Serving?
You've done the hard part. We make higher education easy.
We deliver affordable higher education suited to those serving. Not the other way around.
Gain a fast-tracked and affordable MBA
Over 52% of veterans in work reported they had taken a job at a lower skill or experience level because their military skills were not recognised.
The program helps to deliver a fast-tracked MBA through our choice of level 7 courses before doing the MBA Top-Up at universities across the UK.
By choosing our course in either CMI Level 7 in Entrepreneurial Practice or CMI Level 7 Strategic Management & Leadership Practice, this completes the prerequisite for other universities to complete a short MBA Top-up.
Here's how it works...
Start Your Level 7 Qualification
Choose your route: Entrepreneurial Practice or Strategic Management & Leadership Practice.
Enrol online, meet your tutor, and begin your flexible, guided study journey that can be completed in as little as 5 months.
Step 02
Complete Your Level 7 Qualification
Work through structured modules and assignments at your own pace (no deadlines).
You’ll get 1-1 tutor support until you pass, free resubmissions and we’ll even give you a handbook for each module so you can do it completely offline.
Most learners finish in around 5 months (you have up to 4 years if needed).
Step 03
Progress to Your MBA Top-Up
Once you finish your Level 7, we’ll recommend UK universities offering the MBA Top-Up pathway.
In most cases, it’s just a final dissertation or project, which means you can earn your MBA in under 12 months, turning your practical work into a full Master’s degree.
Our Courses
The CMI accredited Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership is a postgraduate-level qualification designed for serving or Veterans who want to turn their military experience into a recognised credential with the opportunity to go onto complete an MBA Top-Up
You’ll learn to apply a variety with the aim always to level up your military or prepare you for management and leadership positions on the outside.
Units
- Strategic Leadership
- Developing Organisational Strategy
- Leading Strategic Change
- Finance for Strategic Leaders
- Strategic Risk Management
- Entrepreneurial Practice
- Strategic Management Project
What you’ll do
Develop and evidence the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to drive strategy at senior level—turning plans into KPIs, budgets, risk controls, and change roadmaps—assessed by assignments/portfolio with CMI Pass/Refer grading.
Who’s it for?
Serving, service leavers and Veterans who want a credible, time-efficient route to an MBA, without pausing their career.
Length
It depends on you. We work with you to complete your course in 5 months, or you can take your time and extend it to 4 years. We’ll let you set the goal and work with you on that.
Progression
As Level 7 qualifications, they provide recognised Master’s-level evidence to go on to do the MBA Top-up at varies universities across the UK.
Entry Requirements
No formal qualifications required. We assess your professional experience and motivation at the application.
What we’re trying to get you
An accredible, affordable, friction-light route to an MBA, backed by a Level 7 qualification and a portfolio you can use with employers, investors, and admissions. It’s a straight path from where you serve today to where you want to lead tomorrow.
What is a Level 7 Extended Diploma?
A Level 7 Extended Diploma is a postgraduate qualification that sits at the same academic level as a Master’s degree.
Once you complete it, you can go straight into an MBA Top-Up (usually just one final project or dissertation) to earn a full MBA in less than a year.
In simple terms: The Level 7 gives you the knowledge and credits of a master’s, and the MBA Top-Up finishes it.
The CMI Level 7 Extended Diploma in Entrepreneurial Practice is a postgraduate-level qualification designed for leaders ready to launch, grow, or manage a business venture.
You’ll learn how to develop business models, assess market opportunities, manage innovation, and build sustainable enterprises, using the same strategic thinking you’ve mastered in service.
Focused on the principles and contexts of entrepreneurship and the behaviours of entrepreneurial leadership. It’s a single unit, Entrepreneurial Practice.
What you’ll do
Critically appraise different forms of entrepreneurship, evaluate barriers in varied contexts, and design evidence-based approaches to create/scale opportunities—culminating in a concise, board-ready presentation and portfolio (assessment is centre-set; CMI grades Pass/Refer).
Who’s it for?
Serving, service leavers and Veterans who want a credible, time-efficient route to an MBA, without pausing their career.
Length
It depends on you. We work with you to complete your course in 5 months, or you can take your time and extend it to 4 years. We’ll let you set the goal and work with you on that.
Progression
Recognised at Level 7 and aligned to CMI Professional Standards; can evidence Master’s-level learning toward MBA Top-Up applications (universities set their own entry criteria).
Entry Requirements
No formal qualifications required. We assess your professional experience and motivation at the application.
