PGCert Learning and Teaching in Higher Education

You can study the programme from anywhere in the world, at a pace that suits you. Our flexible approach to studying allows you to fit your studies around your commitments and you can decide how many modules to take.

Over a 22-week session, our 30-credit module will typically require 10 to 15 hours study per week. 

When you register with us, you will gain access to all resources and study materials via your Student Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), that will equip you to complete each module successfully. You will gain access to a range of multimedia content, activities, and exercises, as well as the opportunity to engage with your online tutor and fellow students.

We run live video conference seminars once every two weeks, repeated twice in the day to accommodate different time-zones. The sessions provide a great opportunity for you to work with you peers and the tutors and we include invited speakers, seminars, workshops, tutorials and lots of collaborative activity in these sessions.

Online Library

As a student at the University of London, you will have access to a range of resources, databases, and journals via the Online Library. You will be able to contact a team of professional and qualified librarians for any help you require.

Senate House Library

If you’re based in the United Kingdom, or are visiting London, make sure to visit Senate House Library. Students studying with the University of London can join the library free of charge. Membership includes a 10-book borrowing allowance, access to all reading rooms and study areas, and on-site access to Senate House Library digital resources.

Online tutor support

Studying our online programme entitles you to receive tutor support and feedback. You will join an online tutor group to receive academic support and guidance on assessments.

Assessment

Modules include a mix of assessments, giving you the chance to undertake formative assessments, which will help you measure your progress and summative assessments, which will count to your final marks. You can submit your coursework assignments anywhere in the world with an internet connection meeting our minimum requirements. Assessment is through coursework, and there are no examinations.

The programme team is led by the University of London's Centre for Online and Distance Education (CODE). The Centre provides an outstanding source of expertise and guidance in distance education and e-learning throughout the University of London, its member institutions, partner organisations, Teaching Centres, and beyond.

The Centre makes a significant contribution to the University's standing as a world-leading university for open, distance and flexible education. The collective expertise of the team includes development and delivery on a range of distance learning and face-to-face programmes from various disciplines including similar teacher-development programmes.

Programme team

Dr Jessica Clare Hancock is a Fellow of the Centre for Online and Distance Education and she is an accomplished academic with extensive experience in UK HE. Jessica’s career has spanned institutions including University of Oxford, Brunel University, University of Portsmouth, Glasgow Caledonian University London, UCL, and City St George’s, University of London. She is currently an External Examiner for the University of Salford, and the University of Bolton.

Most recently, she served as Head of Learning and Teaching at the University of Winchester, where she led two MA programmes (Learning and Teaching in HE and Student Engagement) and spearheaded initiatives such as the reintroduction of Personal Academic Tutoring across the university. She led the delivery of the first online-only iteration of the MA and she also ran the university’s scheme for awarding Advance HE fellowships which recognise expertise in Learning and Teaching.

Jessica has spent time working in Learning Development, directly with students. She achieved the Association for Learning Development in Higher Education’s Certified Practitioner Status, and retains an interest in academic literacies. She is passionate about supporting anyone involved in teaching to enhance their practice, and she has established courses specifically for PhD researchers at both City and Winchester. 

Jessica’s key research interests are around compassion and identities in HE learning and teaching. She has published on flipped learning; compassionate and playful approaches to developing learning and teaching; active learning; problem-based learning and reflection.

This programme is for those supporting the learning of students in higher education. This will include teachers, academics, tutors, careers teams, educators, learning support colleagues, and lecturers working in Higher Education.

To be eligible to join you need to be teaching or supporting higher education students. Your role could be as a teacher, academic, tutor, educator, lecturer, or you may work with students in employability, in academic support or in a library role.

If you are not currently teaching or supporting the learning of students in higher education then you will not be able to join this programme.

If you are a teacher working in a primary or secondary school or an early years setting then you may wish to look at our PGCE Teacher Development programme.

What qualifications do you need?

To register, you must fulfil the following criteria:

• Hold an undergraduate degree which is considered comparable to a UK degree, in any subject, from an institution acceptable to the University.
• Be currently teaching or supporting learning on a higher education qualification. Teaching can be part-time or full-time.
• Reference letters will be requested when your application is processed by the Admissions Office. Alternatively, you can upload signed letters of reference to your application when you apply.

English Language requirements

You need a high standard of English to study this programme. You will meet our language requirements if you have achieved one of the following within the past three years:

• IELTS score of 7 with no sub test below 6.5.
• (TOEFL) iBT Test of English as a Foreign Language with an overall score of 95 or above, including a minimum of 24 attained on the reading and writing skills sub-tests and a minimum of 25 attained on the speaking sub-test and 22 attained on the listening sub-test.
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (at grade C or above)
• Duolingo: must achieve an overall score of at least 130.

If you don’t meet these requirements but believe you can meet the standard, we may also consider your application.

Computer requirements

We set minimum basic computer requirements because your study resources are accessed via the Student Portal and it is vital that you can access this regularly. For this course, you may also need Adobe Flash Player to view video material and a media player (such as VLC) to play video files.

More about computer requirements.

If you have studied material as part of a previous qualification that is comparable in content, level and standard to our Postgraduate Certificate modules, you may be exempted from the equivalent course of our degree. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) or Exemption. You will not need to study or be assessed in the module(s) to complete your award.

You may be awarded for RPL for Module 1 (LTM010) only from the Postgraduate Certificate.

To be considered for RPL you should make a formal request within your application when applying for the programme. Or, you can submit an online enquiry, if you have already applied.

You will need to have met the entrance requirements for the programme to be considered for RPL.

