Regulated Qualifications UK

[bjcheung77]

Here are some regulated qualifications in the UK that I am researching...
ofqual register: https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/
CMI, OTHM has a searchable database of approved centres
ATHE, Qualifi doesn't but show you Progression Routes

Level 8 Strategic Management & Leadership, I'm researching if these can top up into a DBA/DProf or PhD by Research
CMI: https://www.managers.org.uk/education-an...eadership/
Qualifi: https://qualifi.net/qualifi-level-8-dipl...eadership/
OTHM: https://www.othm.org.uk/othm-level-8-dip...ctice.html

Inexpensive Level 7 Diploma Top Up options for various Masters such as Strategic Management & Leadership
OTHM Qualifications List: https://www.othm.org.uk/qualification.ht...programmes
London Graduate School (Masters Top-Up): https://lgsglobal.uk/index.html
University of Chichester & LGS Masters: https://lgsglobal.uk/masters.html

These offerings peak my interests - Level 7 Computing Technologies | Data Science
ATHE Level 7 Diploma in Information Security and Assurance
ATHE: https://www.athe.co.uk/qualifications/co...-computing
ATHE Progression Routes: https://www.athe.co.uk/progression-routes/

If you're interested in universities that have Top Up's, you can review the Progressions list
Qualifi Qualifications: https://qualifi.net/qualifications/
Qualifi Progression: https://qualifi.net/university-progression/
Qualifi: https://qualifi.net/qualifi-level-7-dipl...a-science/

I really like CMI as some UK Universities have partnered with them to offer Management qualifications.
I will be updating this list as there are a few other providers such as ABE/LRN that I am interested in.
Some don't have a database or progressions list, so it's somewhat complex in finding the "real" deal.
Skip unregistered qualifications that aren't approved, these won't show up in ofqual register.

[asianphd]

This may be a good deal:

Postgraduate Diploma in Data Science
Level 7 Diploma in Data Science
1600 GBP
https://www.libt.co.uk/programmes/data-s...ta-science
Edit: The program seems not available. They are put just for appearance only.

Another website offers Level 7 for 3100 GBP.
https://www.reed.co.uk/courses/data-scie...l-7/316287

Qualifi Level 7 Diploma in Data Science contains 120 credits.
UoL MSc Data Science requires 180 credits. It means you need an additional at least 60 credits (depends on how much they approve the credits).
Application fee 101 GBP.
120 credits/15*58 GBP (RPL cost): 464 GBP
60 credits: 2730 GBP (Band A country), or 4200 GBP (Band B country).
Total cost 3295 GBP (Band A), or 4765 GBP (Band B).
https://london.ac.uk/courses/data-scienc...ions-12420

Assuming the Level 7 Diploma is 1600 GBP, it means your total cost would be 4895 GBP (Band A), or 6365 GBP (Band B).
It assumes UoL accepts all the 120 credits.

USA is Band B country.

[OtterDen]

Here are some regulated qualifications in the UK that I am researching...
ofqual register: https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/
CMI, OTHM has a searchable database of approved centres
ATHE, Qualifi doesn't but show you Progression Routes

Inexpensive Level 7 Diploma Top Up options for various Masters such as Strategic Management & Leadership
OTHM Qualifications List: https://www.othm.org.uk/qualification.ht...programmes
London Graduate School (Masters Top-Up): https://lgsglobal.uk/index.html
University of Chichester & LGS Masters: https://lgsglobal.uk/masters.html

I have used Qualifi before to get a Level 5 Diploma and then top up a the final year of a four year program in University of Derby. It is quite a good deal. Not only did I save some bucks, I saved a lot of time. 

I am considering an MBA now as I am going to graduate from Derby. I would try the Level 7 Diploma Top Up to master track, which should save me a lot of money. Typical MBA in UK university is about 13000 pounds ($16000 USD).

When I choose UK university, I would look for:
1. 100% online
2. medium ranking (between Top 15 - Top 50 in UK)
3. Business postgraduate or Master, namely MBA

Sharing is caring. Here's my list of possible UK university that satifies the above requirement after doing days of research.
1. York 
2. Derby
3. University of London mentioned by previous reply (question mark, I never see this school in ranking)
4. Aberdeen
5. Glaskow

My other US pheasible options are Eastern University, UMPI (though no MBA, only Master of Organization Leadership aka MAOL available). No WGU, HAU and Walden as they do not accept international online student as I remember.

---

Cardiff Metropolitan University offers online MBA Top up from Level 7 Diploma
https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/management/...Up)--.aspx

The highlights of the program
1. Price: £3180 (3900 USD)
2. Short length: Only seven months to complete
3. Workload: Only Final Dissertation is required, no other homework or exams

Pretty attractive to me

[JPN]

Thank you for putting this together. I saw you mention a handful of these on the WES Canada thread. I thought it was really interesting that these could be used for immigration to Canada and UK Regulated Qualifications seem like a really interesting avenue to complete MSc and MBA degrees at better recognized UK institutions.

