Intro

This qualification is for practising health professionals who wish to gain the skills, knowledge and behaviours to be an effective educator and development leader within a practice or healthcare education context.

The course will appeal to nurses, midwives and allied health professionals who are looking to develop, or already have, an educational role in their current practice. Accredited by Advance HE, successful completion offers the opportunity to gain Advance HE Fellowship.

We'll aim to develop your skills and understanding so that you are enabled to teach and support learning to enhance healthcare practice. Most of the skills developed on the course will be in the context of teaching those on Higher Education courses in order to meet advanced HE requirements.

You will improve your confidence as a skilled educator by engaging with research and evidence-based teaching, learning and assessment strategies in different and complex settings. You will also have opportunities to reflect on your capacity as a leader and agent for change.

You will design and deliver a curriculum using contemporary resources and critically reflect on your own knowledge gained throughout the course and from your practice experience.

Throughout the course you will be supported by a personal tutor and an experienced course team of senior health professional academics who will oversee your progress and provide feedforward opportunities to develop your pedagogic practice.

Credits from the course can be integral to other masters-level study.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

Part-time 1–3 years

This course is accredited by the Advance HE, previously the Higher Education Academy

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience

Students are normally expected to demonstrate:

successful completion of an appropriate bachelor first degree from a higher educational (HE) institution in the UK, or equivalent award from a European or overseas HE institution AND have evidence of study at level six or above in the last five years

and

applicants should be a qualified health professional, be registered with the NMC/HCPC (or other regulatory body)

and

be in a role with a significant educational remit or have the opportunity to facilitate the learning of individuals or groups of learners which might include students, staff, patients, carers or members of the public. Normally two years post registration.

and

all students are required to undertake a range of teaching and learning activity throughout the course that is in addition to the attendance of the modules.

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is only available for those who have a previous study leading to a D1 qualification.

English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall with a minimum score of 6.5 in all components.

Course content

Course structure

On this part-time course you will achieve 60 level-7 credits. This can be three semesters in one year or spread over three years.

You will attend two induction days.

Induction to the University of Brighton: School of Sport and Health Sciences postgraduate programme
Induction day to the Leading Practice Education postgraduate certificate.

You will then complete the following modules.

The Health Professional as an Educator
Enhancing Engagement in Practice Education
Leading Education Design in Practice

The course utilises blended learning to achieve the outcomes, so learning within the modules is supported by you engaging with module-specific materials and activities in My Studies - our VLE (Virtual Learning Environment).

For more information on each module, see our Modules tab.

Modules

You will have opportunities to develop your education practice, leadership skills and confidence for the benefit of students, workforce development, patient services and your own professional and academic development. This will be achieved through the following modules:

The Health Professional as an Educator (HE714, 20 level-7 credits)
This introductory module, delivered in semester one, develops your confidence, skills and knowledge as an educator. It encourages you to critique educational theories as well as yourself, enabling you to apply evidence to your teaching practice and demonstrate effective learning in practice settings. It helps you recognise and integrate the values that enhance professional learning into your teaching. It involves five taught days.

Enhancing Engagement in Practice Education (HE736, 20 level-7 credits)
This module, delivered in semester two, critically evaluates assessment and student engagement practices, with the aim of challenging and developing your teaching and assessment practices. It involves five taught days and blended learning strategies.

Leading Education Design in Practice (HS727, 20 level-7 credits)
This extensive module is taught over the whole of semester 2. The focus of this module is between theory, research and practice learning in the context of transforming educational practice. You will develop your own curriculum of teaching, learning, assessment and leadership practice gathered throughout the course – with the aim of critically applying this to the relevant professional framework. You will also consider educational theories related to leadership, digital learning, resilience and reflective learning. There is a requirement for teaching practice within this module. Five taught days.

Professional accreditation

Throughout the course you will critically apply the relevant professional standards framework to your developing educational practice – enabling you to clearly identify how you meet the following appropriate national frameworks.

Advance HE, formerly The Higher Education Academy, has accredited this course and confirms that it is aligned with the UK Professional Standards Framework for Teaching and Supporting Learning in Higher Education (UKPSF) and provides participants with the opportunity to be professionally recognised through the HEA Fellowship scheme at D2 – Fellow.

The course prepares you to lead and transform education under the Nursing and Midwifery and the Health and Care Professional Council standards for education.

The course has been mapped to the practice educators’ accreditation schemes of the College of Occupational Therapists (APPLE) and the College of Podiatry (PACE).

Meet the team

Dr Hazel Horobin, course leader

Dr Horobin is a Fellow of Advance HE and has taught since 2000.

She started her work at the University of Brighton in 2014 within the placement team, and she continues her commitment to the professional development of practice educators through her role as Course Leadership for the PGCert in Leading Practice Education.

She is active in developing teaching and learning practice, contributing locally to the University’s Centre for Learning and Teaching conference events.

