Undergraduate Higher Diploma in SME Management

Program Overview

Undergraduate Higher Diploma in SME Management

The Undergraduate Higher Diploma in SME Management is a comprehensive programme designed to equip business owners, senior managers, junior managers, and executives with the critical management skills, tools, and techniques necessary to enhance their personal performance and drive the growth of their small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Programme Structure

The programme is divided into three stages, allowing for both academic progression and practical application:

Stage 1 – Four Core Modules

• Award in Essentials of Management
• Award in Essentials of Marketing & Sales
• Award in Essentials of Human Resources
• Award in Essentials of Financial Management 1

Stage 2 – Four Specialist Modules

• Award in Essentials of ICT
• Award in Concepts & Practices of Developing an eCommerce Business
• Award in Concepts & Practices of Digital Marketing
• Award in Concepts & Practices of Strategy and Management Practice through Business Simulation

Stage 3 – Students have two options for the final stage

• Research Project OR Internship & Embedded Project Report (26 ECTS Credits)

Entry Requirements

• A Pass in a Level 5 Diploma OR
• A Grade C or higher in a Level 4 Diploma (e.g. Advanced Level certificates) AND a minimum of 2 years’ relevant work experience.
• Students whose first language is not English and whose previous qualifications were completed in a language other than English must provide evidence of English proficiency. This can be demonstrated with an IELTS score of 5.0, or an equivalent qualification.
• Prospective students aged 25 or older without a Level 4 Diploma may still apply, provided they can submit a CV and a work reference demonstrating at least 2 years’ work experience as a substitute for formal qualifications.

Target Group

• Non-business students (Level 4 and Level 5) : Individuals from non-business fields who recognise the importance of SME concepts for their careers and wish to enhance their skills to prepare for middle management roles.
• Junior and middle management SME staff : Professionals seeking to expand their practical knowledge by gaining a deeper, specialised understanding of SME management, grounded in best practices and comprehensive theoretical insights.
• Middle management staff outside SME departments : Those who want to develop strategic and creative tactical approaches based on best practices, while also improving their ability to effectively communicate their ideas within an organisation.

Programme Objectives

By the end of the course, students will have acquired the knowledge and skills to:

• Explain key management theories related to entrepreneurship.
• Articulate the significance of an organisation’s vision, mission, strategy, and core values in driving success.
• Analyse how internal and external environments influence business decisions and shape organisational outcomes.
• Identify the role of information flow design and management controls in optimising organisational effectiveness.
• Conduct research and solve problems by integrating both abstract and practical information.
• Recognise and address the social and ethical dimensions involved in decision-making and problem-solving.

Learning Hours

• Contact Hours : 466
• Self-Study Hours : 1,646
• Supervised Placement and Practice Hours : 24
• Assessment Hours : 114
• Total Learning Hours : 2,250

Teaching & Learning

Delivery Format

• Online : Access course materials through the eLearning platform
• Onsite : Easy School of Languages, 21 St. Ursula Street, Il-Belt Valletta, VLT 1230
• Language of Instruction : English

Assessment Methods

Each module will be assessed based on the following components:

• Forum Contributions : 30%
• Tutorial Contributions : 20%
• Research-Based Assignments : 50%

To pass a module, students must achieve an overall aggregate score of 50% or higher across these components.

Fee Structure

• Undergraduate Higher Diploma in SME Management (90 ECTS) : €5,990 (74 weeks, part-time)
• Undergraduate Diploma in SME Management (64 ECTS) : €4,880 (48 weeks, part-time)
• Individual Course Modules (EQF/MQF Level 5 – 8 ECTS, 6 weeks duration) : €610 (online), €810 (blended)

Scholarship Schemes

• Partial scholarships may be available.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Intakes

• Intake #1: 13/01/2025
• Intake #2: 24/02/2025
• Intake #3: 07/04/2025
• Intake #4: 19/05/2025
• Intake #5: 30/06/2025
• Intake #6: 18/08/2025
• Intake #7: 29/09/2025
• Intake #8: 10/11/2025
• Intake #9: 29/12/2025

Programme Details

• PROGRAMME : Undergraduate Higher Diploma in SME Management
• EQF/MQF*: Level 5
• CREDITS: 90 ECTS
• DELIVERY & DURATION: Online Learning – 74 weeks, Blended Learning – 52 weeks
• LANGUAGE: English