CIPD Level 7
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Essential
Enhanced
Elite
1,050 AED/month interest-free*
Payments
30 months
Deposit
689 AED
Total Price
32,171 AED
- Self-paced learning that fits your lifestyle
- Gain the strategic HR skills organisations and employers value
- Advance to senior HR roles, including HR Business Partner or Group HR Manager
Why is this CIPD course right for you?
Gain the high-level strategic L&D skills you need to stand out in the Middle East with an online CIPD Level 7 qualification from the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD).
Designed for experienced L&D professionals, this advanced qualification helps you build the strategic thinking, leadership capability, and business insights you need to design impactful learning strategies that drive performance, culture, and organisational growth.
You’ll explore complex, real-world L&D challenges, develop the confidence to influence organisational training and development, and position yourself for senior roles or Chartered Member (MCIPD) status – all while studying on your own terms.
Getting CIPD qualified is the best investment you can make in your future. That's why 95% of our students recommend studying a CIPD qualification.‡
CIPD Level 7 L&D Course Details
To study this CIPD Advanced Level 7 Diploma, you should generally have at least one of the following:
- Significant L&D experience in an L&D or HR role
- Senior management experience that involved elements of L&D
- An HR or other related degree
If English is your second language, we recommend you have achieved one of the following, or an equivalent:
- IELTS: 6.5 overall score with a minimum of 6.0 in each category
- TOEFL: 90 overall score with a minimum of 19 in each category
- Cambridge: Grade C or above
However, this isn't mandatory, and we're happy to review your case on an individual basis.
Your CIPD Level 7 Advanced course and assignments are fully online.
You'll study eight modules, made up of seven core modules and your choice of one elective module.
Core modules
- Work and Working Lives in a Changing Business Environment
- People Management and Development Strategies for Performance
- Personal Effectiveness, Ethics and Business Acumen
- Business Research in People Practice
- Organisational Design and Development
- Leadership and Management Development in Context
- Designing Learning to Improve Performance
Elective modules (choose one)
- Technology-Enhanced Learning
- Advanced Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- Wellbeing at Work
- Advanced Employment Law in Practice*
- Managing People in an International Context
For full details of what you’ll learn on each module, download our CIPD Level 7 L&D course guide.
*Please note that we do not include this module in the Middle East region.
You’ll complete written assignments for each module that you study. These allow you to demonstrate the knowledge you’ve gained and the skills you’ve mastered.
You’ll submit your assignments online, and they’ll be marked by our assessors and moderated by CIPD.
Please keep in mind that Assessment Briefs will be updated each year as part of the CIPD’s Assessment Change Cycle.
Spread the cost with our flexible monthly payment plans
Get started right away with a low deposit
Company funding – we can invoice your employer directly
CIPD Support Options
One recognised qualification. Three tailored learning experiences.
Self-led
Structured
Personalised
Self-led
Structured
Personalised
CIPD Student Reviews
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CIPD Level 7 L&D Course FAQs
Yes! We’ve been a leading CIPD provider for 30 years. We're also the world's most experienced distance learning provider, with 130+ years of helping people achieve their career goals.
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There are three CIPD learning and development qualifications to choose from in total, and you can study them 100% online with us - either On Demand or Live Online:
The CIPD Level 3 Foundation Certificate in People Practice is designed for those with no or minimal HR or L&D experience. It’s perfect if you’re looking for your first role in the people profession.
The CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development is designed for those with some L&D experience who are looking for a mid-level L&D role. It’s also suitable if you have some experience of training and development duties in a non-HL&D role (for example, as a manager), or if you're new to L&D but have a degree and want to begin your studies at a higher level.
The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development is designed for those with considerable HR experience or an HR degree who are ready to take on postgraduate-level study. This course will prepare you for strategic senior HR roles and allow you to apply for CIPD Chartered Membership once you have professional experience.
If you’d like to specialise in HR instead of L&D, you can also study one of our online CIPD HR courses.
Still not sure which CIPD course is right for you? Contact our CIPD course advisors and they'll be happy to help!
The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development is the highest qualification offered by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and is widely recognised as the gold standard for senior HR and L&D professionals in the UAE and across the Middle East.
In terms of academic level, CIPD Level 7 is equivalent to a UK Master’s degree (RQF Level 7), making it a prestigious qualification for those looking to advance into strategic HR leadership roles. However, there are key differences between CIPD Level 7 and a traditional Master’s degree in HR:
- Career-Focused vs. Academic: CIPD Level 7 is designed specifically for L&D professionals looking to enhance their practical skills and leadership abilities, while a Master's in HR is more theory-based and research-driven.
- Chartered Membership Pathway: Completing CIPD Level 7 makes you eligible to apply for Chartered Membership (MCIPD) or even Chartered Fellowship (FCIPD), which is highly valued by employers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and across the GCC. A Master’s degree alone does not offer this direct pathway.
- Flexibility: Studying CIPD Level 7 online with ICS Learn allows you to work full-time and study at your own pace, making it a more flexible option compared to the rigid structure of a university Master's programme.
If you’re an HR professional in the Middle East looking to secure a senior role, CIPD Level 7 is an excellent alternative to a Master's degree. It not only offers you global credibility, but you also gain practical expertise tailored to L&D leadership.
How long it takes you to complete a CIPD Level 7 learning and development qualification depends on how much time you can dedicate to studying, and whether you choose the On Demand or Live Online study option.
However, for most of our students, the online CIPD Level 7 L&D course typically takes 18 to 24 months to complete while working full-time.
To give you complete flexibility, we offer a generous 30-month support period, allowing you to study at your own pace and balance your learning with work and other commitments.
Technically, yes! However, we don't advise enroling on the CIPD Level 7 learning and development course without previous experience.
The CIPD Level 7 Advanced Diploma in Strategic Learning & Development is one of the most prestigious L&D training qualifications that you can study. Globally recognised by employers, it commands a great deal of respect and credibility in the HR and L&D industry.
As the CIPD Level 7 course is equivalent to a post-graduate degree in difficulty, we recommend that you have at least one of the following to study the qualification:
- Considerable experience working in an HR or L&D role
- Senior managerial experience that involved a broad range of HR or L&D elements
- An HR degree or relevant qualification (e.g., the CIPD Level 5 Associate Diploma)
As well as meeting any of the above criteria, you'll need to be able to demonstrate that you can speak and write in English to a high level.
If English is your second language, we recommend that you have an IELTS 6.0/TOEFL 79/Cambridge Grade C or equivalent. We're happy to review your case on an individual basis if you're unsure though.
If you have questions or need more information, contact one of our course advisors today.