Her doctoral research focused on issues of cultural inclusion in education and in 2019 she won the University Excellence in Facilitating and Empowering Learning Award.

Careers

You will be prepared to be an effective teacher and leader in the education of health professionals or in another health-related capacity. You will also have the opportunity to gain Advance HE Fellowship.

Graduates from this course have progressed into a range of different roles including as senior lecturers, practice educators, professional lead for specific profession and to PhD studies. See our student views tab for testimonies.

Many of our alumni also contribute to the course content which is highly evaluated by our students.

Fees and costs

Course fees

Home (part-time)to be confirmed

Students seeking external funding are required to provide evidence of the support of their manager or sponsor before interview.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
Student finance and budgeting while studying
About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Sport and Health Sciences in the 2022–23 academic year are listed here.

Where health course includes a placement
- UK students – travel costs which are over and above your daily journey to university and dual accommodation costs may be reimbursed by the NHS learning support fund.
- Overseas students are not covered by the NHS scheme, this means that any additional travel or accommodation costs for this course will be your responsibility. Travel to placement may be up to 90 mins each way/ travel on public transport at peak time cost, and you may incur additional accommodation and living costs if staying away from your usual home base for the length of your placement.
An initial set of specialist clothing and uniforms, where required, are included in the course fees.
DBS checks and occupational health checks, where required, are included in the fees.
Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £100 if buying your own copies.
In sport courses, UK-based field trips are available in some option modules in the final year. You do not have to take these option modules to complete the degree programme. Where a field trip is present costs are covered but you are expected to make a contribution towards food. Typically this is £50.
For sports courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your living costs and travel. Physical Education (QTS teacher training) students can claim travel costs to their school placement.
The school runs a number of day trips which students do not pay for. There may be some food and drink costs and you should budget around £30 per year.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Falmer

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
- Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
- Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Maps

Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Student views

James Barclay

"My passion for education began early in my career but as I progressed I really felt that I should 'learn how to teach' to ensure that those learners achieve the very best education.

"The course actually taught me how to learn and in doing so I believe that I have transformed myself and have gained the confidence to empower others do the same. The PGCert at Brighton came with high praise from colleagues who had completed it in recent years. The staff on the course were professional, supportive and encouraged me to challenge myself for which I am extremely grateful.

"Successfully completing the PGCert has been my greatest achievement since qualifying and I highly recommend anyone who has an interest in education to challenge themselves and apply."

James graduated in 2019. He is an advanced practice physiotherapist in the out patient department and spinal triage clinic of Worthing Hospital.

Joy Murphy

Winner of the SHS Student Prize for Excellence 2017–2018

"The transformational aspect of the PGCert very much applied to my own overall mindset and approach to learning. Transitioning from the role of a mentor into delivering academic level education both challenged and rewarded my skills.

"Taking on a student representative role, contributing to clinical teaching in the nursing BSc programme, and the social learning aspects of the course were all key to building an educator identity. The sum of these efforts in my PGCert journey laid the foundations for trust in my capabilities to take on a practice educator role and design service-led programmes for my clinical area.

"I was delighted to achieve consistently high grades and positive feedback in the PGCert. The inclusion of formative assignments and the accompanying feedback were vital in order to build clarity and quality in my work, and it was an affirmation to win the School of Sport and Health Sciences Prize for Excellence.

"I’ve been able to continue the academic teaching aspect of my practice through a visiting lecturer contract for the Nursing BSc at the university and have delivered sessions for the current PGCert cohort. These sessions have been met with positive feedback from each learner group and motivated me to continue my own academic development and I’m now working towards obtaining a Health and Education MSc."

Joy is a nurse and 2018 graduate.

Laura McLaughlin

"I came on to the PGCert course looking to validate my current teaching practices and deepen my understanding of how students learn. Instead I truly transformed my way of interacting with learners, changed my view of myself as an educator and saw a passion for quality education grow into something bigger than me.

"Through this course I have helped to make changes to the way undergraduate students are taught whilst with us on clinical placement and this has lead me to a new role within my organisation as lead clinical tutor which I would not have achieved without the education and knowledge I have gained through my time on this course.

"On top of all this, I have met such amazing people and they have become my peers and colleagues in a broader community of practice which has given me a wider horizon - something I was lacking coming from a small professional background. I would recommend the PGCert to anyone who has an interest in education - it will take that interest and turn it into an ambition."

Laura is an orthoptist and 2019 graduate.

Amy Mighalls

"Thank you for helping to take the next step forwards and transforming me that little bit further and to achieve my potential.

"I can now see what I can do when I really apply myself."

Amy is a physiotherapist and 2017 graduate.

Nikki Lucas

"I would like to express my thanks to you for supporting me through the PGCert. I cannot believe how well I did!

"I was surprised at the confidence it gave me and how I feel about myself as a nurse and now a teacher."

Nikki is a nurse and 2017 graduate.