Trust
The British education system behind this programme
British higher education works differently from Japan's.
Here we set out the whole picture, systematically.
1. The British university system — establishment, degree-awarding powers and regulation
British universities are autonomous bodies, established by Royal Charter or by Act of Parliament. They operate within a framework different from Japan's division into national, public and private institutions, and the public standing of a university is determined by the following two mechanisms.
First, the legal recognition of degree-awarding powers. In the UK, only institutions whose powers are recognised in law — Recognised Bodies — may award degrees. Anyone can verify which institutions are recognised on the official register of the Office for Students (OfS) — the check-point officially signposted by GOV.UK, the UK government's website.
Second, the regulation of higher education. Universities in England are registered with the Office for Students (OfS), the regulator, and operate under its oversight and quality framework.
The University of Wolverhampton is recognised as a Recognised Body, and is registered with the OfS. Its registration can be verified on the official register of the OfS.
2. Qualifications frameworks — the national measure of the level of learning
In the UK, the "level" of degrees and qualifications is set by national qualifications frameworks. The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF), centred on England, and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) are the principal frameworks, and their levels are mapped against each other.
Master's level corresponds to Level 7 on the RQF and Level 11 on the SCQF. A bachelor's degree sits at RQF Level 6 (SCQF Levels 9–10), and a doctorate at RQF Level 8 (SCQF Level 12).
The Diploma in Business Management completed in Stage 1 of this programme is at SCQF Level 11 — a qualification placed at master's level on the UK's public scale.
3. Awarding organisations — awarders of qualifications, approved by the state
In the UK, besides universities, there are organisations known as awarding organisations (Awarding Bodies). They are approved by the national qualifications regulators — Ofqual in England, SQA Accreditation in Scotland, and others — and award qualifications placed within the qualifications frameworks.
EduQual, which awards Stage 1 of this programme, is an awarding organisation approved by SQA Accreditation. The Diploma in Business Management (SCQF Level 11) that EduQual awards stands on this public approval and framework.
4. How progression works in the UK — from a qualification you hold, to a university course
British higher education has, as part of its system, established ways of recognising learning and qualifications already gained, and connecting them to an advanced stage of a university course.
The principal ones are advanced standing — entry at an advanced stage, recognising a qualification you have already gained — and top-up courses. A top-up course is one in which a person who already holds a qualification at the required level joins the final stage of a university course and completes the degree.
The two-stage structure of this programme follows this system. Those who complete the master's-level qualification in Stage 1 (SCQF Level 11) become eligible to apply for the University of Wolverhampton's course with advanced standing.
The progression statement shown at the foot of each page sets out this eligibility to apply.
5. Where this programme sits in the system
Stage 1 — EduQual Diploma in Business Management (SCQF Level 11)
Awarded by EduQual
↓ On completion, you are eligible to apply for the University course
Stage 2 — University of Wolverhampton dissertation course
Official course title: International MBA Top-Up; delivered and assessed by the University
↓ On completion
Degree — International Master of Business Administration
Awarded by the University of Wolverhampton
Students who have completed the EduQual Diploma in Business Management (SCQF Level 11) are eligible to apply for the University of Wolverhampton International MBA Top-Up. This programme is delivered online and assessed directly by the University.
6. What the degree certificate states
The degree certificate awarded on completion states the name of the awarding university (UNIVERSITY OF WOLVERHAMPTON), the name of the graduate and the title of the degree (International Master of Business Administration), and may carry a classification (such as "with Merit").
The operating company in Japan
Shibuya Web3 University Co., Ltd. is a company whose core business is branding, and which itself carries out the social implementation of technology. Founded in Shibuya, Tokyo, in 2021, it has run "Shibuya Web3 University", a learning community that brings together people seeking to change reality with the newest technology (launched in 2023; total attendance of 3,000). In 2025–2026, in Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, it completed — as the lead company of a three-company consortium — a demonstration project combining blockchain (DID/VC) and disaster preparedness, the first of its kind by a Japanese local authority (based on our own research).
Our President & CEO, KITAMURA hajime, has been involved in the branding of more than 100 companies over a career of more than 30 years, including previous positions.
Under SCX Professional Program, the collective name for our learning, the company operates in Japan SCX Professional Program DBA - Poland UITM, a professional programme in Japanese of the University of Information Technology and Management, Rzeszow, Poland (UITM). UITM provides quality assurance and the curriculum, and Shibuya Web3 University Co., Ltd. operates the programme in Japan. For this programme, the company operates as a Feeder Centre of Chestnut Education Group (London, UK), carrying out guidance, student recruitment and application support in Japan. In Stage 1 Class, it runs the Class lectures in Japanese under the EduQual curriculum. For both Solo and Class, it provides — independently, and in Japanese — the academic-skills coaching needed for postgraduate-level study.
Company overview
Company name: Shibuya Web3 University Co., Ltd.
Representative: President & CEO, KITAMURA hajime
Founded: January 2021
Address: Shibuya Scramble Square 39F, 2-24-12 Shibuya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Business: Branding support and consulting / Operation of the SCX Professional Program, the collective name for our learning / Operation of "Shibuya Web3 University", a community for creating innovation