Study with Illuminare Executive Education

Your Flexible Route to a UK Executive MBA

Gain an internationally recognised Level 7 qualification designed for modern executives, leaders and ambitious professionals seeking strategic progression, leadership capability and MBA advancement.

Your Flexible Route to a UK Executive MBA

Gain an internationally recognised Level 7 qualification designed for modern executives, leaders and ambitious professionals seeking strategic progression, leadership capability and guaranteed MBA advancement.

Delivered online through Illuminare Executive Education’s flexible open learning model, this bespoke Extended Diploma pathway has been designed to support professionals who want high-level academic achievement alongside practical executive development and international career progression.

With flexible entry points, online blended delivery and guaranteed progression opportunities into the final stage of a UK university MBA (online or on campus), the pathway provides an accessible and globally relevant route for professionals ready to advance their leadership journey.

An Internationally Recognised Level 7 Qualification with MBA Advancement Guarantee

The pathway leads to the: Extended Diploma in Executive Resilience and High-Performance Leadership. A bespoke Level 7 qualification regulated by Ofqual and awarded by ATHE with Guaranteed MBA Advancement.

Designed by Illuminare Executive Education, the programme combines strategic leadership, resilience, emotional intelligence, communication and commercial capability into a modern executive qualification built around the realities of leadership and performance in demanding professional environments.

The qualification has been developed in collaboration with:

  • international business leaders
  • executive coaches and consultants
  • higher education specialists
  • organisational practitioners
  • industry experts across multiple sectors

This ensures the learning remains professionally relevant, strategically focused and internationally applicable.

Flexible Online Delivery Designed Around Professional Life

The programme is delivered through IEE’s online open learning model, allowing professionals to study flexibly from anywhere in the world.

Fully online delivery

Flexible roll-on, roll-off entry points

Short two-month unit structure

Self-paced online learning

Live online executive sessions

Practical workplace application

Interactive discussion and collaboration

This flexible approach allows learners to continue progressing professionally while studying toward a recognised Level 7 qualification and Executive MBA pathway.

The Executive Qualification Pathway

Successful completion of all 6 units leads to the:

Extended Diploma in Executive Resilience and High-Performance Leadership

Providing guaranteed progression into the final stage of selected UK university MBA programmes.

Flexible Entry Points

Learners can join the pathway at multiple points throughout the year.

September Entry
Start at Unit 1

March Entry
Start at Unit 4

May Entry
Start at Unit 5

This flexible structure supports professionals across different career stages, locations and progression goals.

– September Entry –

Unit 1

Sept – Oct

Emotional Intelligence for Strategic Impact

Develop self-awareness, executive presence, influence and leadership effectiveness.

Unit 2

Nov – Dec

Skilled Communication for Influence and Alignment

Strengthen communication capability, stakeholder engagement and leadership influence.

Unit 3

Jan – Feb

Resilience for High Performance

Build resilience, adaptability and sustainable performance under pressure.

– March Entry –

Unit 4

March – April

Strategic Leadership and Systemic Alignment

Develop systems leadership capability and strategic organisational alignment.

– May Entry –

Unit 5

May – June

Strategic Finance and Value Creation for Executives

Strengthen commercial awareness and strategic financial decision-making.

Unit 6

July – Aug

International Market Strategy and Cultural Intelligence

Develop global leadership capability and international strategic awareness.

Inspired by the Principles of Sustainable High Performance

Several units within the pathway are informed by the models and principles explored in BALANCING ACT: Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing and the Calibration Model™ for sustainable high performance.

The programme has been designed around the capabilities modern leaders need to:

Lead effectively under pressure

Build sustainable performance

Strengthen resilience

Communicate strategically

Navigate complexity

Create organisational alignment

Make commercially informed decisions

Lead across international environments

The result is a qualification pathway that develops both strategic capability and long-term executive performance.

Progression to a UK Executive MBA

A major advantage of the pathway is guaranteed progression into the final stage of selected UK university MBA programmes upon successful completion of the Extended Diploma.

Learners can choose progression routes that best fit their:

Career goals

Location

Preferred study mode

Specialism interests

Budget and lifestyle

Options include:

Online MBA top-up routes

Campus-based UK study

Flexible international progression pathways

Current university progression partnerships include:

Additional international partnerships in development

A major advantage of the pathway is guaranteed progression into the final stage of selected UK university MBA programmes upon successful completion of the Extended Diploma.

Learn from Experienced Executive Practitioners

The pathway is delivered by experienced professionals with backgrounds across:

  • executive leadership
  • organisational development
  • higher education
  • strategic consultancy
  • coaching and leadership development
  • international business environments

Learners gain insight from professionals who understand the realities of leadership, strategic growth, organisational pressure and sustainable high performance.

Mike Pagan

Mental Wealth Strategist | Executive Coach | Speaker

Floyd Woodrow

Elite Military Leader | Founder, Compass for Life | Chairman, Quantum Group

Lynda Shaw

Cognitive Neuroscientist | Business Psychologist | Entrepreneur

Sarah Brennand

Executive Coach | Certified Executive | Licensed Emotional Intelligence and Master NLP Coach

Diego Masciaga

World-Renowned Service & Hospitality Leader | Advisor | Mentor

Programme Director – Extended Diploma in Executive Resilience and High-Performance Leadership

Sarah Brennand

Creator of the Calibration Model™ | Author of Balancing Act: Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing

Sarah Brennand is a business leader, strategic educator, international keynote speaker and author with more than 20 years of experience spanning leadership, executive education, organisational development and professional training.

As Founder of L7 Executive Coaching and Co-Founder and Managing Director of Illuminare Executive Education, Sarah has developed and delivered leadership and executive education programmes for professionals and organisations across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Her work combines commercial insight, leadership expertise and academic rigour to create learning that delivers meaningful professional and organisational impact.

Sarah has held senior leadership positions within Higher Education and has extensive experience in programme design, quality assurance, validation, international partnerships and executive development. She is passionate about creating education that is relevant, practical and aligned to the realities of modern leadership.

She is the creator of the Calibration Model™, the framework that sits at the heart of this qualification and provides a practical approach to developing resilience, emotional intelligence, communication and leadership capability. The model is also explored in her book, Balancing Act: Mastering Work, Wealth and Wellbeing, which focuses on achieving sustainable success across work, wealth and wellbeing.

As Programme Director, Sarah provides the strategic vision for the programme, ensuring learners benefit from a qualification that combines academic credibility with real-world leadership application.

Accessible Executive-Level Study

The pathway has been designed to make internationally recognised executive-level qualifications and MBA progression more accessible to professionals globally.

Flexible study around professional commitments

No relocation requirements

Online international access

Staged qualification achievement

Competitive pricing structure

Flexible progression options

Recognised UK Level 7 qualification

Direct MBA progression opportunities

Fees

Extended Diploma in Executive Resilience and High-Performance Leadership

(All 6 Units – 120 Credits)

£ 4450 +VAT

Diploma

(3 Units – 60 Credits)

£ 2495 +VAT

Supporting Those Who Serve

Illuminare Executive Education is proud to support members of the Armed Forces community, military veterans and Blue Light personnel. Eligible individuals can access a preferential rate of 10% across selected programmes as a recognition of their service and contribution.

Please contact us for eligibility criteria and programme availability.

Start Your Executive MBA Journey

Build strategic capability. Strengthen leadership performance. Achieve a recognised UK Level 7 qualification and progress toward your Executive MBA through a flexible international pathway designed for modern professionals.

 

Flexible Entry. Recognised Qualifications. UK MBA Progression.

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