[OtterDen]

JPNThank you for putting this together. I saw you mention a handful of these on the WES Canada thread. I thought it was really interesting that these could be used for immigration to Canada and UK Regulated Qualifications seem like a really interesting avenue to complete MSc and MBA degrees at better recognized UK institutions.

I'm still doing research on the best university that allows top-up. I still have about four months till I make my final decision. Once I have done researching, I will put all my findings and process of decision making in a single post. Other members may then be benefited from this, and hopefully find their most suitable university.

Here are the qualification bodies I see supported by some university to top up:
- Qualifi https://qualifi.net/qualifi-level-7-dipl...nnovation/
- LRN
- OTHM https://othm.org.uk/othm-level-7-diploma...rship.html
- Edexcel
- Athe

For example, in Cardiff Met admission requirement, the name of Qualifi is not mentioned. Instead, the other three is mentioned.

It might be tricky for us to choose a qualification, though all being Level 7. Some may be recognized by one school and not the other.

---

Here are some regulated qualifications in the UK that I am researching...
ofqual register: https://register.ofqual.gov.uk/
CMI, OTHM has a searchable database of approved centres
ATHE, Qualifi doesn't but show you Progression Routes

Inexpensive Level 7 Diploma Top Up options for various Masters such as Strategic Management & Leadership
OTHM Qualifications List: https://www.othm.org.uk/qualification.ht...programmes
London Graduate School (Masters Top-Up): https://lgsglobal.uk/index.html
University of Chichester & LGS Masters: https://lgsglobal.uk/masters.html

If you're interested in universities that have Top Up's, you can review the Progressions list
Qualifi Qualifications: https://qualifi.net/qualifications/
Qualifi Progression: https://qualifi.net/university-progression/
Qualifi: https://qualifi.net/qualifi-level-7-dipl...a-science/

Here are the Qualifi document mentioned in @bjcheung77's links.

Qualifi Progresson Routes: 
  Qualifi-Course-Progresson-Routes-2.png (Size: 182.61 KB / Downloads: 24)

Qualifi pathways in years: 
  Qualifi-Higher-Education-Pathways-Page-1.pdf (Size: 803.3 KB / Downloads: 22)

[Silvious]

Has anyone researched further on this topic?

I wonder why the CMI Level 8 course is only 67 credit, Qualify 160 and OTHM 180 credits.

Pretty sure Qualify and OTHM just copy cat what CMI does, with course sharing similar contents and more credit for the attractiveness.

It's also possible to register for Qualify course for 1008 gbp through some regional pricing, while CMI is costing doubles, but also offering CMgr pathway (other two doesn't). Does the prestiges it brought worth more than being a thirds of credit at twice the cost? Just asking for your personal opinion .

[sarahmac]

Has anyone researched further on this topic?

I wonder why the CMI Level 8 course is only 67 credit, Qualify 160 and OTHM 180 credits.

Pretty sure Qualify and OTHM just copy cat what CMI does, with course sharing similar contents and more credit for the attractiveness.

It's also possible to register for Qualify course for 1008 gbp through some regional pricing, while CMI is costing doubles, but also offering CMgr pathway (other two doesn't). Does the prestiges it brought worth more than being a thirds of credit at twice the cost? Just asking for your personal opinion .

"Pretty sure Qualify and OTHM just copy cat what CMI does, with course sharing similar contents and more credit for the attractiveness."

This is wildly untrue.

"CMI Level 8 course is only 67 credit, Qualify 160 and OTHM 180 credits."

Courses in the UK are rated by the level of the study in terms of difficulty. Not in terms of scope/size. Think of it like Americans referring to Upper Level versus Lower Level credits rather than number of credits. You can have a 6 credit UL course or a 3 credit one. It's just we have much more than just the undergraduate LL/UL distinction.

You can take an undergraduate certificate or diploma at a university, for example, and both are Level 5 but will have a different number of credits. 

You can see here which qualifications are which level. https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualif...ion-levels. See for example AS and A Level are both Level 3. But AS is like half an A Level. Same "level of study", but much smaller in size.

Usually if you are using a qualification for the purpose of a top-up degree (and yes, that includes masters and doctoral top-ups) there is a two part condition for admission. One says the level, and one says the minimum number of credits it must contain.

"CMI is costing doubles, but also offering CMgr pathway"

The CMgr designation is something created by the CMI. That is why they offer it. It isn't some general academic title. It is their trademarked intellectual property.

[bjcheung77]

1) I wonder why the CMI Level 8 course is only 67 credit, Qualify 160 and OTHM 180 credits.
Do you have a specific link you're referring to, or are you looking at my initial post? CMI Level 8 and all their offerings come in three flavors... Award, Cert, Diploma...

