Career Development at Bristol, University of the West of England - UCAS

Course summary

Why study career development? The demand for career development practitioners is growing. As jobs evolve in an ever-changing world of work, people are increasingly in need of additional careers support and career management skills, so that they can transition positively between different stages of their career. Why UWE Bristol? Whether you already work in this field, or aspire to do so, UWE Bristol's PGCert Career Development will allow you to professionalise your skills and meet the qualification requirement for the UK Register of Career Development Professionals. Approved by the Career Development Institute (CDI), this future-facing course provides a strong grounding in contemporary career development theory and practice, with the added benefit of being taught by current and experienced career development practitioners. You'll develop the skills to support the career development needs of clients as you build your knowledge of contemporary issues, relevant theories and ethical models for practice. Developed as a joint initiative between UWE Bristol's Careers and Enterprise team and the Department of Education, with input from the CDI, this PGCert brings together expertise from across the University to give you valuable additional skills and knowledge not found on comparable courses. You will learn to design and deliver career-related activities to groups of learners, including larger groups, as well as providing support on a one-to-one basis. Enterprise education is also built in, reflecting the need for career development practitioners to have a confident understanding of this area. The course is delivered and assessed online, making it a flexible study option that can be fitted in around other commitments. Recognising that practitioners in this area increasingly need to engage with new technology, we will build an online community of practice and support you in your online learning journey. Where can it take me? Once qualified, you will be in a position to take your skills into a range of educational contexts, including schools, colleges and universities, as a career development professional. Your knowledge and experience will also be sought after in related fields, including enterprise, placements, employer relations, volunteering, mentoring, student advice and support, personal development and life coaching.

Assessment method

You'll be assessed using a variety of practice-oriented assessments, which are linked to real-world practice and mapped to the external professional standards required of a qualified careers professional.


Entry requirements

Usually applicants will have an undergraduate degree (2:2 or equivalent) but applicants with other qualifications or professional experience are also encouraged to apply. We will consider evidence of your relevant personal, professional or educational experience where it demonstrates an ability and potential to succeed on the course. If you wish to progress to the MA, then accredited learning will be available up to a maximum of 120 credits for a relevant CDI approved Postgraduate Diploma. Please note that the MA is awarded on a pass or fail basis and is not graded. If the Postgraduate Diploma is over five years old then it will be necessary for you to be currently working in a relevant field. If you have achieved the Level 6 Diploma in Career Guidance and Development, and are currently employed in a professional career development role, then it may also be possible to accredit this learning and experience towards the MA, up to a maximum of 90 credits, dependent upon your other academic qualifications.


English language requirements

International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with no component below 5.5 (or approved equivalent*). *The university accepts a large number of UK and International qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades, please visit our English Language Requirements pages: https://www.uwe.ac.uk/courses/applying/international-applications/english-language-requirements


Fees and funding

Tuition fees

No fee information has been provided for this course

Additional fee information

Fee information is to be confirmed. All fees are subject to final approval. Please visit our website for further information.
Career Development at Bristol, University of the West of England - UCAS