UK Post-Graduate Diplomas and Top-up Masters

In the United Kingdom, there exists a system of regulated qualifications. Bachelor's degree holders (Level 6) can take Level 7 (Post-graduate diplomas) that allow them to fulfill the first year of a 2-year Masters programs. They can then apply to complete their studies in a top-up Masters program, which is typically the second year of a MBA or MSc degree. This will typically consist of either a research methods seminar and a dissertation, or just a dissertation alone. Dissertations tend to range between 10k to 15k words.