Course summary
Gain a grounding in the essentials of psychology with this short course, delivered online to fit around your existing commitments, and take the first step towards a new career in a field related to psychology. Employability is at the heart of this course, and throughout your studies you will develop a range of skills in research, time management, communication and critical analysis, while growing your knowledge about the key principles, theories and methods within the discipline. The topics you will cover include: the history and philosophy of psychological inquiry critical milestones in human development through infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and late adulthood the main qualitative and quantitative research methods used for data collection and analysis the application of critical ideas to contemporary psychological and socio-political issues drawn from discursive, feminist and racially/culturally aware approaches If you find the course beneficial, you can choose to continue your studies after you complete the course by progressing onto our PG Dip or full Masters in psychology.
Modules
The PG Cert Psychology is made up of the following modules and, upon completion, is equal to a total of 60 credits at Level 7. Level 7 modules: Core Principles of Psychological Enquiry (10 credits) Human Development over the Lifespan (20 credits)* Research Methods (10 credits) Critical Social Psychology (20 credits)*
- Core module (must be passed in order to achieve the award)
Assessment method
Teaching methods Studying online gives you the freedom to study when and where it suits you – at home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access. Our courses are delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) instead of a traditional campus. This means you will have access to your study materials 24/7, including: multimedia lecturecasts made up of written content, short videos, animation, audio recordings, infographics, short tests and mini-assignments discussion forums for you to chat about the course content with fellow students live skills workshops with your tutors a comprehensive eLibrary of textbooks and academic journals support from academic staff and your dedicated Student Support team To ensure you receive the support you need from your tutor, we cap our class sizes at 20 students. Assessment methods Rather than fretting about exams, you will be assessed exclusively through assignments. This can be by engaging in discussion forums throughout your modules, completing reflective journal entries, or by submitting longer written pieces. We are committed to providing frequent and transparent feedback through the following ways: Our assessment criteria are designed to be simple and transparent. You will always be aware of your current provisional grade, right from the start of the programme. You will be able to view your marks clearly in your gradebook whenever you log onto the learning platform. There is a 7-day turnaround for marking and feedback of assessed work. You will have regular contact with your Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns as soon as they arise. Study duration Our PG Cert Psychology has an indicative study duration of 8 months, which is a guide to how long your course will take to complete. The actual duration may be longer or shorter depending on your speed of study, study options chosen and module availability. It’s possible to complete your studies faster than the indicative course duration by doubling up on modules at certain times; however, minimum study durations do apply. Our academic year is organised into modules, typically with a one- or two-week break between modules and a structured three-week break for the Christmas period. Students will receive a course timetable during the application process. All of our courses have regular start dates throughout the year. On successful completion of your course, you will be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at the University of Essex, Colchester Campus.
Entry requirements
We know that many people from non-traditional backgrounds would succeed on our courses! That’s why we offer two different entry routes, taking into account your prior work experience and relevant qualifications. You will also need to meet our English language requirements. Additionally, you will need to pass your first assignment set within your two-week induction period of the course in order to continue with your studies. Academic entry route In order to satisfy the academic entry route requirements for our PG Cert Psychology, you must have the following qualifications as a minimum: an undergraduate degree from an approved institution, equivalent to a UK Honours degree, or a relevant professional qualification Work experience entry route In order to satisfy the work experience entry route requirements for our PG Cert Psychology, you must meet the following criteria: at least 3 years’ experience (voluntary or paid) within a relevant field, supported by 2 appropriate references. A relevant field may include one in Health, Mental Health, Social services, Counselling services, Schools and Education, Policing, Data analysis and Statistics. This is not an exhaustive list and will be reviewed on an individual basis by the academic team. English language requirements As our courses are delivered in English, a high proficiency with English is required. If English is not your first language, your English ability should be equivalent to an IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5. Don’t worry if you don’t hold an IELTS or equivalent qualification – we offer a free online English test to assess your proficiency.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £3945 | Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | £3945 | Year 1 |
| Scotland | £3945 | Year 1 |
| Wales | £3945 | Year 1 |
Additional fee information
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Essex Online
West One
114 Wellington Street
Leeds
LS1 1BA