.

How you're taught

How will I learn?

Teaching will take place through a range of delivery methods including on-campus teaching and one-to-one mentoring.

The course is delivered in modular blocks of two to three days each. Each teaching period is typically seven weeks apart.

The programme incorporates a mix of classroom modules, independent supported learning and work-based consultancy projects. It includes an international study visit and action learning group meetings.

The SLA experience is characterised by personalisation, achieved through the delivery of the Professional Leadership Development module which will include opportunities for personal diagnostics, mentoring, executive coaching, careers support and individual personal and professional development based around each senior leader's own situation and needs.

You'll also use our virtual learning environment, NOW, which is a flexible web-based system that gives you 24-hour access to module learning materials and reading lists. It allows you to discuss work with tutors and submit coursework electronically from anywhere in the world.

The course also includes workshops to develop professional, strategic and transferable skills.

The EMBA Top Up also includes a series of workshops to develop professional, strategic and transferable skills.

How will I be assessed?

For both the Senior Leader Apprenticeship and EMBA Top Up, there are no examinations, you will be assessed through a range of assignments, applied projects and presentations.

It is the application of the knowledge you have acquired during the course that will enable you to think strategically and bring about change within your organisation.

End Point Assessment

The End Point Assessment consists of two distinct assessment methods:

Presentation with questioning

Apprentices will present their strategic business proposal and be asked a series of questions to clarify and assess the depth and breadth of their understanding.

Professional discussion

Based on review of a portfolio, the Professional Discussion takes place between the apprentice and their independent assessor. The independent assessor must prepare areas for discussion following the review of the apprentice’s portfolio and based on the range of knowledge skills and behaviours that the programme is required to deliver.

Academic Mentors

Every postgraduate student will be allocated an Academic Mentor at the beginning of the academic year and you will meet with them regularly throughout the year. Academic Mentors help you make the most of your time at NTU. They will support you in developing and enhancing the qualities and transferable skills necessary for your studies, career progression, professional and personal development.

Staff Profiles

Julie Rosborough - Deputy Head of Department (Postgraduate)

Nottingham Business School

Julie currently is the MBA Portfolio Lead and is responsible for the design, recruitment, delivery and external client and alumni engagement of the Executive MBA and Full Time MBA courses. Prior this role Julie lead the MSc…

Matt Dunn - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Matt is a Senior Lecturer in Management and a Course Leader on the Senior Leadership Apprenticeship and Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA).

Simon Taylor - Senior Lecturer

Nottingham Business School

Simon is a Senior Lecturer in Nottingham Business School, and is the Course Leader for the Executive MBA and the Level 7 Senior Leader Apprenticeship qualification.

Careers and employability

Who is the SLA aimed at?

  • High-performing managers with broad-level aspirations
  • Healthcare and public sector managers working in complex political and government organisations
  • Entrepreneurs who want to understand the ways to grow a business
  • Successful leaders who need formal and qualifications to underpin their vast experience

Since the introduction of the EPA, Nottingham Business School have 100% success rate.

Campus and facilities

We are continually investing in our facilities, and transforming our learning and teaching environment to create an inspiring and innovative atmosphere.

Postgraduate Centre

The School is based in the impressive new Postgraduate Centre which facilitates on-campus teaching for Nottingham Business School’s postgraduate and executive education courses on NTU's City Campus.

Dryden Centre

Benefit from the newly built NTU Dryden Enterprise Centre that provides dedicated support for entrepreneurs, start-ups, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Fantastic facilities

  • You can take advantage of the Link Lounge, a space dedicated to Business School students, located on floor zero of the Newton building.
  • Explore your career prospects with the help of the University's Employability Team.
  • You will benefit from spacious teaching rooms and lecture theatres.
  • We provide students with a variety of social spaces.
  • Your studies will benefit from the £13 million Boots Library.
  • You can take advantage of our 24-hour IT facilities.
  • Our Student Services Centre will also be on-hand should you need support.

The location of the City site also means that you have easy access to:

  • sports facilities
  • shops
  • student accommodation
  • music venues
  • cafés.

Entry requirements

UK students

In order to be eligible to undertake an Apprenticeship, you must ensure the following are in place prior to the start date of the course:

  • You are a UK resident or have the right to work in the UK.
  • Have a job or a job offer from an employer who will support you to complete your apprenticeship.
  • Will spend at least 50% of your working week in England over the duration of the apprenticeship.  This also applies to remote and hybrid workers

Make sure to read the course-specific entry requirements in the additional requirements section below.

International students

In order to be eligible to undertake an Apprenticeship, you must ensure you can fulfil the following prior to the start date of the course:

  • You have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands for at least the previous 3-year period on the first day of your apprenticeship.
  • Your ordinary residence in the UK and Islands has not during any part of that period been wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.
  • You have permission granted by the UK government to live in the UK and such permission is not for education purposes only.
  • You must be able to complete the apprenticeship in the time you have available (e.g. your Visa must last for the duration of the apprenticeship as well as your contract of employment).

Make sure to read the course-specific entry requirements in the additional requirements section below.

Policies

We strive to make our admissions procedures as fair and clear as possible. To find out more about how we make offers, visit our admissions policies page.

Fees and funding

UK students

- see the fees for this course, as well as information about funding and support.

To undertake an apprenticeship, you must be employed. Your employer will pay your tuition fees.

If you or your employer have any questions regarding the fees and funding available for this apprenticeship, please see our Apprenticeships pages, email our Apprenticeships team, or call  +44 (0)115 848 2589.

Scholarships

You might be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies. We award scholarships to students who can demonstrate excellent achievement, passion and dedication to their studies.

Alumni discount

We’re happy to offer a 20% alumni discount to most current NTU students and recent NTU alumni. This discount is currently available for those starting an eligible postgraduate taught, postgraduate research or professional course.

Postgraduate loans

There is a government postgraduate loan scheme for Masters degrees. The loan contributes towards costs of study, and students can put it towards tuition fees, maintenance costs or other costs at their discretion. Find out more about postgraduate loans.

International students

- see the fees for this course, as well as payment advice and scholarships.

To undertake an apprenticeship you must be employed. Your employer will pay your tuition fees.

We will review your identity documents / immigration status to verify your residency eligibility in line with the apprenticeship funding rules, at the application stage.

If you or your employer have any questions regarding the fees and funding available for this apprenticeship, please see our apprenticeships FAQs, contact our Apprenticeships team at apprenticeships@ntu.ac.uk, or call +44 (0)115 848 2589.

Additional costs

Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are just a few additional things you may need to budget for:

Textbooks and library books

Most modules will recommend one or more core textbooks, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential textbooks, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) - meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.

Printing and photocopying costs

The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the printing and photocopying information on the Library website.

Study tours and field trips for SLA/EMBA

Your fee will include:

  • A short study tour as part of the Global Consultancy Experience module. This will likely be European based and will encompass a range of activities including consultancy project with a local organisation. All accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis only, travel to the country and some social activities are included in your course fee. You will be required to purchase additional meals during the week and travel within the destination city for example visits to client offices within the destination city.
  • Travel to any company visits which are a mandatory part of the course.
  • Some social activities. Please note a small charge may be made to guarantee places at these activities.

Fees and funding advice

For more advice and guidance, you can email our Student Money Team or phone us on +44 (0)115 848 2494.

Cost of living information and support

Managing your money can help you make the most of life at NTU. Here's how we can support you, and now you can make your funding go further.

How to apply

Ready to join us? Apply through our NTU Applicant Portal.

Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.