2) Pretty sure Qualify and OTHM just copy cat what CMI does, with course sharing similar contents and more credit for the attractiveness.
As sarahmac mentioned, that's untrue. Qualifi and OTHM are awarding/recognizing agencies, they don't create courses or copy cat as you mentioned, they look at other providers and either pass/fail their courses for credit. In short, they're like accreditation agencies that overlook other institutions who provide courses...

3) Does the prestiges it brought worth more than being a thirds of credit at twice the cost? It depends on what you're looking for, each student is different. It's similar to someone looking at a specific top up degree, at various institutions the requirements are not the same, tuition and other fees are different as well.

[Silvious]

Has anyone researched further on this topic?

I wonder why the CMI Level 8 course is only 67 credit, Qualify 160 and OTHM 180 credits.

Pretty sure Qualify and OTHM just copy cat what CMI does, with course sharing similar contents and more credit for the attractiveness.

It's also possible to register for Qualify course for 1008 gbp through some regional pricing, while CMI is costing doubles, but also offering CMgr pathway (other two doesn't). Does the prestiges it brought worth more than being a thirds of credit at twice the cost? Just asking for your personal opinion .

"Pretty sure Qualify and OTHM just copy cat what CMI does, with course sharing similar contents and more credit for the attractiveness."

This is wildly untrue.

"CMI Level 8 course is only 67 credit, Qualify 160 and OTHM 180 credits."

Courses in the UK are rated by the level of the study in terms of difficulty. Not in terms of scope/size. Think of it like Americans referring to Upper Level versus Lower Level credits rather than number of credits.

You can take an undergraduate certificate or diploma at a university, for example, and both are Level 5 but will have a different number of credits. 

You can see here which qualifications are which level. https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualif...ion-levels. See for example AS and A Level are both Level 3. But AS is like half an A Level. Same "level of study", but much smaller in size.

Usually if you are using a qualification for the purpose of a top-up degree there is a two part condition for admission. One says the level, and one says the minimum number of credits it must contain.

"CMI is costing doubles, but also offering CMgr pathway"

The CMgr designation is something created by the CMI. That is why they offer it. It isn't some general academic title. It is their trademarked intellectual property.

Thanks for your reply, sorry that i scratched your pet peeve, though your response does not address any of my concern. 

I may have not made it clear, but I was comparing the specific three Diploma Level 8 program mentioned in this post:
CMI: https://www.managers.org.uk/education-an...eadership/
Qualifi: https://qualifi.net/qualifi-level-8-dipl...eadership/
OTHM: https://www.othm.org.uk/othm-level-8-dip...ctice.html

It's pretty much the leading three Level 8 that's regulated by OfQual (a professional/vocational training qualification aka not within the Higher Education framework). All of these would be equivalent to doctorate graduate credit and not relevant to the UL/LL analogy.

The credit here specifically is awarded based on rated hours of studies, for UK it's 10 hours per credit, based on the course's Total Qualification Time (TQT) and Guided Learning Hours (GLH). This is marketed on most training provider's page.

CMI pioneered the Level 8 Strategy and Leadership program in 2013, Qualifi to follow suit in 2014 and OTHM is a new player, coming in 2020 for the first approval. With the same amount of paper (8) and word count (4000-4500 words) as the required output, along with similar topic being discussed, one would question if Qualifi's content is really that much more in-depth to deserve the extra 93 credit?

The curriculum of CMI and Qualifi go hand in hand, while OTHM's course are much more varies between provider. I've taken both CMI and Qualifi's demo course from one of the provider (SBTL) and see CMI branded content in Qualifi's course as main paper, so I've seen this copy cat first hand. 

I'm aware that The CMgr designation is something created by the CMI, and even how CMI's created; I've read their royal charter. The question here is if it actually means anything outside of the UK.

[sarahmac]

1) I wonder why the CMI Level 8 course is only 67 credit, Qualify 160 and OTHM 180 credits.
Do you have a specific link you're referring to, or are you looking at my initial post?  CMI Level 8 and all their offerings come in three flavors... Award, Cert, Diploma...

2) Pretty sure Qualify and OTHM just copy cat what CMI does, with course sharing similar contents and more credit for the attractiveness.
As sarahmac mentioned, that's untrue.  Qualifi and OTHM are awarding/recognizing agencies, they don't create courses or copy cat as you mentioned, they look at other providers and either pass/fail their courses for credit.  In short, they're like accreditation agencies that overlook other institutions who provide courses...

3) Does the prestiges it brought worth more than being a thirds of credit at twice the cost?  It depends on what you're looking for, each student is different.  It's similar to someone looking at a specific top up degree, at various institutions the requirements are not the same, tuition and other fees are different as well.

Have you seen their response? Unsure if they just can't read, but I am absolutely flabbergasted. There is no dealing with some people. Honestly, it would be funny if it wasn't sad.