CIPD Level 7Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management

To study this CIPD Advanced Level 7 course, you should generally have at least one of the following:

• Considerable experience working in an HR role 
• Senior managerial experience that involved a broad range of HR elements
• An HR degree

If English is your second language, we recommend that you have achieved one of the following, or an equivalent:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall score with a minimum of 6.0 in each category
• TOEFL: 90 overall score with a minimum of 19 in each category
• Cambridge: Grade C or above

However, this isn't mandatory, and we're happy to review your case on an individual basis.

Your CIPD Level 7 Advanced course and assignments are fully online.

You'll study eight modules, made up of seven core modules and your choice of one elective module.

Core modules

• Resourcing and Talent Management to Sustain Success
• Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment 
• People Management and Development Strategies for Performance 
• Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen 
• Business Research in People Practice 
• Strategic Reward Management 
• Strategic Employment Relations 

Elective modules (choose one) 

• Advanced Employment Law in Practice 
• Learning and Development Practice 
• Managing People in an International Context
• Well-being at Work
• Technology-Enhanced Learning 
• Advanced Diversity and Inclusion 
• Organisational Design and Development

For full details of what you’ll learn on each module, download our CIPD Advanced Diploma course guide.

You’ll complete written assignments for each module that you study, letting you demonstrate the new knowledge you’ve gained and the skills you’ve mastered.

You’ll submit your assignments online, and they’ll be marked by our assessors and moderated by CIPD.

Once you've passed all your assignments, you'll be awarded your new CIPD qualification!

Please keep in mind that Assessment Briefs will be updated each year as part of the CIPD’s Assessment Change Cycle. 

Yes! We’ve been a CIPD-awarded centre for 30 years, and pioneers in flexible professional learning for 130 years. We have students in more than 100 countries.

We’re the UK's most trusted online CIPD centre, rated Excellent from more than 8,000 independent student reviews.

And our CIPD pass rate is 99% from thousands of students each year.†

There are three CIPD Human Resources qualifications to choose from.

The CIPD Foundation Certificate in People Practice is designed for those with no or minimal HR experience. It’s perfect if you’re looking for your first HR role.

The CIPD Associate Diploma in People Management is designed for those with some HR experience who are looking for a mid-level HR role. It’s also suitable if you have some experience of HR duties in a non-HR role (for example, as a manager), or if you're new to HR but have a degree and want to begin your studies at a higher level.

The CIPD Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management is designed for those with considerable HR experience or an HR degree who are ready to take on postgraduate-level study. It’ll prepare you for strategic senior HR roles and allow you to apply for CIPD Chartered Membership once you have the necessary professional experience.

If you’d like to specialise in L&D, you could also study one of our CIPD Learning & Development courses.

We know everyone’s situation is different, so before you enrol, our CIPD Course Advisors will talk through your experience, education and ambitions to make sure you’re choosing the perfect course for you.

The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management is one of the highest-level HR qualifications that you'll be able to study with the CIPD. It's widely-renowned by employers and commands a great deal of respect in the industry. It's equivalent to a post-graduate degree in difficulty. 

You'll usually need one of the following to be eligible to study the qualification:

• Considerable experience working in an HR role
• Senior managerial experience that involved a broad range of HR elements
• An HR degree or relevant qualification - like the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management.

As well as having one of the above to be able to study the Level 7, you'll need to be able to demonstrate that you can speak and write in English to a high level. 

If English is your second language, we recommend that you have an IELTS 6.0/TOEFL 79/Cambridge Grade C or equivalent. We're happy to review your case on an individual basis if you're unsure though. 

If you're unsure about whether or not you're eligible to study the course, just contact one of our friendly course advisors who will be able to talk through whether your skills, experience and qualifications meet those required for study on this course. 

Right away! When you enrol, you’ll be able to log in to your course and get started within an hour.

There are no set start dates or schedules – everything is shaped around you.

Typically, a CIPD Level 7 qualification will take you around 18 to 24 months to complete, based on a typical study schedule of a few hours a week. There is nothing stopping you from completing the course in less time: the influencing factor is how much time you can dedicate to studying in a week. 

Balancing a full-time job, a family/a social life and study can be a challenge - especially with an advanced qualification like the Level 7, so the exact time it takes you to complete your Level 7 qualification will depend on how much commitment you're willing to put in to your study. If you have more free time available that you put towards learning, you can probably complete the qualification faster. 

