Academic Practice, MA, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate

University of Liverpool Online Programmes, the United Kingdom

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Study options for this course

The award	How you will study	Study duration	Course start	Domestic course fees	International course fees
MA, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate	Part-time, Online	30 months	May, October	GBP 16065 per total	GBP 16065 per total

About Academic Practice, MA, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate - at University of Liverpool Online Programmes

This online academic practice programme has been designed for students from both teaching and non-teaching backgrounds in higher education (HE) to provide an opportunity to enhance their academic practice, academic leadership and ability to support learning and teaching in a global context.

There are three study awards for the programme: the Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice (PGCAP), the Postgraduate Diploma Academic Practice (PGDAP) and the full Master of Arts Academic Practice (MA AP).

Depending on a student's background, the online PGCAP award offers two pathways.

Standard Pathway

If you do not hold a teaching position in a higher education institution you can take the route of gaining a PGCAP that will provide you with the theory and practice of teaching and supporting learning in higher education in a global context.

FHEA Pathway

If you do hold a teaching position that enables you to demonstrate Descriptor Level 2 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF), you can obtain a PGCAP and through our partnership with Advance HE, gain recognition as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), the UK’s agency for driving excellence in higher education.

PGDAP and MA AP

The Postgraduate Diploma Academic Practice builds on learning from both pathways of the PGCAP to further develop academic leadership, scholarship, and pedagogic research in preparation for progression to the MA AP which gives participants the opportunity to complete a supervised academic practice project. Throughout the programme you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of academic teaching concepts, such as utilising international educational frameworks to design lessons and assignments as well as applying learning outcomes to your own context. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge by articulating pedagogical theories in the classroom. The extensively diverse cohort of international peers will provide you with a global outlook on higher education practices and allow you to interchange experiences across a variety of educational contexts.

Why study this subject? 

This programme is for those who are interested in transactional education and in developing a toolkit to work with international students and faculty. Beyond the curriculum-specific knowledge, you will also become more proficient in communication, digital literacy, teaching and research, ultimately opening doors to many new professional opportunities.

Programme structure

Students are required to complete 60 credits to achieve the PGCAP (both pathways), 120 credits to achieve the PGDAP and 180 credits to complete the MA AP.  

PGCAP Award

Foundational Approaches to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (15 credits) - PGCAP (Standard Pathway)
Contemporary Approaches to Learning and Teaching (15 credits) - PGCAP (Standard and FHEA Pathway)
Alternative Approaches to Supporting Learning (15 credits) - PGCAP (Standard and FHEA Pathway)
Enhancing Teaching and Learning (15 credits) - PGCAP (Standard and FHEA Pathway)
Extending your HE Career in a Global Context (15 credits) – PGCAP (FHEA Pathway)

PGDAP and MA AP Awards

Developing Academic Leadership (15 credits) – PGDAP and MA AP
Developing Scholarship (15 credits) – PGDAP and MA AP   
Evidencing Academic Leadership (15 credits) – PGDAP and MA AP  
Pedagogic Research Design (15 credits) – PGDAP and MA AP
Academic Practice Project (60 credits) – MA AP

Teaching methods and style 

This programme is designed to be studied online and part-time. Teaching is delivered through our state-of-the-art Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which provides students with access to all resources required for interactive study online. On this platform, you will be encouraged to work collaboratively with classmates and actively read around your topic through our comprehensive library of eBooks and journals.  

Programme modules, apart from the academic practice project, are delivered over an eight-week period with one module studied at a time. The student’s learning journey is facilitated by the use of written materials, lecturecasts (video presentations), interactive individual activities, case studies, and discussion boards.

Methods of assessment 

Assessment is exclusively through online assignments rather than examinations. You will be assessed through a range of activities, including written assignments, presentations, discussion forum participation and journal entries. 

Career destinations 

Upon completion of the programme, you will gain initial training qualifications that are transferable to other HE institutions. You will have the opportunity to dive into learning, providing case studies and perspectives from their local contexts while creating a strong global active learning experience and a global network of contacts for all students. The expertise you will acquire by studying this online programme is directly applicable to a workplace. The second FHEA pathway offers the postgraduate certificate and automatic professional recognition (FHEA) to successful graduates, which can fast-track your career in higher education.

Love what you've read so far?

Download a prospectus or visit our website for more information on this programme. Alternatively, you can contact one of our admission advisers to get your questions answered.

One of the best ways to see if the programme is right for you is to join one of our regular virtual events where you will be introduced to our range of online programmes, our online learning facilities, and Q&A’s with staff to help you make the best decision about the future of your education.

Learn more about Academic Practice, MA, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate - at University of Liverpool Online Programmes

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Notes about fees for this course

Fees for the academic year 2023/24

MA: £16,065
PGDAP: £10,710
PGCAP: £5,355

The tuition fee is fully inclusive of all costs: teaching materials, core textbooks, assessments and resits
You will receive a 5% discount if you choose to pay the full tuition fee upfront
If not, you will be offered a simple monthly payment plan to spread the cost of your tuition over the duration of your studies
A Regional Scholarship of up to 20% is available for international students based overseas from the United Kingdom in eligible countries.
Corporate discounts of 10% are available for organisations looking to invest in the skills of three or more employees. For more information, please visit our website where you can speak to one of our admissions advisors to learn how you can upskill your team for organisational success.
A UK Scholarship of 10% is available for students residing in the United Kingdom.

*All tuition fees shown are net of any applicable sales tax payable by you in your country of residence. Where we are required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the tuition fees shown and confirmed during the payment process.

Entry requirements

All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you want to discuss your previous qualifications and experience before applying, please contact us now via LiveChat. 

For both PGCAP pathways, applicants must have: 

A degree equivalent to an upper-second class UK bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

For pathway two leading to Fellowship (FHEA), applicants must also:

Hold a teaching position in a higher education institution that enables them to demonstrate Descriptor level 2 of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF).

If you are unsure about which pathway is best suited to you, please contact our admissions team to discuss the options open to you.

All applicants must provide evidence that they have an English language ability equivalent to an IELTS (academic) score of 6.5 (with all parts of the score being above a minimum of 5.5).

If you don’t have an IELTS or equivalent certificate, you can take our free online English test to assess your proficiency. You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of, or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.

Student reviews of University of Liverpool Online Programmes

Find out what students say about University of Liverpool Online Programmes

Khungeka Njobe – Finance and Investment Management MSc

“The University of Liverpool offered a course that I was looking for and in terms of the quality of the university on QS Rankings. Accessibility, flexibility and the quality of education informed my decision.”

Manish Madnani – Healthcare Leadership MSc

“The University of Liverpool is a known name to many, and it has its own legacy. Searching through a variety of courses in the same domain, I found the most suitable and wonderful program. After the first module, I am proud and happy to say that I made a very good decision.”

Winston Wangwe – Master of Public Health (MPH)

“The health program here has activities across the emergency response to development continuum, from emergency flood response to health systems strengthening. I look forward to continuing to impact the population I serve through policy advocacy and health systems strengthening especially in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, and MHPSS.”