Level 6 health and social care courses
Degree-level leadership: the Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management and its specialist integrated pathways.
What Level 6 means in health and social care
Level 6 is the standard of a UK bachelor's degree. The Level 6 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management is written for people who already lead a service and want to operate at a strategic level: area and regional managers, heads of care, service directors and senior commissioners.
The units move beyond running one service to shaping how services are designed, funded and evaluated — strategic planning, leading change, evidence-based practice, financial stewardship and partnership working across health and social care systems. Integrated pathways add a professional certificate in a specialism such as strategic management, healthcare risk assessment or quality improvement.
Delivered online by LSIB and awarded by an Ofqual-regulated awarding body, the programme is assessed through extended written assignments rooted in your organisation, with a personal tutor throughout. There are no exams and no residential blocks.
Who studies at Level 6
- Registered managers moving into multi-site or regional roles
- Heads of care, service directors and senior NHS or local authority managers
- Level 5 graduates completing a degree-equivalent qualification while working
- Clinicians moving into general management of health and care services
What you will learn
- Strategic leadership and managing change in health and social care organisations
- Evidence-based practice, research methods and service evaluation
- Financial management, commissioning and contracting
- Governance, risk and quality improvement at organisational level
- Integrated certificates in strategic management, risk assessment and other senior specialisms
Level 6 programmes
31 programmes · most popular first
Where Level 6 leads
Level 6 leads to the Level 7 Diploma in Health and Social Care Management and to MSc top-up routes with partner universities. The Level 6 + Level 7 bundle covers both awards in one programme.
Level 6 questions answered
Is the Level 6 Diploma the same as a degree?
It is at the same RQF level as a bachelor's degree and carries 120 credits. It is a regulated vocational diploma rather than a university degree; graduates can top up to a full degree with partner universities.
Do I need a Level 5 qualification to enrol at Level 6?
A Level 5 qualification or equivalent senior management experience is expected. Admissions assess each application individually.
How long does the Level 6 Diploma take?
Typically six to nine months of part-time online study. The pace is yours — there are no cohorts or term dates.
Not sure Level 6 is the right fit?
Tell admissions about your role and experience and we will recommend the level and pathway that matches — no obligation.