Alfred Ford School of Management (AFSM) is an international business school based in Belgium, offering flexible postgraduate business education to working professionals worldwide. Our approach combines practical management education with conscious leadership and entrepreneurship, with a strong focus on people, profit, planet and purpose. Through our partnership with ATHE, eligible ATHE graduates can progress to AFSM postgraduate programmes, including our Postgraduate Business Diploma, full MBA and MBA Top-up routes.
Progression to Alfred Ford School of Management (AFSM)
The progression routes below outline the agreed pathways available to eligible ATHE learners. Depending on the ATHE qualification completed, learners may progress to the Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD), full MBA or MBA Top-up. Admission is conditional on meeting AFSM’s English-language requirements and final review of the learner’s qualification and transcript by AFSM Admissions.
| Type | Degree Programme | Point of Entry | Entry Criteria | Progression From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postgraduate Diploma | Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) | Direct conditional admission | Successful completion of the stated ATHE qualification in a relevant subject area. Applicants must also meet AFSM’s English-language requirements. Final admission is subject to AFSM Admissions reviewing the applicant’s transcript. | ATHE Level 5 Extended Diploma in Business and Management (2023) |
| Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree | Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) / MBA | Direct conditional admission to the PGBD / full MBA | Successful completion of the stated ATHE qualification in a relevant subject area. Applicants must also meet AFSM’s English-language requirements. Final admission is subject to AFSM Admissions reviewing the applicant’s transcript. | ATHE Level 6 Diploma / Extended Diploma in Management – all pathways: People, Operations, Sales & Marketing, Finance |
| Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree | Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) / MBA | Direct conditional admission to the PGBD / full MBA | Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above. | ATHE Level 6 Certificate in Project Management |
| Master’s Degree | MBA | MBA Top-up | Successful completion of the stated ATHE qualification in a relevant subject area. Applicants must also meet AFSM’s English-language requirements. Final admission is subject to transcript review. | ATHE Level 7 Diploma / Extended Diploma in Strategic Management – all pathways, including International (2023) |
| Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree | Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) / MBA | Direct conditional admission to the PGBD / full MBA | Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above. | ATHE Level 6 Certificate / Diploma in Healthcare Management |
| Master’s Degree | MBA | MBA Top-up | Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above. | ATHE Level 7 Certificate / Diploma in Healthcare Management |
| Master’s Degree | MBA | MBA Top-up | Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above | ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Accounting and Finance |
| Master’s Degree | MBA | MBA Top-up | Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above. | ATHE Level 7 Diploma / Extended Diploma in Computing |
| Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree | Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) / MBA | Direct conditional admission to the PGBD / full MBA | Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above. | ATHE Level 6 Certificate / Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring |
| Master’s Degreee | MBA | MBA Top-up | Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above. | ATHE Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Educational Leadership and Management (Senior Managers, Headteachers & Principals) |
| Master’s Degree | MBA | MBA Top-up | Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above. | ATHE Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Educational Leadership / Leading Quality of Teaching, Learning & Assessment |
| Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree | PGBD / MBA | Conditional admission to PGBD/MBA or MBA Top-up | The appropriate progression route will be confirmed by AFSM within 2 business days of transcript submission. Applicants must meet AFSM’s English-language requirements and final admission is subject to transcript review. | Any other ATHE Level 5, 6 or 7 Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma not listed above |
- Type: Postgraduate Diploma
- Degree Programme: Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD)
- Point of Entry: Direct conditional admission
- Entry Criteria: Successful completion of the stated ATHE qualification in a relevant subject area. Applicants must also meet AFSM’s English-language requirements. Final admission is subject to AFSM Admissions reviewing the applicant’s transcript.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 5 Extended Diploma in Business and Management (2023)
- Type: Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) / MBA
- Point of Entry: Direct conditional admission to the PGBD / full MBA
- Entry Criteria: Successful completion of the stated ATHE qualification in a relevant subject area. Applicants must also meet AFSM’s English-language requirements. Final admission is subject to AFSM Admissions reviewing the applicant’s transcript.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 6 Diploma / Extended Diploma in Management – all pathways: People, Operations, Sales & Marketing, Finance
- Type: Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) / MBA
- Point of Entry: Direct conditional admission to the PGBD / full MBA
- Entry Criteria: Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 6 Certificate in Project Management
- Type: Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: MBA
- Point of Entry: MBA Top-up
- Entry Criteria: Successful completion of the stated ATHE qualification in a relevant subject area. Applicants must also meet AFSM’s English-language requirements. Final admission is subject to transcript review.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 7 Diploma / Extended Diploma in Strategic Management – all pathways, including International (2023)
- Type: Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) / MBA
- Point of Entry: Direct conditional admission to the PGBD / full MBA
- Entry Criteria: Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 6 Certificate / Diploma in Healthcare Management
- Type: Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: MBA
- Point of Entry: MBA Top-up
- Entry Criteria: Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 7 Certificate / Diploma in Healthcare Management
- Type: Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: MBA
- Point of Entry: MBA Top-up
- Entry Criteria: Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above
- Progression From: ATHE Level 7 Extended Diploma in Accounting and Finance
- Type: Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: MBA
- Point of Entry: MBA Top-up
- Entry Criteria: Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 7 Diploma / Extended Diploma in Computing
- Type: Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: Postgraduate Business Diploma (PGBD) / MBA
- Point of Entry: Direct conditional admission to the PGBD / full MBA
- Entry Criteria: Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 6 Certificate / Diploma in Coaching and Mentoring
- Type: Master’s Degreee
- Degree Programme: MBA
- Point of Entry: MBA Top-up
- Entry Criteria: Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Educational Leadership and Management (Senior Managers, Headteachers & Principals)
- Type: Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: MBA
- Point of Entry: MBA Top-up
- Entry Criteria: Same standard AFSM entry requirements as above.
- Progression From: ATHE Level 7 Certificate in Strategic Educational Leadership / Leading Quality of Teaching, Learning & Assessment
- Type: Postgraduate Diploma / Master’s Degree
- Degree Programme: PGBD / MBA
- Point of Entry: Conditional admission to PGBD/MBA or MBA Top-up
- Entry Criteria: The appropriate progression route will be confirmed by AFSM within 2 business days of transcript submission. Applicants must meet AFSM’s English-language requirements and final admission is subject to transcript review.
- Progression From: Any other ATHE Level 5, 6 or 7 Certificate, Diploma or Extended Diploma not listed above