Qualifications & people skills
CIPD Advanced Diplomas
CIPD Level 7 Courses in the UK
Develop your strategic HR or L&D expertise with a CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma. Compare two specialist pathways and explore live online study with Bradfield for experienced UK professionals.
Advanced DiplomasStrategic HR or strategic L&D
Live online learningScheduled classes and independent study
Experienced professionalsPrepare for strategic contribution
UK learner guidanceDiscuss fees, dates and eligibility
Choose your qualification
Two pathways. One strategic ambition.
Choose the CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma that matches your professional responsibilities and the impact you want to make.
HR pathway
Advanced Diploma in Strategic People Management
For experienced HR professionals developing the knowledge to shape people strategy and influence organisational decisions.
- Strategic employment relations
- Resourcing and talent management
- Strategic reward management
L&D pathway
Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning and Development
For experienced L&D professionals developing the specialist knowledge to strengthen organisational capability and lead change.
- Organisational design and development
- Leadership and management development
- Designing learning to improve performance
UK fees and upcoming dates
Make your next step an informed one.
Request Bradfield’s current GBP quotation and available start dates for your chosen pathway. Our team can help you compare the investment, timetable and support before you enrol.
- Total tuition fee and VAT treatment
- Instalment options and total amount payable
- CIPD membership and any additional assessment charges
- Class days and UK times, accounting for GMT/BST
- Teaching period, assessment deadlines and support window
- Qualification
- CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma
- Pathways
- Strategic People Management / Strategic L&D
- Delivery
- Live online with independent study
- Structure
- Four core, three specialist and one optional unit
- Typical qualification duration
- CIPD guidance: 16–24 months; confirm Bradfield’s cohort schedule
- Membership outcome
- Associate Membership; separate Chartered upgrade route
- Fees and start dates
- Request a current UK quotation and timetable
Entry requirements and suitability
Bring your experience. Develop your strategic perspective.
Level 7 is aimed at experienced HR and L&D professionals who want to work more strategically. Your responsibilities and readiness for advanced study matter more than your job title alone.
Check your eligibility
Discuss your workplace experience, previous qualifications and career goals with Bradfield before applying.
- Relevant professional experience for workplace analysis
- Readiness for critical reading, research and academic writing
- Appropriate English-language proficiency
- Time for scheduled classes and independent study
Do not assume that a degree or Level 5 is automatically required—or that entry is guaranteed without them. Ask our team to confirm the current admissions criteria for your background.
Duration, workload and assessment
Structured study. Sustained commitment.
Live online learning can fit around work, but Level 7 requires regular time for reading, research and written assignments.
01 / TIMETABLE
Plan the whole journey
CIPD gives a typical qualification duration of 16–24 months. Ask Bradfield for the selected cohort’s teaching dates, assessment deadlines and maximum completion period; these are not necessarily the same.
02 / ASSESSMENT
Apply evidence to practice
Assignments develop your ability to evaluate evidence and make reasoned recommendations. The core curriculum includes business research in people practice. Allow additional study time around submission deadlines.
03 / SUPPORT
Know what is included
Confirm tutor contact, feedback, recording access, research guidance and resubmission arrangements. Ask for a realistic weekly study plan based on your pathway and timetable.
Explore the CIPD’s Advanced Diploma guidance and confirm your individual study schedule with Bradfield.
What you will study
Shared foundations. Specialist depth.
Both Advanced Diplomas combine four core units, three pathway units and one optional unit. Your chosen pathway determines the specialist focus.
CORE / CONTEXT
Work and organisational performance
Explore changing working lives and people management and development strategies for performance.
CORE / PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Effectiveness, ethics and research
Develop personal effectiveness, ethics and business acumen, alongside business research in people practice.
HR SPECIALISM
Strategic People Management
Build specialist knowledge in employment relations, resourcing and talent management, and strategic reward.
L&D SPECIALISM
Strategic Learning and Development
Study organisational design and development, leadership and management development, and learning design for performance.
These are topic summaries. Visit the pathway pages for full unit information and ask Bradfield which optional unit is offered for your cohort.
Qualification and career progression
Advance your knowledge. Understand your next steps.
Develop the ability to assess complex people challenges, influence stakeholders and contribute to strategy. Career outcomes depend on your experience, performance and opportunities.
