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PgC - Learning and Teaching in Professional and Higher Education

This fully online programme equips you with essential skills in research-informed teaching, curriculum design, and reflective practice—perfect for busy professionals working with adult learners. Guided by experienced educators, you’ll study at your own pace while developing the confidence and expertise to excel in a variety of educational settings.

Whether you’re looking to advance in your current role or expand your impact, this course offers practical tools to support your career progression and enrich your teaching approach.

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Course Overview

On this programme you will develop as a critically reflective practitioner and build your academic knowledge, skills and confidence to engage with your role as an educator. The course comprises 3 modules focused on engaging with research-informed teaching and learning approaches, exploring curriculum design and development, and learning how to research your own practice. Our tutor team of experienced higher and professional educators will guide and support your development.

Designed to be studied at a distance, all learning activities and assessments are intended to be authentic and relevant to your professional context. This course is also a wonderful option to support career progression, for those currently employed or volunteering with adult learners.

On this course you will...

Benefit from the flexibility of online course delivery
Take a step forwards in your chosen education career path
Be supported by expert academics in the field of professional and higher education
Study alongside students working in a variety of adult education settings
Ensure that research-informed teaching is at the heart of your own current and future practice as an educator

Apply (January)

Download our Prospectus

Key Details

Recruiting toUK / RoI / Settled in UK
EU / EEA / International
Course LocationOnline
Delivery StyleOnline
Course Duration Part-time: 1 Year
Course Start PointJanuary
AwardPgC
More informationProgramme Specification
Prospectus
Open DaysAll

Minimum entry requirements

undergraduate degree required

Honours degree

Tuition fees

£2,240

UK | Year

£4,525

International | Year

Tuition Fees Policy

Course Structure

What you will learn

The PgC Learning and Teaching in Professional and Higher Education comprises three fully online modules at level 7. These modules cover key elements of effective teaching and learning to support students to become excellent practitioners in the fields of professional and higher education. All learning activities are designed to be authentic and relevant to your role as a professional or higher education educator.

Year one

The three modules completed in this degree will enable you to focus on relevant theory, research and practice which will enhance your knowledge and understanding of key areas linked to learning and teaching in professional and higher education contexts. The assessments you complete in this programme have been designed to be authentic, meaning that they relate to the types of teaching and learning tasks that you are likely to engage with in a role as an educator in a professional or higher education setting.

There is also a focus on developing yourself as a critically reflective practitioner, so that you can identify your own current and future professional development needs and tailor your engagement with the programme content to help meet these.

You will be supported to develop your academic writing skills for Level 7 and beyond.

Introduction to Learning, Teaching and Assessment
In this module you will explore the concepts of teaching, learning and assessment, linked to meeting the needs of diverse learners.
Researching Academic Practice
In this module, students are supported to develop their academic practice and professional identity through exploring the potential of practitioner research. Students may also examine their influence and leadership within their communities of practice.
Curriculum Design and Development
In this module students explore research informed approaches to curriculum design, alongside developing a holistic approach to curriculum design and development.

Teaching & Assessment

How you will learn

This programme is delivered as a fully online distance learning provision, enabling you to study flexibly around other commitments. This is supported by a range of tools accessed through our virtual learning environment Blackboard, where you will have access to a bespoke course page.

Throughout the course, there is an emphasis on supporting you to critically reflect on how the theory and research which you engage with might influence your own current and/or future practice. This helps to ensure that the learning you undertake through this programme has a 'real world' impact.

Our experienced tutor team will guide and support you to engage with a range of weekly learning activities via the virtual learning environment including exploring videos, images, podcasts and the opportunity to engage in webinars and discussion forums. The tutor team carefully curate an online learning community, to enable you to engage in learning experiences that are intellectually stimulating and enriching.

How you will be assessed

The focus of assessments undertaken during the course has been particularly designed to be relevant to the needs and interests of individual students, with an emphasis on the interaction between theory and practice.

You will be assessed through the successful completion of the three online masters-level modules: introduction to teaching, learning and assessment; researching academic practice; curriculum design and development.

The programme uses a range of assessment approaches including: academic poster and pitch, annotated bibliographies, curriculum design project work, peer assessment and feedback, self-assessment quizzes and critical reflections that draw on theory and research.

Career outcomes

This course will enhance your professional development as an educator whether you work in a higher education or professional higher education setting. It is well suited to practitioners who want to progress as an educator. You may work in a university, for the NHS, as a clinical educator, or with adult learners in a wide range of settings. It will equip you to become a critically reflective practitioner who places research-informed practice at the heart of your educational approach.

Fees & Funding

Tuition Fees

2024 - 2025

£2,240 - UK
£4,525 - International

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

International Finance

At the University of Cumbria, we offer affordable tuition fees for international and EU students looking to study at one of our main four campuses. No matter your choice of course or career path, our International Team is here to support you.

More Information

We have a wide range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and funds available to support you throughout your studies with us. This includes the Cumbria Bursary - a non-repayable bursary designed to support first year students with a household income of less than £25,000..

Student Finance

Additional Costs

There will be some additional costs associated with the course including stationery, textbooks, field trips and membership fees although some of these features are optional.

Books are reviewed annually and are therefore subject to change, course welcome information will provide you with an indicative list for the year.

Books and Journals

Most core text books are available via the University's library, however students may wish to buy copies of a small number of texts used to support your learning on your course. This could cost between £50 - £100 per year.

Stationery

Students should budget for stationery and consumables for your own personal use. This should include notebooks, pens and pencils for taking notes in class and/or in the field. Students should also budget for the purchase of USB pen drives, as well as occasional printing and photocopying costs incurred in the preparation or submission of coursework. Whilst you will choose how much you need, expect to pay around £30 - £40 per year for these items.

Clothing and Equipment

As this course is fully online, students will need to have access to a laptop or computer with a camera and microphone/headset to enable you to engage with the learning materials on the Virtual Learning Environment.

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Location
Online Learning
Online learning at the University of Cumbria is an interactive experience that makes use of a range of technologies and media types to provide a rich learning environment.
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PgC - Learning and Teaching in Professional and Higher Education