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-Postgraduate Certificate (e-PgCert) in Professional and Higher Education 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.

* Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) Level 7 or higher.

Why QMU?

Learn alongside a range of professionals: This course brings together professionals from a range of disciplines, cultures and workplace settings. You will benefit by learning alongside people working in different areas and roles.
Contemporary, creative and interactive learning approaches: The online learning environment will generate an ethos of engagement where students can explore and challenge theories, practices and different sources of knowledge creatively in an atmosphere of high challenge and high support.
Career progression and professional links: This course aims to support students with CPD within their current professional role or towards future career aspirations. Students may also wish to use their learning from the course to independently apply for AdvanceHE Associate Fellowship or Fellowship category awards. This is highly recommended.

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 opt to study for the full e-PgCert in Professional and Higher Education (60 credits) or register as an associate student to complete a single module for CPD. You may also wish to complete further modules to progress your studies to a Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) or Masters (180 credits) pathway award. Contact Anna Buckby for more information on single module study or Masters pathway options at QMU.

Modules run consecutively as follows:

January 2024: Curriculum Design for Learning
September 2024: Facilitation of Learning
January 2025: Assessment for Learning
September 2025: 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 facilitating learning / teaching in an area of practice that allows them to meet the course or module 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, usually 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): This module aims to foster dynamic approaches to facilitation of learning through using theoretical frameworks, creativity, innovation and continuous development in diverse academic and/or professional settings.
Assessment for Learning (20 credits): This module engages students in using contemporary theories of learning that support critical and dynamic practices of assessment, feedback and feedforward to enhance learning in the context of their own work.
Curriculum Design for Learning (20 credits): This module introduces students to the creative processes and complexities involved in curriculum design.

These run consecutively and students may join in either September or January. There is also a non-credit bearing online induction module to assist you with return to study and / or explore a range of supporting learning resources.

NB The modules listed are correct at time of posting (October 2023) 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.

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 or facilitation of learning role in your workplace at undergraduate or higher education level (SCQF Level 7 or higher).

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.

Disability/health conditions

If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or learning disability, it should not stand in the way of your studying at QMU. However, if you are not sure whether your disability might be a barrier in your studies or in relation to the professional standards, please contact the disability service who will be able to have a conversation with you about reasonable adjustments and supports available to you.

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

August (for September start) or December (for January start)

Terms and Conditions

The delivery of this course is subject to the terms and conditions set out in our 2024/25 Entry - Terms and Conditions (Postgraduate).