A master’s-level qualification
The Advanced Diploma is RQF Level 7 in England and Northern Ireland and CQFW Level 7 in Wales. It is at master’s level, but is not itself a complete master’s degree. Any university top-up route has its own admission and credit requirements.
Associate Membership on completion
Successful completion leads to Associate Membership of the CIPD (Assoc CIPD). Confirm membership arrangements and fees before enrolling.
A separate route to Chartered status
With relevant professional experience, Advanced Diploma holders may apply to upgrade to Chartered Member or Chartered Fellow. Chartered status is not awarded automatically by completing the course.
Why Bradfield?
Established experience. Professional focus.
Bradfield has delivered CIPD programmes since 1992. Speak to a team experienced in supporting learners from foundation to advanced study.
01 / EXPERIENCE
Specialist people-development learning
Build on Bradfield’s established experience in HR and L&D education. Explore our trainer profiles and ask who will teach your chosen programme.
02 / FLEXIBILITY
Learn alongside your career
Live online sessions remove the commute to class. Combine scheduled teaching with independent study and practical workplace reflection.
03 / GUIDANCE
Choose with confidence
Discuss pathway suitability, UK study schedules, fees and support before making your commitment.
Employer sponsorship
Connect professional learning with business needs.
If your organisation is funding your qualification, request a course quotation and programme information to support the approval process.
01 / ALIGNMENT
Agree the learning goals
Connect your pathway with organisational priorities and the responsibilities you want to develop.
02 / PLANNING
Plan time and funding
Agree study time, assessment commitments and any employer funding conditions before enrolling.
03 / ENQUIRY
Request employer information
Ask Bradfield about invoicing and options for sponsoring one or more learners.
Frequently asked questions
Plan your Level 7 journey with clarity.
Can I study CIPD Level 7 without Level 5?
Level 5 should not be assumed to be a universal prerequisite. Bradfield can review your professional experience, prior learning and readiness for advanced study. Confirm eligibility before enrolling.
Do I need a degree?
Ask Bradfield to assess your individual background. Relevant experience and the ability to undertake research, critical analysis and academic writing are important; admissions criteria should be confirmed with the team.
How much does CIPD Level 7 cost in the UK?
Request a current GBP quotation for your pathway. Confirm tuition, VAT treatment, payment-plan terms, CIPD membership and any additional charges so you can compare the full cost.
How long does Bradfield’s programme take?
Ask for the current cohort timetable, teaching period and assessment completion window. CIPD gives a typical Advanced Diploma duration of 16–24 months, but the provider’s schedule and your assessment progress determine your individual journey.
How many hours should I study each week?
Plan for classes, reading, research and written assignments. Your weekly commitment depends on the study schedule and assessment stage. Request a realistic workload plan before enrolling rather than treating online learning as a light commitment.
Can I study alongside full-time work?
Live online delivery can support study alongside employment. You still need to attend scheduled sessions and protect time for independent work. Confirm class times in UK local time, including GMT/BST arrangements, before joining.
Is CIPD Level 7 a master’s degree?
No. It is an Advanced Diploma at master’s level, not a complete master’s degree. A university may offer a further-study route, but entry and credit recognition depend on that university’s current requirements.
Does completing Level 7 make me a Chartered CIPD member?
No. Completion leads to Associate Membership. Eligible professionals may separately apply for a Chartered membership upgrade, subject to CIPD’s experience requirements and assessment.
Which pathway should I choose?
Choose Strategic People Management for an HR focus on employment relations, talent and reward. Choose Strategic Learning and Development for a focus on organisational capability, leadership development and learning design.
Can my employer fund the course?
Yes, employer sponsorship can be discussed with Bradfield. Request a quotation and invoicing information, and agree funding approval and study-time arrangements with your employer before enrolling.
When is the next UK cohort?
Contact Bradfield for the latest available start dates and UK class timetable. Confirm the pathway, session frequency, attendance requirements and recording access for that specific cohort.
Course enquiry
Speak to Bradfield.
Ready to take the next step? Complete the enquiry form and our team will help you choose the right CIPD Level 7 pathway for your UK career goals.
- Compare Strategic People Management and Strategic L&D
- Explore current fees and payment options
- Check upcoming start dates and tutor support
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