The UCQ CMDA is a three year programme which will develop your professional management capabilities within the context of your organisations business environment. Degree apprenticeships such as the CMDA, provide professional people with an alternative, work-based, route to studying for a degree; one which is funded through a payroll tax called the Apprenticeship Levy, rather than out of your own pocket. This is a win-win for you and the business. From a business case perspective, the essence of the UCQ CMDA can be summarised in just five words – occupational competence and management performance.

The entire programme is delivered as a (Level 6) Degree Apprenticeship, with successful degree apprentices achieving the following qualifications, professional certification and accreditation:

• BA (Hons) Professional Management degree (validated by The Open University)/li>
• Chartered Manager Degree Apprenticeship certificate of completion
• CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership
• Chartered Manager status (CMgr MCMI)

At the heart of the UCQ CMDA programme is our BA (Hons) Professional Management degree (validated by The Open University); this enables you to develop the skills, knowledge, behaviours and understanding of the operational and strategic dimensions of professional management obtained through the work you carry out for your employer. The degree has 3 stages, each of approximately 12 months duration. Different to most universities, the UCQ CMDA is timetable around a 52-week business cycle, rather than a standard 30-week dual semester academic cycle; this enables completion in 3, rather than 4 years.

Upon successful completion of the BA (Hons) Professional Management degree, you will have achieved the following the five following learning outcomes:

1. An in depth understanding of the main areas of professional management and the way these areas interrelate.)
2. Knowledge and understanding acquired through formal learning and applied to your organisation’s business environment.
3. CMI Level 5 Diploma in Management and Leadership
4. Chartered Manager status (CMgr MCMI)

An ability to apply an independent approach to develop the skills required by a professional manager.
Skills acquired and demonstrated through continuous professional development in your workplace.
The ability to apply critical tools and techniques that enable the integration of theory and practice within any work environment.

An overview of the degree modules is shown in points 2, 3 and 4 below…

We understand that both personal and organisational circumstances change and that students may have to withdraw from the programme early. In the event of early withdrawal, we still believe you should be rewarded for your hard work and so offer exit awards, provided you have successfully completed year 1 or year 2.

• Year 1 – Higher Education Certificate in Professional Management (CertHE)
• Year 2 – Higher Education Diploma in Professional Management (DipHE)

The UCQ CMDA is delivered through a combination of remote lectures and tutorials, professional development assessor (PDA) observations, self guided study, peer reviews and reflective accounts. With the exception of the final management project, all modules typically follow the same 7 week pattern:

• Week 1 – Lecture 1 (6hrs)
• Week 2 – Group tutorial with PDA (2hrs)
• Week 3 – Lecture 2 (6hrs)
• week 4 – 121 tutorial (1hr)
• Week 5 – 121 observation with PDA (2hrs)
• Week 6 – 121 tutorial (1hr)
• Week 7 – Hand in module assignment

In overall terms you can expect a study workload of between 35 and 40 hours per week, though the majority of this will be time spent applying your academic learning to work related activities (“on-the-job” learning).

All apprenticeships, including the UCQ CMDA, must incorporate a minimum of 20% of the learning, “off-the-job” (OTJ). This does not mean to say that you will be away from work place one day every week, though it does mean, that for approximately 6-7 hours each week, you will be involved in learning activities, during your normal contracted hours, directly relevant to your course, which you would not normally perform as part of your normal day to day job role.

Lectures and tutorials will be supplemented with other activities including, for example, research, self-guided study, preparing assignments, job shadowing, coaching, distance learning, e-learning, feedback and assessment, reflective learning, learning with peers or collaborative learning and mentoring.

Your programme schedule
An EXAMPLE of a full schedule of the CMDA programme, can be viewed below:

Example CMDA schedule for cohort starting September 2019

Whilst there are no examinations when undertaking the UCQ CMDA, there are a number of elements that make up the assessment for successfully completing the programme, including formative assessments as the programme progresses and the summative end point assessment.

On-Programme Formative Assessments

1. Successful completion of the BA (Hons) Professional Management Degree including the 20-week Management Project (module 3.4)
2. Learning and ongoing assessment within the Individual Learning Plan
3. Portfolio compiled providing evidence of the application of learning and application of the management concepts taught

Gateway to End Point Assessment

Prior to progressing to the Final, summative, end point assessment, degree apprentices need to be able to evidence the following:

BA (Hons) Professional Management degree successfully completed and achieved
Functional skills (Maths and English) achieved at Level 2 or higher
This stage is referred to as “the Gateway”, following which students can proceed to…

End Point Assessment (EPA)

The Final synoptic assessment, by which you will be graded will include the following elements:

• Review of portfolio of evidence against the requirements of the Standard
• Review of Management Project (degree module 3.4)
  – A 15-minute presentation of the Management Project by the apprentice focused on the outcomes of the project, and demonstrating:
  – What the apprentice set out to achieve;
  – What they have produced in the project;
  – How they approached the work and dealt with any issues;
  – Demonstration of appropriate interpersonal and behavioural skills.

• Panel interview to clarify and assess behavioural and skills competencies in more depth, including exploring evidence of
• Chartered Manager status (CMgr MCMI)
• Inform Final grading

To be eligible to join the UCQ CMDA you must spend 50% or more of your working time in England across the duration of the programme. Typically you will work as a manager, have managerial experience, or aspire to move into a management role.

If you hold (a) prior degree(s) at a higher level you may still be eligible to join the programme, though it will need to provide you with substantial levels of new knowledge and skill.

You must be able to evidence functional skills qualifications (maths and English) at a minimum of Level 2 (GCSE grades A*-C, or agreed equivalent) prior to being able to enter the gateway to the end point assessment. We will be able to support you achieve your functional skills qualifications if necessary.

To be successful on this programme you will need to be able to balance your studies, with work and possibly family commitments; you will need to have the drive to succeed and to develop your career as a professional manager.