Skip navigation
Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Lifelong Learning) at DN Colleges Group - UCAS

DN Colleges Group

Degree level: Undergraduate
Awarded by: University of Huddersfield

Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Lifelong Learning)

Course options

2024 - 20252025 - 2026
Apply

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

DN Colleges Group has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

If you’re looking to progress into a career teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, including sixth form and further education colleges, adult education and a wide range of other training and educational settings, then this course could be ideal for you. We welcome applicants with industrial skills and/or relevant academic qualifications and a passion for teaching and training others. Why Lifelong Learning?

  • Upon successful completion of this course, you may be eligible to proceed to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, following a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training. QTLS is the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning sector.
  • During the course you’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills to play a full part in teaching and curriculum development.
  • We know there’s no substitute for the classroom environment, so we’ll give you the opportunity to go on placement with one of our partnership institutions. On your placement you’ll be able to observe experienced teachers, gain practical hands-on experience and benefit from one-to-one mentoring to help develop the skills you’ll need to become an outstanding and effective teacher.
Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Trainees will be notified when applicable. Upon successful completion of your postgraduate studies, progression onto the following programmes may be of interest: - Masters in Education Studies Upon successful completion of this course, you may be eligible to proceed, following a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. This is the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

Modules

Core Modules: Year 1

  • Research Informed Teaching, Learning and Assessment
  • Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)
Year 2
  • Being a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)
  • Curriculum and Context
Work-Based Practice (In- service): You should be in employment as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment. The work-based practice hours for each practice-based module should be at least 125 hours in duration, of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice (totalling 250 hours). The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module, (totalling 20 hours) alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery. Placement (pre-service): The placement hours for each practice-based module should be at least 250 hours in duration, of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice. The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module, (totalling 20 hours) alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery. Your placements could be based in areas some distance from your point of study, so please be aware of potential associated travelling costs. To improve your range of experience in the sector, your work-based practice across the year must include experience in another teaching location. Cumulatively, this must come to 20 hours across the year. The 20 hours experience can include observation of practice, CPD activities, etc rather than teaching practice. If it is not possible to source a second work-based practice/ placement, this could include observation of a different subject area and/or venue (e.g. alternative provision, 6th form) in the same provider. The 20 hours of experience in another work-based practice/ placement will be logged in the teaching portfolio that you will submit as part of the assessment requirements for the module titled ‘Being a Subject Specialist Teacher’

Assessment method

The primary way of delivering this programme is on Campus. On this course you’ll have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and understanding needed to teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, and the ability to identify your ongoing needs for professional development. The course helps to prepare you for playing a full part in the teaching, administrative, and curriculum development activities in colleges and in other education and training organisations. As part of the course, you’ll complete a subject specialist module and will be able to attend the culminating conference at the University of Huddersfield. You’ll be informed of the exact dates during the first year of the course. The focus of this course is on practical teaching. You’ll have the opportunity to gain experience of learning and teaching alongside other professionals with support from tutors and work-based mentors. You’ll be supported to gain competence in planning, teaching and learning; and in working with students; with assessment of your progress taking place in formal classrooms and in student-centred learning situations. In addition, you’ll be taught through a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and interactive workshops and you’ll have a personal tutor who’ll be assigned to you throughout your studies to support your ongoing wellbeing and ensure that you have a positive learning experience. Assessments vary and include essays, the creation of resources to support learning, seminars, and presentations.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

No prior teaching experience is needed. The course is particularly suitable if you have relevant qualifications and some experience in your industry and/or subject specialism. - UK degree (normally 2:2 or above) or equivalent related to your specialist area - Where the subject for which the degree was awarded is not in (or academically related to) the subject that is being taught, then the applicant will normally need to prove that they possess other qualifications (at NVQ Level 3 or above) that indicate that they may be a credible person to teach that subject. - GCSE Maths grade C/4 or Level 2 - GCSE English grade C/4 or Level 2 - Relevant work experience in some specialist subject areas In addition, you must also: - provide a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances - provide two satisfactory references - complete a satisfactory professional discussion We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups. We are committed to creating educational opportunities for people from a variety of backgrounds and situations. If you have been out of formal education for some time, and/or you do not have the qualifications stated, we might still be able to consider your application and offer you a range of support. We are here to help. Please get in touch to find out more.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £3970 Year 1
Northern Ireland £3970 Year 1
Scotland £3970 Year 1
Wales £3970 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Your Tuition fees cover most costs associated with your course (including registration, tuition and assessment) There may be some extra costs that you might need to make, or choose to pay, for example: • Books (you’ll have access to books from your module reading lists in the HE library, but you may want to buy your own copies) • Printing and photocopying If your programme includes a work placement, you may be required to pay for a Basic or Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Lifelong Learning) at DN Colleges Group - UCAS