PgCert Teaching and Learning in Higher and Professional Education

• Normally, you'll have at least an upper second class (2.1) honours degree (or equivalent).
• You must be currently teaching (at least 6 hours per week or equivalent at an accepted employer) as you are required to reflect critically on your experience and relate theory to practice.
• You must produce a reference or letter of support from your organisational line manager.
• You must have an identified mentor in teaching practice.
• As this is an online course, you'll need access to a computer with the appropriate software and accessories, including a webcam, microphone and a sufficient broadband connection. You'll also need basic IT skills. In particular, you'll need to be able to access and use the University of Bolton's virtual learning environment, Moodle. Please contact the programme leader for details if you are uncertain that you'll be able to meet these requirements.
• We'll also consider applications where appropriate work experience can be demonstrated in lieu of, or in addition to, the published academic qualifications in line with the University’s Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) procedures.
• You may be required to attend an interview and/or provide a portfolio of work.
• If English isn’t your first language, you’ll also need IELTS 6.5 with normally no less than 6.0 in any band (or equivalent). We also accept a range of other English language qualifications – please visit our English Language Requirements web page for more details.
• Please note that this course is subject to the University of Bolton's Fitness to Practise procedure.

Where changes are made to material information contained in this course description or a decision is taken to suspend a course between the offer of admissions and enrolment, we will inform applicants at the earliest possible opportunity and will outline the various options available to the applicant.

This postgraduate course is ideal if you already have experience and current employment in teaching and learning in higher or professional education. It aims to help you develop high-quality teaching skills underpinned by relevant professional practice, scholarship and research skills. It can help you develop a critical, reflective and scholarly approach to teaching and supporting student learning.

Skills gained through this course can enhance your professional practice in a wide range of areas, including developing learning plans, creative and innovative methods for teaching, approaches to learner assessment and support, designing and managing programmes of learning and accountability in assessment. Additionally, it aims to develop your e-learning and communication skills.

What can I do with this qualification?

This course is designed to enhance your career potential by developing your skills as an academic staff member in higher education institutions. Therefore, it could improve your promotion prospects within higher education or improve access to a higher education career.

The skills and knowledge on offer would benefit anyone aiming for a career in education. Obtaining this qualification will assist entry to further study at the master's or doctoral level; for instance, when applying to the University of Bolton's MA Teaching and Learning or doctorate programmes.

Alternative career options

Postgraduate certificate holders can also use the qualification as a stepping-stone into a range of other careers. Some of these roles may require relevant experience and/or postgraduate study. Possible careers include:

• Higher education
• Education officer
• Mentoring
• Family liaison
• Educational psychology
• Education administration
• Student services advice
• Student liaison
• Educational writing and journalism
• Examinations
• Counselling
• Careers guidance
• Training
• Quality Standards

Home students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Home fee of £2,640 for the academic year 2023/24.

Overseas students starting this course in the first year will be required to pay a Overseas fee of £2,640 for the academic year 2023/24.

Important note regarding tuition fees for the 2022-2023 academic year: EU nationals who meet residency requirements (have settled or pre-settled status) may be eligible for 'Home' fee status. If you do not meet these residency requirements, overseas fees will apply. Irish citizens living in the UK or Ireland will be eligible for 'Home' fee status under the Common Travel Area arrangement. Please read the student finance for EU students web page on www.gov.uk for information.

The fees for a student's course of study will be set for the normal duration of that course subject only to inflationary increases – measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded in March each year to take effect for subsequent start dates.

Bursaries

Click here for more information about the scholarships and bursaries available to University of Bolton students.

You'll study two core modules, each worth 30 credits at HE7 (master's level). Throughout the course, we aim to deliver stimulating, challenging and engaging programmes of study that help you broaden and deepen your knowledge.

By building on your current knowledge and experience with informed research, this course aims to help you develop the skills needed to study at the master's level. You'll be exposed to a mix of subject knowledge, theoretical perspectives and professional best practices, using a wide variety of teaching and learning strategies to enhance your overall experience.

To help keep you engaged, we'll use various teaching and learning methods, such as lectures, presentations, seminars, workshops, group work, action learning, and group and individual tutorials. This course also features the use of technology and multimedia: resources are made available through our virtual learning environments (VLEs), and much of the course communication will also be conducted via VLEs.

You'll also be encouraged to build strong relationships with your peers, sharing ideas and discussing relevant ideas for practice and development. Personal study time is also a significant element of this programme.

Assessment will also be varied. You can expect to complete coursework such as critical reflections, presentations, portfolios and a written project.

Modules

The modules listed below may be a mixture of compulsory and optional. You may not have the opportunity to study all the modules shown as part of the course.

• Teaching and Supporting Learning in Higher and Professional Education
• Professional Academic Practice in Action
• Teaching and Supporting Learning in Higher and Professional Education - Online Version
• Professional Academic Practice in Action - Online Version

Assessment methods

Learning activities

Disclaimer

The university will use all reasonable endeavours to deliver your course as described in its published material and the programme specification for the academic year in which you begin your course. The university considers changes to courses very carefully and the university will minimise any changes. Please be aware that our courses are subject to review on an ongoing basis and changes may be necessary due to legitimate staffing, financial, regulatory and academic reasons. The content of course modules and mode of associated assessments may be updated on an annual basis. This is to ensure that all modules are up-to-date and responsive to employment and sector needs. The published course material and the programme specification contain indicative ‘optional modules’ that may be subject to change due to circumstances outside of our control. For this reason, we cannot guarantee to run any specific optional module.