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CPD: Deciding on your level of study

How do I gain a pre-registration qualification in health or social care?

We are specialists in providing courses for new entrants to the health and social care professions to help you qualify and practice in your chosen field. We offer first qualifications in midwifery, nursing (adult, children’s, learning disability, mental health), physiotherapy, radiography and social work, and foundation degrees in biomedical science, breast imaging, long term conditions and paramedic science.

How do I gain a post-registration qualification in health or social care?

We offer a wide range of CPD courses and qualifications at both undergraduate and postgraduate level aimed at registered/qualified health and social care professionals. Most of our CPD courses are professionally accredited.

Our units of study are called 'modules'. You can choose to study a module on a standalone basis, as a short course. Or you can study a series of modules to work towards a diploma or degree. Each module, when successfully completed, awards academic credit. The amount of credit is shown in the description of each module (eg. 15 or 30 credits). As you complete modules and are awarded academic credit, this accumulates and within a given period of time leads to an academic qualification (eg. 120 credits at Level 5 for the award of the Diploma in Healthcare Practice and an additional 120 credits at Level 6 to complete the BSc(Hons) in Healthcare Practice).

Your decision about whether to study a standalone module or a series of modules to work towards a qualification, and whether to study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, will depend on your prior learning and/or the level at which your professional qualifications were assessed. Check your certificates and qualifications and, if you're not sure what the level is, contact CPD Programme Office for advice.

I'm a non-registered professional – how do I get an academic qualification?

If you're an unqualified, non-registered professional our modules will give you the opportunity to progress your career in a structured way. Where you start will depend on your prior learning.

For example, to study towards a diploma or degree at Level 5 you will normally need qualifications at Level 4 such as a Certificate of Higher Education, NVQ Level 4/5 or BTEC Higher National Diploma. However many students have skills and knowledge gained from a variety of professional, vocational, community and personal experiences and you may be able to have this prior learning counted towards entry to modules at Level 5. To assess you for entry to Level 5 you will be taken through an admissions process where you will be asked to write a short essay and undergo an interview.

If it's been a while since you studied, you can also apply for our three study days in Academic Practice, and arrange to meet with an Admissions Tutor to discuss how to prepare in advance for your studies.

See Accreditation of prior learning (APL) to find out more, or contact the relevant Admissions Tutor/APL Advisor for advice.

I already have a Diploma of Higher Education, what should I do next?

If you have a Diploma of Higher Education you can build on this by accumulating academic credit at Level 6 to gain an ordinary degree, BSc Health Care Practice. If you also complete a compulsory research module ‘Developing Practice’ (Honours Degree Project) for 30 credits, you can gain an honours degree, BSc(Hons) Health Care Practice.

What if I have a health or social care honours degree from the United Kingdom – at what level should I study?

You can study modules at either Level 5 or Level 6. Accumulating 120 credits at Level 5 will lead to a post-qualifying Diploma in Health Care Practice and/or Practice Specific Award. If you choose to study modules at Level 6 this will not lead to another degree. The award of a degree is made up of 120 credits at Level 5 and 120 credits at Level 6. You may wish to consider postgraduate study.

I already have a degree in a health or social care related subject from another country – at what level can I study?

As long as your degree is equivalent to the UK qualifications framework, you can access modules at either Level 5 or Level 6. You are advised to discuss this with the CPD Programme Office or the relevant Admissions Tutor/APL Advisor. You will need to provide transcripts and the awards you have obtained need to be verified and assessed before you decide on where to start.

How do I study at postgraduate level?

We offer a variety of postgraduate courses designed to take your professional development to a higher level. A higher degree - called a masters degree - is normally made up of 180 credits at Level 7. Some of our postgraduate modules can also be taken on a standalone basis as short courses.

How do I continue my studies at the highest level?

If you wish to continue your studies at the highest level – Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Master of Science by Research and Dissertation (MSc Res) please see research degrees for information about finding a supervisor and how to register.

How do I gain Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL)?

Please see Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) to find out about APL and how to apply.

 

Continuing professional development prospectus 2009-11