Enhancing practitioners professional development in education.
Learning and teaching takes many forms in practice and accounts for a sizable portion of any healthcare professionals role. This interprofessional postgraduate certificate is designed to enable healthcare professionals to facilitate learning and teaching in their practice. It prepares the professional to engage in learning and teaching in the workplace with colleagues, peers, students, other professionals and service users.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
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The course consists of two modules and is provided face to face in Belfast for commissioned/domestic applicants. For those from further afield the course is provided online, subject to viable numbers.
The first module introduces the students to the principles that underpin learning, teaching and assessment and enables them to understand the rationale behind decisions made about teaching practices. The module explores student engagement and evaluation of learning and teaching. The module will facilitate feedback from self, peers and lecturer and provide opportunity for reflection on learning and teaching.
The second module builds on the first module and introduces students to a variety of learning, teaching and assessment techniques used in practice such as coaching, supervision, small group teaching, facilitative learning, patient education and skills teaching. Students will also design and deliver a bespoke teaching session exploring an innovation in their practice that is congruent with their educational role.
The staff who contribute to the course are experienced educators in healthcare and are Senior Fellows of the Higher Education Academy.
Blocks of teaching time in person, on the university campus, will occur across the academic year, normally delivered over six days each semester (structure can be subject to change). Further details will be provided during induction.
An equivalent amount of contact time is provided for those undertaking the course online.
A variety of learning and teaching methods are used. This gives you the opportunity to experience different approaches and reflect on them. One of the key skills to be developed in this course though is the extent to which you will be able to self-assess.
A variety of assessment techniques are used such as essays, portfolios, teaching observation and poster presentations.
The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 59% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (25%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (20%) or Lecturers (55%).
We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic staff (81%) are accredited fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advanced HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.
The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise. The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff. This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.
Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.
Figures correct for academic year 2021-2022.
High quality apartment living in Belfast city centre adjacent to the university campus.
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At Student Wellbeing we provide many services to help students through their time at Ulster University.
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The Belfast campus is situated in the artistic and cultural centre of the city, the Cathedral Quarter.
We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.
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Applicants must hold a degree or equivalent in a healthcare related subject or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning.
English language requirements for international applicants
The University has a standard English language entry requirement of IELTS 6.0 with the added provision that no individual band score (in the four bands of reading, listening, speaking and writing) be below 5.5.
Accreditation of previous learning is an important concept in the Faculty of Life and Health Sciences. If you have any queries about this you should contact the Course Director directly.
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The course is an attractive option for those wishing to develop their career. The primary function of the course is to enable you to develop a skill set in learning and teaching that will be immediately relevant to your current practice.
The course also enables you to progress to further study at postgraduate level
In addition, there are colleagues who practice in areas that have a substantial educational component and have found that having a qualification in education at a postgraduate level has been very beneficial.
Whilst there is no placement as such it is recognised that the majority of students undertaking this course will be embedded in practice. Thus a lot of what you study at the university will be interpreted through the lens of its applicability to your clinical practice.
The price of your overall programme will be determined by the number of credit points that you initiate in the relevant academic year.
For modules commenced in the academic year 2023/24, the following fees apply:
| Credit Points | NI/ROI/GB Cost | International Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | £186.65 | £440 |
| 10 | £373.30 | £880 |
| 15 | £559.95 | £1,320 |
| 20 | £746.60 | £1,760 |
| 30 | £1,119.90 | £2,640 |
| 60 | £2,239.80 | £5,280 |
| 120 | £4,479.60 | £10,560 |
| 180 | £6,719.40 | £15,840 |
NB: A standard full-time PGCert is equivalent to 60 credit points per year. A standard full-time PGDip is equivalent to 120 credit points per year.
The Valerie Morrison Memorial Cup is attached to this course. This cup is awarded to the student who demonstrated excellence in all areas of the course.
It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.
Where a course has additional mandatory expenses (in addition to tuition fees) we make every effort to highlight them above. We aim to provide students with the learning materials needed to support their studies. Our libraries are a valuable resource with an extensive collection of books and journals, as well as first-class facilities and IT equipment. Computer suites and free Wi-Fi are also available on each of the campuses.
There are additional fees for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.
Students choosing a period of paid work placement or study abroad as a part of their course should be aware that there may be additional travel and living costs, as well as tuition fees.
See the tuition fees on our student guide for most up to date costs.
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.