You must have completed the qualification/ examination(s), on which the application for RPL is based on, within the seven years preceding the application.

We will not recognise or accredit prior learning for a module later than 14 days after the module start date. You will be deemed to have started a module once you have been given access to the learning materials on the VLE.

Discretionary RPL

Recognition of prior learning will be granted at the discretion of the Programme Director. All requests will need to be assessed by specialist academics on a case by case basis, before we can approve RPL. A formal application is required and an RPL application fee is payable. The RPL application fee is non-refundable, even if your prior learning is not recognised.

For your discretionary RPL request to be processed, you will need to provide:

• scanned evidence of a relevant training and development qualification e.g. AHEA, FHEA, CMALT, FSEDA award, a 30 credit Masters level module or equivalent, Completion of the Centre for Distance Education Short course or tutoring the Short Course for Open University China (uploaded OUC Course Completion Badge), tutoring on the Centre for Distance Education Short course for Open University China (OUC two tutor badges uploaded), PGCE, PCET.
• a completed RPL request form which includes a reflective, analytical review of your practice as a teacher or lecturer in Higher Education based on ONE example or case study (we will send you the form).

You should apply as soon as possible so that we can process your request. You will need to allow time for academics to consider your documentation, so you can register by the registration deadline.

If you submit your discretionary RPL application but are too late to be considered for RPL in the current session, we will still process your application to study the programme. If you receive an offer, you can still register. If you wish to be considered for RPL in a subsequent session, then you shouldn’t register on the modules you want to apply for RPL.

All discretionary RPL requests must be submitted by the dates specified for the April or October intake, in the year that you apply. We must receive all required supporting evidence by the deadline stated.

How to request RPL

Additional information about the process of applying for RPL. 

Further information regarding RPL is covered in the Recognition of Prior Learning section of the appropriate Programme Regulations and Section 3 of the General Regulations.

The fees below relate to new students registering for the 2023-2024 session. On average, fees are subject to a five per cent year-on-year increase. 

Students who registered earlier can view their fees on the Course Fees page. 

Important: the table below does not include fees payable to a third party, such as tuition costs payable to a Recognised Teaching Centre or fees charged by your local examination centre, or local VAT, Goods or Services Tax (GST) or sales tax.

Disclaimer: Currency conversion tool.

The full programme fee includes all module and continuation fees payable to the University of London for the duration of your study, as well as online tutor support. This fee does not include local exam centre fees and fees payable to a University of London Recognised Teaching Centre, if applicable.

*The indicative totals reflect average annual fee increases and assume that you complete the qualification within the minimum time – without resits, and with no law courses (which require additional fees).

More about programme fees.

Additional Costs

You will also need to budget for:

• Textbooks (could extend to around £300 per year)
• Exam centre fees, which are paid directly to the venues where you sit your exams
• Tuition costs if you study at a Recognised Teaching Centre.

Sales Tax

Please note: all student fees shown are net of any local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the student in their country of residence. Where the University is required to add VAT, GST or any other sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment process. For students resident in the UK, our fees are exempt from VAT.

Further information on Sales Tax.

Your payment provider may apply additional transaction fees. (If in doubt, please check with them before making a payment.)

Without the cost of moving to London, studying for your University of London award anywhere in the world represents excellent value for money. However, there are additional sources of support depending on where you live and how you choose to study.

More on funding your study.

If you are a tutor supporting a University of London programme at a Recognised Teaching Centre, you may be entitled to a 20 per cent discount on fees.

If you are a staff member at a University of London Member Institution, or an online tutor or module leader supporting a University of London programme, you may be entitled to a 30 per cent discount on fees.

Please note: this cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount policy offered.

You can pay your fees in a number of ways, including an online payment facility via the Student Portal and Western Union Quick Pay.

More on how to pay your fees

This programme is ideal for those wishing to take on further responsibility as, for example, a Programme Leader or Curriculum lead.

In the UK, a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education is often required or desirable for those applying for HE roles.

This programme will provide you with an opportunity to develop your practice and skills. You will consider your own professional development while undertaking this programme and may focus your work in the 'Enhancing learning, teaching and assessment' module on an area of development that will enrich your leadership skills.

The programme has been mapped by the programme team against the UK Professional Standards Framework. You will have the opportunity to consider your own developing practice and may wish to use this programme to support an application to Advance HE at Associate or Fellow level. Please note this programme is not currently accredited with Advance HE and does not automatically confer Fellowship.

See the Advance HE website for more information.

In some countries, qualifications earned by distance and flexible learning may not be recognised by certain authorities or regulators for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. We advise you to explore the local recognition status before you register, even if you plan to receive support from a local Teaching Centre.

The University of London recognises the achievement of successful graduates from the Postgraduate Certificate Learning and Teaching in Higher Education by granting them University of London Worldwide Recognised Tutor Status.

This includes receiving a certificate and diploma supplement.

University of London Worldwide Recognised Tutors, as successful graduates of the Postgraduate Certificate Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, have had the opportunity to:

• demonstrate enhanced skills, understanding of and strategies in teaching, learning and assessment in face to face teaching
• engage with successful digital and online learning through direct hands-on experience
• demonstrate enhanced skills in digital and online teaching
• work with colleagues across the globe, in a community of practice
• demonstrate a commitment to their own professional development

Recognised Tutor Status holders can choose to be included on our website listing and those working in University of London Recognised Teaching Centres, can be linked to their institution.

You’ll have access to a wide range of careers and employability support through the University of London Careers Service, including live webinars and online drop-in sessions.

More on the University of London Careers Service.