Program
Two stages to a degree. Designed to be completed within 15 months.
The first stage follows the UK qualification system, and the second stage is offered directly by universities.
The entire journey, without a set schedule, and with a guide accompanying you.
A single path to a degree
This program consists of two stages. In the first stage, you will complete a Diploma within the UK's official qualification framework, and in the second stage, you will work on a Master's thesis at the University of Wolverhampton. The entire program takes less than 15 months—it is designed from the outset to be completed while working. Depending on your work experience and qualifications, up to 70% of the first stage may be waived as prior knowledge (RPL). Whether or not you are eligible for a waiver will be determined based on the resume (CV) you submit at the time of application.
① Individual consultation
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② Entry and RPL Review
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③ Stage 1: EduQual Diploma (approximately 6 months)
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④ Application to university courses (January, May, September)
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⑤ Second stage: Master's thesis (approximately 4-6 months)
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⑥ Degree Awarding – International Master of Business Administration
Four design principles that underpin this program
Two stages, five units, and one master's thesis. These are not a collection of disparate elements. They are unified by the following four principles.
1. You have sovereignty over your time.
There are no fixed days of the week or lecture times. The first stage is self-study using online materials. You can progress at your own pace, whether it's early morning or late at night. It's not about stopping reality for the sake of learning, but about integrating learning into the midst of reality—a time management design for those on the front lines of business.
2. The accompanying run is included from the beginning.
Every student is assigned a dedicated tutor (in English). Communication is via email, allowing you to ask questions whenever they arise. Furthermore, Shibuya Web3 University provides a foundation for learning in Japanese. Free learning and a system that allows you to continue – both are standard features.
3. All in English – Using the same language as the rest of the world
The course materials, assignments, master's thesis, discussions with supervisors, and even your dedicated tutor—everything is in English. Thinking and writing in the same language as the rest of the world—this degree awaits you at the end of that challenge. We will build the foundation to support this challenge in Japanese.
4. Symbiosis with Generative AI
We utilize generative AI not as a "replacement," but as a "co-pilot" to accelerate learning. We leave preprocessing such as literature search and information structuring to the AI, allowing you to concentrate on intellectual creation that only humans can do: "formulating questions," "applying it to your own company," and "making decisions." This is the learning philosophy that runs through all the programs operated by Shibuya Web3 University.
Stage 1 ─ EduQual Diploma in Business Management (SCQF Level 11)
In Stage 1, you will complete the Diploma in Business Management awarded by EduQual, a UK awarding body accredited by SQA Accreditation, a UK qualifications regulator. The qualification is positioned at SCQF Level 11 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework — master's level within the UK frameworks, comparable to RQF Level 7. The curriculum comprises five domains of management and 120 credits.
The Five Units
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Change Management and Strategic Leadership — 30 credits Examine leadershiptheories, from the classical to the contemporary, in the context of globalised twenty-first-century organisations, and master the management of the organisational changethat underpins strategy.
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Marketing Management in Practice — 20 credits The practical tools and techniques ofmarketing, and the management decisions that underpin effective planning —sharpening your diagnostic ability from both the operational and the decision-making perspectives.
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Strategic Financial Management — 20 credits Approach strategic financial planningfrom a global perspective, apply financial principles in a management context, andformulate financial strategies that work.
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Strategic Management — 20 credits Develop a deep understanding of the frameworksfor reviewing current strategy, in for-profit and non-profit organisations alike, andformulate strategic plans from a global perspective.
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Strategic Resource Management in Organisations — 30 credits Consider people,operations, quality and the supply chain, together with the role of informationsystems, and master the optimisation of resources to sustain competitive advantage.
Assessment: by coursework.The five units are assessed through three integrated assignments. The assignments are work-based, rooted in real practice — for each one, you choose an organisation you know well (your own company is an option) and analyse and design against its reality, using academic frameworks. The assessment criteria are explicit on two points: generic answers are not accepted, and the academic conventions — Harvard referencing, rigorous structure — are required. This is precisely the foundation our Japanese-language support is built to strengthen.
Duration and Pace
Learning materials are provided on registration. The standard duration is around six months; depending on your pace, you may take up to nine months, progressing to your own rhythm. A dedicated tutor supports you by email throughout.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) — Shorten the Path, or Study It All: Your Choice
Depending on your professional experience and existing qualifications, exemption from up to 70% of the units may be granted (RPL). Exemption is granted on application: it is assessed on the basis of the CV and qualifications you submit at entry, and the outcome is confirmed by that assessment.
And exemption is a right, not an obligation. If your background qualifies, you may still choose not to apply — to revisit the five domains of management as one complete system, and study all five units in full. Take the shorter path, or study the whole in depth: decide by what you seek from this learning.
Shibuya Web3 University's Learning Support — Outside the Curriculum
Outside the curriculum, training the foundation.
The curriculum and the materials are delivered entirely in English. Our Japanese-language support stays outside them — devoted to building the foundation of how you learn.
The Harvard conventions of referencing. The habit of reading academic papers through public databases such as Google Scholar — laying, here, the groundwork for the university library databases that open in Stage 2. The craft of academic writing to a world standard. And, with Stage 2 in view, preparation in the conventions of research. Outside the curriculum, we also provide lectures on mastering generative AI as a co-pilot. This Japanese-language support is designed to be completed within Stage 1 — so that in Stage 2, you can concentrate on your research, on the foundation you have built.
It never touches the content of your learning itself. The assignments and the dissertation are yours to complete, by your own strength. That is why the ability remains with you — as the real thing.
In Stage 2, you build a research dialogue in English with a supervisor at the university. So that the dialogue bears fruit, you grow familiar with the form of research in Japanese first — a preparation that quietly underpins the quality of your dissertation.
Phase 2 – University of Wolverhampton International MBA Top-Up
Upon completing the first stage, you can apply to the undergraduate program at the University of Wolverhampton (official program name: International MBA Top-Up). From here on, it's the master's thesis stage, which is directly provided and evaluated by the university.
Students will work on a 15,000-word master's thesis (in English) on a management theme of their own choosing. A dedicated university supervisor will provide support, guiding them through the research process from design to completion, through ongoing dialogue. Learning will be 100% online via the university's learning platform (Canvas). Workshops on research skills, critical thinking, and academic writing will also be provided by the university.
The program starts three times a year, in January, May, and September. The duration is approximately 4 to 6 months.
All you need to prepare are the documents: your CV, passport, statement of purpose, and academic references. Your first-stage completion certificate and transcript will be issued upon completion. Once you have the documents, we and Chestnut Education Group (London), which manages the program's admissions route in the UK, will handle the university application process. The process from application to admission usually takes 7-10 business days. You can then focus on developing your thesis topic.
Upon completion of the course, a degree will be awarded.
And then, to a degree.
Upon completion, graduates will be awarded a degree certificate from the University of Wolverhampton. The degree name will be International Master of Business Administration.
If you wish, you can attend the annual graduation ceremony at the UK campus. You can also choose to have your diploma mailed to you. Details of the graduation ceremony will be provided by the university in your final year of study.
Participation requirements
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Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree and have at least two years of management experience.
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Alternatively, candidates with five or more years of management experience and documentation demonstrating their ability to study at a graduate level.
We recommend that applicants possess a certain level of English proficiency or higher. We will provide guidance on this during individual consultations.
This program includes an individual interview selection process. We are looking for leaders who are actively taking action to change reality.
Is there a reality you want to change?