What we’re trying to get you
An accredible, affordable, friction-light route to an MBA, backed by a Level 7 qualification and a portfolio you can use with employers, investors, and admissions. It’s a straight path from where you serve today to where you want to lead tomorrow.
What is a Level 7 Extended Diploma?
A Level 7 Extended Diploma is a postgraduate qualification that sits at the same academic level as a Master’s degree.
Once you complete it, you can go straight into an MBA Top-Up (usually just one final project or dissertation) to earn a full MBA in less than a year.
In simple terms: The Level 7 gives you the knowledge and credits of a master’s, and the MBA Top-Up finishes it.
Completing one of our CMI Level 7 qualifications unlocks direct access to a wide range of MBA Top-Up programmes across the UK. After finishing either Entrepreneurial Practice or Strategic Management & Leadership Practice, you’ll hold the recognised presentation prerequisite that many universities require for MBA Top-Up entry.
We’ll personally recommend the universities that best match your career goals, study style, and budget—from flexible online MBAs to hybrid and campus-based options across the UK.
Most MBA Top-Ups focus purely on a final dissertation or strategic project, meaning your existing Level 7 work forms the foundation of your degree. With focused guidance and clear structure, you can typically complete the full MBA Top-Up in under 12 months.
What this means for you:
A fast, affordable route to a Master of Business Administration
Full guidance and university recommendations after your Level 7
Recognition of your prior learning and portfolio
Flexibility to study online or on-campus anywhere in the UK
5 Months
We work with you to get your Pre-MBA course done in under 5 months.
Meaning you can complete your top-up programme and gain the qualification within 6-12 months in several universities across the UK.
Free
Get free resubmissions. (although we work to make sure you don’t)
There are no fees for pausing or completing later
There are no fees to extending our deadline
0
You don’t need an undergraduates degree or academic qualifications to start. (we’ll save you 3 years of that).
You’ve served. Thank you.
How we can help
- Tutored until pass - Get personal tutor support that continues until you successfully pass — no limits, no pressure.
- Affordable - Earn your accredited qualification for just £1500 — quality education without the heavy price tag.
- Completely online - Study 100% online from anywhere in the world, on your schedule, at your own pace.
- Handbook Provided - We give you a handbook for each module which includes all the material you need to complete it.
- Free resubmission - If you don’t pass the first time, simply resubmit — free of charge, with feedback to guide you.
- Guidance and support for your MBA top-up - Receive full guidance on how to progress to an MBA top-up once you complete your diploma.
- No mandatory lessons - No fixed classes — learn independently with structured resources and on-demand tutor help.
- Offline capable - Access downloadable study materials that work even without an internet connection.
- 0 qualifications needed - Start right away — no previous qualifications required, just motivation and commitment.
- Complete within 5 months - Fast-track your qualification — most learners finish within just five months.
- 2-year deadline - Enjoy up to 2 years to complete your studies — total flexibility around your lifestyle.
- Free Turnstile account and AI - Get free access to your digital Turnstile study hub.
- Built for military personnel - Get accredited qualifications without wasting time
Register your interest and get priority
Get priority on course availability by registering our limited waiting list.
Fill in the quick form below, and we’ll email you for exclusive priority on course positions when intake opens!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is everything online?
Yes. You can study from anywhere in the world, even while serving.
All materials are downloadable, so you can work offline when needed and submit your assignments later.
How hard is it to pass?
It’s challenging but achievable.
You can’t “fail” a module because your tutor works with you until your assignment meets the required standard.
Learning should build confidence, not fear of failure.
What if I don't have internet for an extended period of time?
All resources needed to complete the course are given to you. So there’s no need to look elsewhere! If you know in advance, we can send you all the module material in advance.
Just get internet when you want to submit your material!
What Qualification will i get?
CMI – Charted Management Institute. Internationally recognised and well respected.
What happens if I’m deployed or too busy to study for a while?
No problem. You can pause your learning anytime and pick it back up later.
We understand military life — deployments, postings, and training cycles happen.
Your tutor will be flexible around your schedule.
I haven't done any academic education before. Will I be okay?
We will support you and give you the resources you need all the way.
We want to make it challenging but achievable. So that’s what we do.
Where can I find out more?
Email us at OpenGateStudies@Opengate.ac.uk
Who are these courses for?
They’re built specifically for UK Armed Forces personnel.
For Serving, leavers or Veterans who want to upskill or prepare for civilian careers.