Higher Education, PGCert
This Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education by online learning is ideal for people already employed in higher education who need to gain a teaching qualification.
Our PGCert in Higher Education explores a range of pedagogies and innovations in higher education teaching via online learning. You will learn how to design and implement effective modules and sessions, as well as strategies for assessment and feedback, student support, technology-enhanced learning, inclusive teaching and reflection on practice. We promote engagement with various approaches to teaching, learning and assessment, using a variety of models and tools which you can use in the classroom or online.
This PGCert is ideal for anyone who is currently teaching at Level 4 or above in Higher Education or HE in FE settings. If you are not yet employed in the sector, you may need to find suitable higher education level teaching to meet the entry requirements. On graduation, students gain Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy and are able to transfer to the university's MA in Education.
School
Duration
1 years distance learning
Start month
September
Home/international fees 2023/24
What you should know about this course
What you will study
About the course team
Welcome to our PGCert in Higher Education. Your teaching comes from an experienced team of lecturers. These include academics and practitioners with a wide range of experience. 100 per cent of our teaching team holds a teaching qualification.
Entry requirements
If you are
Applicants should have:
- A good honours degree (2:2) or have completed the university's Award in Learning and Teaching in HE.
- Plus appropriate qualifications and experience for your specialist area to make you a credible candidate for appointment to the HE sector.
- Plus a guaranteed minimum of 60 hours teaching in HE (Levels 4-7) during the registration period, with at least 10 hours in the first term. This may include a range of teaching activity, including tutorials and supervision.
For more information, contact courseinfo@greenwich.ac.uk or 020 8331 9000.
You can also read our admissions policy.
The University of Greenwich accepts a broad range of international qualifications for admission to our courses.
For detailed information on the academic and English language requirements, please find your country in our directory.
Available to overseas students?
Yes
Can I use Prior Learning?
You can apply for exemption from one 20-credit module via Recognition of Prior Learning. Applicants should apply for the course and then contact the programme leader for guidance about the RPL process.
Examples:
- If you hold qualifications or courses in teaching and learning from another HE institution, or if you have significant experience of the areas covered in a module, these may exempt you from one module.
- If you already have Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy, you may be eligible to apply for RPL for the portfolio module.
How you will learn
Learning experience
Most teaching and learning activities are online and use a range of tools, including Moodle, to provide a socially interactive and engaging experience. Content includes learning materials, resources, webinars and other activities and opportunities for sharing. Student interaction is both in study groups and across the course cohort.
Distance learning allows you to study flexibly, so you can arrange your studies around your other commitments.
Class sizes
The typical student intake per year averages 50 to 80. Webinars are normally attended by 20 to 30 and tutorials by five to ten. You will also work as part of a study group of four to six people.
Independent learning
Outside of webinars you will need to dedicate time to online group work and self-study to prepare for coursework. Our library and online resources will support your further reading and research. You can also join a range of student societies, including law and debating.
Overall workload
Your overall workload consists of contact hours (lectures, seminars, etc), independent learning, and assessments. You should anticipate four to six hours of work per week, although this may intensify during assessment periods.” - the same as our sibling programme page, the Award.
Assessment
You are assessed through individual and group assignments, including a portfolio of your professional development, with third party observations of teaching.
Formative assignments throughout provide feedback, feed forward and include group assignments. Summative assignments are individual and are marked on a pass/fail basis.
Feedback summary
Information coming soon.
Dates and timetables
Full teaching timetables are not usually available until term has started. For any queries, please call 020 8331 9000.
Fees and funding
Your time at university should be enjoyable, rewarding, and free of unnecessary stress. Planning your finances before you come to university can help to reduce financial concerns. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.
2023/24 fees
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Fees are assessed based on your country of domicile, with students domiciled in the EU charged international fees. If you are unsure, find out more about how your fee status is assessed.
Funding your study
There is a range of financial support options available to support your studies, including the Aspire@Greenwich award for study resources that many full-time students will receive.
EU students may be eligible for a bursary to support their study. View our EU bursary to find out more.
Discover more about grants, student loans, bursaries and scholarships. We also provide advice and support on budgeting, money management and financial hardship.
Other costs
Further costs may include (but are not limited to):
- Resources: you may choose to purchase books for your studies. However, there are considerable resources freely available online. You may need to purchase earphones or a headset to participate in webinars.
- Memberships: in addition to the course fee, there is a fee payable to the HEA for the award of Fellowship (FHEA). See details.
- Field trips: you will need to fund your travel to on-campus study days. Refreshments will be provided. You will need to provide your own lunch.
Careers and placements
Will I have a work placement?
If you are not employed in higher education, you will need to find and undertake an HE-level teaching placement or part-time hours which meet the admissions requirement for teaching hours.
How long is my placement?
The hours of HE-level teaching required for admission to the programme must be between September and May during the year of study.
What sort of careers do graduates pursue?
The course provides a recognised teaching qualification for those working in higher education.
Do you provide employability services?
Our services are designed to help you achieve your potential and support your transition towards a rewarding graduate career.
The Employability and Careers Service provides support when you are preparing to apply for placements and graduate roles. It includes CV clinics, mock interviews and employability skills workshops.
Each School also has its own Employability Officer, who works closely with the industry and will provide specific opportunities relevant to your own course.
Support and advice
Academic skills and study support
We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject librarians, and our online academic skills centre. Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics. If you need to use particular IT packages for a specific module, we provide training for this.
Support from the department
Throughout your time with us, you will be supported by the programme team as well as your peers. You will have a personal tutor, and a mentor who is normally from your own department or institution. If you are based in the UK, you will have face-to-face teaching and observations. There will be video/Skype as well as face-to-face observations for our international students.
Our Award of Institutional Credit in Learning and Teaching in HE offers a potential two-year route through this programme and is suitable for those with limited HE teaching hours. Contact the programme leader for more information.
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