Postgraduate Taught

Professional and Higher Education - e-PgCert

Are you a professional who teaches and supports learning at higher education level*, whether within a university, college or other professional setting? Are you looking for a course that will enable you to become more effective in your role? This e-PgCert in Professional and Higher Education may be of interest.

The course has been designed in response to the continuing professional development (CPD) needs of those professionals and will enable you to become effective in facilitating and enhancing learning experiences. It may be of interest to nurses and midwives, allied health professionals, social workers, doctors, lecturers in any discipline and professional services staff.

This dynamic, interactive and work-related course is delivered fully online, allowing you to fit study around your other commitments.

* SCQF Level 7 or higher

Why QMU?

Learn alongside a range of professionals: This course brings together professionals from a range of disciplines and cultures.
Preparing you for professional registration: The course prepares participants to apply independently for Associate and Fellowship status of Higher Education Academy (by Advance HE). This is highly recommended.
Career progression: This course will enhance your career.

Studying for an e-PgCert Professional and Higher Education

Professional and Higher Education (e-PgCert): More information and what you will achieve

The course will develop your understanding and skills of:

facilitation of learning;
assessment and feedback;
curriculum design; and
quality assurance and using technology to enhance learning.

You will learn about theories of education that support learning and be able to reflect on and apply your learning to your own workplace practices.

By the end of the course you will be able to design, assess and facilitate learning in a broad range of professional contexts. Through reflection on practice you will continue to develop as an individual and a professional, in the sound knowledge that your practice is based on solid conceptual principles.

How will I be taught?

Structure and exit awards

You can study for the full PgCert or complete a single module for CPD. On completion of a single module, you may wish to complete further modules and progress your studies to a named award. Contact Anna Buckby for more information on single module study.

Modules run consecutively as follows:

Jan 2023: Facilitation of Learning
Sept 2023: Assessment for Learning
Jan 2024: Curriculum Design for Learning

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will learn through synchronous and asynchronous online discussions, reflection on teaching practice, reading, challenge and debate, collaborative case analysis, independent study, presentations and research. Emphasis is placed on building on, and developing, your own personal experience within the context of a community of learners.

Assessments may include personal reflective critiques, e-portfolios, presentations, essays, curriculum documents and literature reviews.

Placement

There are no placements on this course. Participants are expected to have access to opportunities for teaching in an area of practice that allows them to meet the course outcomes.

Teaching hours and attendance

The course is part-time and delivered fully online. Most people complete one module per semester. Each module carries 20 credits (equivalent to 200 hours study). This equates to approximately 15-20 hours of study per week per module per semester.

Class sizes

Cohort sizes vary between 20-40.

Teaching staff

You can read more about the teaching staff on this course at the bottom of this page. Please note that teaching staff is subject to change.

Modules

Facilitating Learning (20 credits)
Assessment for Learning (20 credits)
Curriculum Design for Learning (20 credits)

These run consecutively and students may join in either September or January.

NB The modules listed are correct at time of posting (October 2022) but are subject to change. In the event that modules change, QMU will seek to use reasonable endeavours to ensure that there is no detrimental impact on students.

Career opportunities

Graduates from this course have gone on to develop their educational practice within their current role, to teach in higher education, to work in practice development and continuing professional development.

International students have developed education programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate level in their home countries.

Many graduates have gained promoted posts or gained additional responsibilities as a result of undertaking the course.

Some graduates have continued onto further studies through doctoral research programmes (see our PhD and Professional Doctorate ).

e-PgCert Professional and Higher Education: Entry requirements and application information

Entry requirements

Normally the equivalent of a UK honours degree. Candidates with alternative qualifications and appropriate relevant professional experience may also be considered. It is currently required that you have an existing teaching role in your workplace at undergraduate level (SCQF Level 7).

Candidates who do not have standard entry requirements may be asked to submit a formative essay to demonstrate the knowledge and skills required at this level. There is a non-credit bearing online induction module to assist you with this return to study.

International: You will be required to provide evidence of English language competence at no less than IELTS 7.0 and no individual component score below 6.5.

Applying for this course

For more information on applying, or to apply for this course, please follow the links in the 'Start your application' box at the top right of this page.

Application deadline (January 2024 entry)