Thanks to the fact that the qualification is delivered entirely online, you'll be able to access course content and study whenever you want: all you need to do is log on. 

If you’re not ready to commit to the full qualification and would like to focus on only the essential modules of this course, you could study our CIPD Level 7 Core programme.

It covers 4 modules:

• Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment
• People Management and Development Strategies for Performance
• Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen
• Business Research in People Practice

The programme has an average completion time of 9 months and a support period of 12 months. It costs £3,449 which can be paid in interest-free monthly instalments.

Bear in mind that the Core programme won’t give you a CIPD qualification, just the essential skills you need for senior HR roles.

If you complete the programme and then decide you’d like to move onto the full CIPD Level 7 Diploma, you won’t need to take the whole course again – you can simply complete the extra 4 modules and you’ll be CIPD qualified!

For more information on our CIPD Core programmes, get in touch with our course advisors by webchat, email or phone.

The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management is the most senior qualification that you'll be able to study with CIPD. Equivalent in difficulty to post-graduate study, it's ideal if you're at an advanced stage in your career and you're looking to progress to a senior position that involves strategic awareness, exceptional expertise and a high level of HR experience and people management skills. It will enable you to take your career to the most developed levels, letting you apply for most senior HR and people management roles. 

The CIPD Level 7 is a professional qualification that's based on the CIPD Profession Map, which sets the international benchmark for the people profession and provides a strong base on which to give those working in people management the confidence and capabilities to guide their decision-making, actions and behaviours.

Once you've completed this course, and gained the relevant work experience, you'll be able to apply for revered 'Chartered' status: a prestigious industry accolade that's widely respected by employers and other professionals working in the people management field. 

Ultimately, the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management is a qualification that represents the professional culmination of your HR learning journey: and of your progression to senior management-equivalent roles. 

As the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management is equivalent to post-graduate study, it's the most challenging HR qualification that we offer. But it is also potentially one of the most fulfilling. 

Aimed at experienced HR professionals who have several years of experience and detailed professional knowledge, the qualification is designed to improve your strategic awareness, insight and planning. These are essential traits for leadership and senior management positions in the field. By studying the CIPD Level 7, you'll be refining and honing your skillset so that you can successfully gain roles at the very highest levels of the profession.

It also differs in the fact that, once you've successfully completed it and gained the relevant work experience requirements, you'll be able to apply for Chartered status too.

In the CIPD Level 7, you'll study four core modules, three specialist modules and choose one elective module to study, based on your professional interests. 

Core modules

• Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment 
• People Management and Development Strategies for Performance 
• Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen
• Business Research in People Practice 

Specialist modules

• Resourcing and Talent Management to Sustain Success
• Strategic Reward Management 
• Strategic Employment Relations 

Elective modules (choose one)

• Advanced Employment Law in Practice 
• Learning and Development Practice 
• Managing People in an International Context
• Advanced Diversity and Inclusion
• Wellbeing at Work
• Technology-Enhanced Learning 
• Organisational Design and Development

Here's what you can expect to cover in the core modules:

In Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment, you'll explore the interaction between the commercial business environment and potential future developments in the world of work, employment and the management of people. You'll examine the range of people management practices that are growing in influence and importance, including those relating to ethics and sustainability, employee well-being, equality, diversity and inclusion.

In People Management and Development Strategies for Performance, you'll examine how evidence-based, outcomes-driven and principles-led practice supports the core purpose of HR and people management. Over the module, you'll explore how HR professionals create value and deliver outcomes for organisations and employees, and how contributing to the achievement of business objectives improves performance and enhances the employee experience.

In Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen, you'll explore how ethical and effective behaviours can be used to champion better work and develop business acumen, as well as the crucial theories that underpin inclusiveness and influencing others through fair behaviours. This module will help you to develop your perception, critical thinking, communication and teamwork and will enhance your understanding of how actions and inclusive behaviour impact on ethics and the organisation.

In Business Research in People Practice, you'll explore how to take a systematic approach to define, design and undertake a business research project in people management. Over the course of the module, you'll develop your ability to produce an integrated report based on evidence and to include own recommendations and critical reflection.

In Resourcing and Talent Management to Sustain Success, you'll examine the day-to-day practicalities and the long-term strategic issues associated with resourcing organisations. You'll look at how to ethically and fairly, maximise the performance of staff and the organisation. 

