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Practice Education is offered for experienced practitioners working within health or social care who have an interest in supporting and developing learning.
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Postgraduate Certificate in Practice Education

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Key Facts

  • Level

    PostgraduatePG PGCert

  • Duration

    1 year part-time

  • Starting

    September, January

    SEP, JAN

Updated 28/10/2025

Open Days

Updated 28/10/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

Overview

This award is offered for experienced practitioners working within health or social care who have an interest in supporting and developing learning; for those who wish to promote good quality professional standards via sound education and assessment, and for those who assess higher levels of practice.

This programme is delivered as distance learning and is suitable for those who have undertaken initial mentor/supervisor preparation, or those who have experience within the mentoring/assessing field who wish to extend knowledge in this arena. As well as the timetabled Tuesday learning, the programme is designed for you to engage with an additional 150 hours of self-directed study each module.

Highlights

  • Interprofessional Learning.
  • Assignments are designed to be applied directly to your personal area of practice.
  • The programme is delivered as distance learning.
  • The University offers a wide range of facilities to support your learning.
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Waterside campus has everything students needs from: Learning Hub featuring 24/7 library, Creative Hub, on-site shop, restaurant, cafes and food outlets, multi-faith chaplaincy, student village hall, Students' Union and more. With only a short walk over the bridge into the town centre.

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The Learning Hub and Student Information Desk would be a student's first point of call when needing support.

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Our library covers three floors of the Learning Hub, with IT rich learning environments, including silent and group study spaces, physical books. Don't forget there are plenty more resources available online!

University of Northampton Student Information Desk area with digital screens, staff computers, and a sign reading

The Student Information Desk is the first place a student should go if they need any help. Here the team can direct you to academic support, mental health support, financial support, IT support, and more.

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The Learning Hub is where every student will go for library support and classes, as well as food outlets and social events.

External view of the Learning Hub, with large windows and vertical pillars housing, adjacent to a green lawn with benches and an outdoor seating area with an umbrella.

The Learning Hub also has lots of outdoor space for meeting with friends or finding some silent time between classes.

External view of the Learning Hub at the University of Northampton. The building features large glass windows, metal panelling, and pavements.

The Learning Hub is the biggest building on campus, home to our Student Information Desk, 24/7 library, teaching spaces, cafes, and more.

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The big and spacious modern Senate building has various types of learning spaces, teaching rooms, our Bloomberg suite, Morley Room lecture hall, and cafes.

Entry Requirements

Applicants will normally hold a first or second class Honours degree from a UK University or its equivalent from elsewhere and be registered as a health or social care professional. Where professional body registration does not currently apply, applications will be considered individually by the Programme Leader.

This programme welcomes applications from those with a wide variety of educational qualifications and will consider on merit applicants with no formal qualifications but are registered health or social care professionals identified on a UK professional register.

You should normally possess:

  • at least 2 year’s relevant professional experience and
  • have access to an appropriate learner within the health or social care setting (i.e. SCPHN student, specialist practice student, student nurse/midwife/occupational/therapist/paramedic, student teacher, student social worker or a staff training role, to enable fulfilment of the module learning outcomes.

Where students do not currently hold a degree but are working as practitioners, access to the award is available via the Associate Student route following consideration by the Programme Leader.

Course Content

This course aims to create the opportunity for learners to enhance their level of critical analysis, appraisal and research to advance the within the field of practice education. By acting autonomously, leading, planning, implementing and evaluating activity individuals will develop a broad theoretical and practical skills base to rationalise contemporary education in practice.

Each module is specifically designed to attract appropriately qualified and experienced practitioners in health care who support learners in practice.

The assessment strategies in this programme offer students the opportunity, through critical reflection, to review their personal learning within a professional context and potential for lifelong learning (QAA, 2015; NMC, 2008).

The ethos is supported by the QAA (2012, 2015) review process which considers student development and achievement to be an important aspect of educational audit. Across modules, there is an emphasis on ‘application of learning’ which is reflected in the assessment methods; students will be able to demonstrate the application of theoretical concepts to their area of professional practice and critically evaluate the extent to which work-based practice education is underpinned with a sound knowledge base.

Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 25/26. The modules relating to the academic year 26/27 will be available from June 2026.

  • Module code: NURM086
    Status: Compulsory
    The aim of this module is to explore quality enhancement in interprofessional work-based learning, and promote development of situated knowledge and skills appropriate to practice education in the workplace. The module may be undertaken as initial mentor/supervisor preparation, or by studbnetds with experience in the mentoring/assessing field and wish to extend their knowledge and skills in this arena.
  • Module code: NURM085
    Status: Compulsory
    The purpose of this module is to explore the facilitation of learning, assessment and quality assurance processes within work-based learning, promoting development of situated knowledge and skills appropriate to practice education in the workplace. Participants will explore and develop innovative, reflective and pro-active approaches to meet the diverse learning needs of students/learners undertaking educational programmes. Participants will be supported to achieve high levels of proficiency when assessing and quality assuring students/learners clinical competence
How will I be assessed?

The assessment strategies in this programme offer students the opportunity, through critical reflection, to review their personal learning within a professional context and potential for lifelong learning (QAA, 2015; NMC, 2008).

How do I access the teaching?

The teaching is accessed through the class collaborate room on the NILE site for the module. The NILE site is an online learning tool that houses information about the course, teaching materials, and is where assignments are submitted. Students are enrolled on the NILE site automatically before the module starts.

Are the teaching sessions recorded?

No, the sessions are not recorded as students are expected to attend every Tuesday when the programme is running. The only exception is the assignment preparation session so that all students may refer back to it when working on their assignments.

Who to contact for more information?

For further information regarding the course, please contact Win Hughes, Programme Lead, by email: Win.Hughes@northampton.ac.uk.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Part time: £2,830 per 60 Credits

For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Part time: £2,760 (60 credits)

Staff

Placeholder image for Tracey Ali, Senior Lecturer - Leadership in Health & Social Care

Senior Lecturer - Leadership in Health & Social Care
Faculty of Health, Sport and Behavioural Sciences

Tracey Ali
Win Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Advanced Nursing

Senior Lecturer in Advanced Nursing
Faculty of Health, Sport and Behavioural Sciences

Win Hughes

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