Short Course: Embedding Financial Sustainability in FE Practice
About
Are you passionate about helping learners thrive in real-world contexts? This course is designed for Further Education (FE) lecturers who want to make a meaningful impact by embedding numeracy and financial literacy into vocational teaching.
You’ll explore how everyday financial concepts like budgeting, saving, debt management, and long-term planning can be taught in ways that resonate with learners across a variety of disciplines. You’ll also gain insight into the emotional barriers to numeracy, such as maths anxiety, and learn how to create more inclusive, confidence-building learning environments.
Why study this course?
Numeracy is a gateway to opportunity but too many learners leave education without the skills they need to manage money or understand financial systems. This course equips you to change that. By embedding financial education into your teaching, you’ll help learners make informed decisions, improve their life chances, and become more financially resilient.
What will you gain?
- Learners will understand Money Management: Teaching individuals how to budget, save, and spend wisely.
- Learners will make Informed Financial Decisions: Helping people make sound financial choices, such as selecting appropriate financial products and services.
- Learners will plan for the future: Encouraging long-term financial planning, including saving for emergencies, retirement, and other goals.
- Learners will explore Debt Management: Educating on how to manage and repay debts responsibly.
- Learners will enhance Financial Literacy: Increasing overall financial knowledge to improve financial behaviours and outcomes.
Who is this course for?
If you're an FE lecturer, trainer, or curriculum developer who wants to:
- Make financial sustainability meaningful in vocational contexts
- Support learners with real-world financial skills
- Contribute to a more financially literate society
- Develop the skills to support Entrepreneurial growth
…then this is the course for you.
Term dates
Start date: Friday 30 January 2026.
This course requires hybrid attendance between our campuses, as well as online attendance, during Semester 2, in 2026.
- Please note, dates and timetabling may be subject to change.
Attendance
This will be blended delivery with a mix of online and in college and on campus sessions which will be dictated by locations of student cohorts.
Location
This course is delivered Belfast campus.
Assessment
100% coursework.
Assessment 1: Portfolio (Coursework) [50%]
Assessment 2: Presentation (Practical) [50%]
Career Options
Completing this module will enhance your professional profile in a range of roles within the Further Education and skills sector, including:
- FE Lecturer or Trainer with a specialism in embedding numeracy or financial education
- Curriculum Developer focused on inclusive and applied learning
- Education Support Officer or Learning Mentor with a focus on numeracy support
- Professional Development Lead in FE institutions or training providers
- Community Education Facilitator working on adult financial literacy initiatives
Academic Profile
This module is taught by Dr Shauna McGill, Senior Lecturer
Shauna McGill currently holds a PhD in Education with Ulster University but also holds a Masters of Teaching from Queens University and a Bachelor of Education (Hons) from University of Glasgow. As Course Director for the PGCE Primary Course on the Coleraine Campus, Shauna has been employed as a Lecturer of Education for the past 17 years, additionally working as a primary teacher for 5 years before this role.
Research interests include Teacher Education, Primary Mathematics and Mobile Technology. Shauna is an Executive Committee member of the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics (BSRLM), Committee Secretary for the Association for the Study of Primary Education (ASPE) and Conference Committee member for the Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (SCOTENS).
Shauna has presented her research and collaborative research as a keynote speaker and as a participant at various national and international Teacher Education conferences. Shauna has been previously appointed as Externals Examiners in Brunel and UCL Universities. She is the 2023 recipient of the Distinguished Educational Excellence Award and in 2019 received the John Coolahan Award for her Cross border collaborative research in Teacher Education.
Further Information
Modules
The short course is designed to upskill the FE workforce in embedding financial sustainability across vocational learning. This in turn will support the local economy by providing more flexible and agile working practices.
Eligibility
You must be a qualified teacher in primary, secondary or FE.
Places are limited and open to applicants who:
- are 18 or over at the point of enrolment;
- have a right to work and undertake training in the UK at the point of application and for the duration of the course and must not be disqualified from doing either by reason of their immigration status. Proof of this will be required to progress your application. Prove your right to work to an employer: Overview - GOV.UK
- meet the course specific entry requirements. See course pages for requirements.
- meet the Ulster University general entry requirements including competency in English (as evidenced by GCSE Grade C in English or alternative). For English competency, a degree taught in UK or Ireland covers this requirement. If your degree is from outside the UK or Ireland, please see our list of acceptable qualifications or tests.
- are available to register in person at the campus as required.
Apply now - limited places available
There are a limited number of places for this course. Offers will be extended to those applicants who meet the entry requirements following successful completion of the application process, and have provided evidence of such, on a first come, first served basis. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all offers are extended. Applications will no longer be accepted or processed once all places are filled. Applications cannot be considered once a course has started.
Please note you can only be funded by DfE for a maximum of two courses at any one time across all institutions who offer courses as part of SkillUp. You will only be permitted to study one course at Ulster in each academic year or a maximum of two microcredentials up to 45 credits per semester.
When creating your application you will need to have the following documents saved electronically as they need to be uploaded as part of the application process:
- Passport
- Evidence of having right to work and undertake training in the UK*
- Degree Certificate
- English Competency (If you have a degree from UK/ROI, you don't need to provide anything else)
* Holders of UK or Irish passports automatically have this right. if you hold a passport from another nation, please provide evidence of UK immigration permissions to include a ShareCode and/or BRP.
To select the correct course, in the field called Please select the subject area, select Education from the drop down box. Then select Embedding Financial Sustainability in FE Practice from the next drop down box.