In Strategic Reward Management, you'll look at the role of strategic rewards in attracting, motivating and retaining people at work and in achieving organisational goals. This module will provide you with the skills to design, introduce, manage and evaluate effective and fair reward strategies along with the knowledge of how these policies and practices link and impact other people management and human resources practices.

In Strategic Employment Relations, you'll develop your strategic knowledge of UK employment law and how this impacts both employers and employees. You'll cover relevant employment legislation in detail so that you can support employees and employers to abide by the law. 

As an ICS Learn CIPD student, you'll always have a real person on hand to help you when you need it. From the moment you enrol, you'll have access to:

• Unlimited support from your CIPD tutor – get in touch online or join a Q&A session
• Live online CIPD classrooms so you can learn and ask questions in real time
• CIPD classroom recordings so you can watch and rewatch them at a time that suits you
• CIPD student forums to network and share advice with other HR professionals
• Our friendly Student Services team to help you with non-academic questions
• Our all-in-one online learning platform, the Student Community, filled with interactive course materials designed by CIPD experts

You'll also have unlimited lifetime access to our Career Hub, giving you thousands of resources to help you impress employers, master critical business skills, and build your dream career. It includes:

• A CV and cover letter builder
• An interview simulator
• An elevator pitch builder
• Career and work psychology assessments
• In-depth industry and employer profiles
• 350+ employer films with practical advice from hiring managers
• 1000+ short courses, articles and videos on key career skills like negotiating a raise and leading a team

You can take a sneak peek at the Career Hub by signing up for free here.

We offer the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management entirely online and through distance learning, which means that you can complete the qualification in your own time, from wherever you want. Unlike traditional study, where you attend a physical classroom, online study like this lets you work at your own pace and set your own schedule. This type of learning is well-suited to busy professionals who want to gain a qualification whilst working full-time. All you need to study your Level 7 course is a stable internet connection and a device that you can access the digital course content on, like a laptop, smartphone or tablet. 

One of the advantages of online, distance learning is that you decide how quickly or slowly you want to learn based on how you choose to work through the content on the course. Ideally, we recommend that the best way to complete the Level 7 Diploma is to devote a few dedicated hours of study each week to learning. Being able to choose your own study schedule means that you're able to fit your course around your existing work and social commitments, giving you the best chance of success when it comes to completing the course. 

If you’re funding the course yourself, our flexible 0% payment plans allow you to spread the cost with interest-free* monthly instalments. 

Plus, with our price match guarantee, we’ll match any provider’s price for a like-for-like CIPD course, so you’ll always get the best deal with us.

If your employer is funding all or part of your course, we can invoice them directly for your course fees – just let your course advisor know and we’ll arrange everything.

We also accept funding through ELCAS for this course. If you’re an Armed Forces member looking to use the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme, speak to our course advisors for more details.

Yes, you must be a CIPD member for the duration of your studies. We can’t submit your assignments for moderation, give you assessment grades, or award your qualification unless you’re an active CIPD member, so you must register before submitting your first assignment.

We’ll give you full details of how to join as a Student Member after you enrol. You’ll pay an annual Student Membership fee – our CIPD Advisors can give you the most up-to-date costs.

When you complete your CIPD Level 7 course, you’ll be eligible to apply to become a Chartered Member of the most prestigious HR and L&D organisation in the world, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

You’ll join a community of 160,000 ambitious, forward-thinking professionals across 120 countries, and have exclusive access to insights, advice and guidance from prominent HR and L&D experts.

On top of offering you the professional credibility you need, CIPD membership has the potential to increase your earning potential even further than your CIPD qualification alone; up to £4,400** as an Associate Member or up to a whopping £17,200** as a prestigious Chartered Member in mid to senior-level HR roles! 

If you’re interested in becoming a CIPD member, take a look at the new CIPD membership levels and how they’re aligned with CIPD’s Profession Map.

Get in touch with our CIPD Advisors on 0333 331 4611.

They’ll talk through your experience, education and ambitions to make sure you’re choosing the right course, then get you enrolled with an interest-free* payment plan. You can also verify that your course is budget-friendly when you use our handy affordability calculator. 

If you have any disabilities which you think might affect your studies or assessments, please tell your Course Advisor before you enrol so we can advise you on whether reasonable adjustments can be made to accommodate your needs.