Skip navigation
Certificate in Education (Life-long Learning) at DN Colleges Group - UCAS

DN Colleges Group

Degree level: Undergraduate
Awarded by: University of Huddersfield

Certificate in Education (Life-long 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 hoping to go into teaching within sixth forms or further education colleges, or you see yourself taking up a career in adult education or informal education roles, then this course could be ideal. It’s focused on training to teach within the lifelong learning (post 14) sector comprising of offender learning, further education, adult education, training organisations and adult community learning to name just a few. You don’t need previous teaching experience, just an industry skill, an appropriate entry qualification 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 teacher. Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Trainees will be notified when applicable. Upon successful completion of your undergraduate studies, progression onto the following programmes may be of interest: - BA (Hons) 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 normally be in employment as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment. The course is particularly suitable if you have work experience and/or qualifications in industry, including business and administration, hair and beauty, health and social care, uniformed services or armed forces, construction, engineering and many other vocational areas. As well as studying at your respective DN College’s site, you’ll learn the practical skills of teaching through your work-based practice in an appropriate educational institution. The work-based practice hours for each practice-based module should be at least 125 hours in duration, (totalling 250 hours) 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. Placement (Pre-Service) As well as studying at your DN Colleges site, you’ll learn the practical skills of teaching through a placement in an appropriate educational institution. Previous trainees have been placed in a range of institutions including colleges, work-based learning providers and in offender and community learning settings. The placement 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. To improve your range of experience in the sector, your work-based practice/ placement 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’. Your placements could be based in areas some distance from your point of study, so please be aware of potential associated travelling costs.

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 work experience in industry, business and administration, hair and beauty, social work, health service, uniformed services, or armed forces. In addition to DN Colleges Group general minimum entry requirements, you must also: - have either a HNC, CGLI Advanced, NVQ level 3/4 or recognised professional qualification - be able to demonstrate appropriate work experience in the area you wish to teach - GCSE English grade C/4 or Level 2 - GCSE Maths grade C/4 or Level 2 - be able to confidently communicate in standard spoken and written English. If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent In addition, you must also: - provide a satisfactory Enhanced 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.

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 • Trips and enhancement opportunities
Certificate in Education (Life-long Learning) at DN Colleges Group - UCAS