Career Guidance & Development PgDip

Program Overview

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Career Guidance & Development PgDip

Overview

This one-year full-time programme is accredited by the Career Development Institute and is recognised by the profession throughout the UK. You will study the latest developments in career development theory and career counselling and coaching practice as well as undertake work placements and work-based learning to prepare you for work in the career development sector.

Mode of Study:

• Full-time (available as Distance Learning)

Duration:

• 1 year

Start date:

• Sep

Placement:

• Yes

Course details

With an excellent employment rate for graduates, our postgraduate diploma combines academic study with practical professional training, including up to four weeks of work placement. Academic teaching staff on the programme are also qualified and experienced career professionals and bring additional specialist expertise to the course.

You will acquire effective interpersonal communication skills for one-to-one career guidance, working with groups and via online media. You will learn and put into practice the latest career counselling techniques, while developing the necessary research and teamwork skills to carry you into your own successful career as a career practitioner.

The skills taught are also transferable to many other roles in employment, education and training and former students have also gone on to work in education-industry liaison, and projects promoting mentoring or equality and diversity.

Additional mandatory costs

• Professional body fees, payable to the Career Development Institute, £345 (the total amount consists of two elements: student membership, £35 and registration for the Qualification in Career Development, £310)
• Mandatory placement. Travel expenses are issued in some situations and are at the discretion of the Dean

How you’ll be taught

You will learn by a variety of teaching methods including lectures, tutorials, visits to employers, and independent study.

Career counselling skills are developed via individual coaching with an experienced careers adviser.

Assessments

• No exams
• Essays
• Professional reports
• Case studies
• Group project
• Observation

Work placement

Up to four weeks of work placement

Facilities

Based at our Sighthill Campus, students on the programme have access to a suite of interview training rooms equipped with CCTV facilities.

Modules

Modules that you will study as part of this course

Career Counselling and Coaching (CRG11129)

This module is intended to develop the skills, techniques and understanding necessary to deliver effective career guidance services to individuals. You will learn how to apply counselling and coaching concepts to your developing practice with individual clients to enable you to identify and address their career development needs.

Career Development Theory (CRG11130)

This module introduces the ideas that underpin career development work. It draws on psychology and sociology, but assumes no prior knowledge of these disciplines. Career theories will be compared and contrasted.

Career Learning and Development (CRG11131)

This module is focused on planning, designing, delivering and evaluating career learning and development experiences in a range of contexts.

Contemporary Career Counselling and Coaching (CRG11135)

This module is intended to further develop the skills, techniques and understanding necessary to deliver effective career guidance services to individuals.

Digital and Information Services (CRG11132)

The module will enable you to develop and critique your digital and information literacy skills relating to the application and use of sources of career and labour market information.

Education and Training (CRG11133)

This module will give you a broad understanding of structures in education, together with training provision.

Employment Studies (CRG11138)

This module will enable you to give guidance about the world of work by providing you with a broad understanding of the labour market.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (CRG11134)

This module involves the building the knowledge and competencies to work inclusively with diverse client groups.

Group Learning and Coaching (CRG11136)

This module is focused on planning, designing, delivering and evaluating career group guidance and coaching experiences.

Policy and Contexts (CRG11139)

This module explores how public sector career services are shaped by government policy.

Professionalism and Standards (CRG11140)

In this module you will examine the move towards the professionalisation in the career industry.

Work Based Learning (CRG11137)

This module will enable you to develop and apply a range of core professional skills gained as a result of work-based learning experiences.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above. We look for applicants to have a background in any discipline in order to be eligible for the programme.

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient relevant work experience within the industry.

All successful applicants must complete a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme or police check.

English language

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

International students

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Admissions policies

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £6,630
• Overseas and EU: £16,900

Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next.

Additional costs

In addition to University fees there is another mandatory charge for this programme. Student membership and registration for the professional body qualification amounts to £365.00, which is payable to the Career Development Institute (CDI).

Careers

Career Adviser

Guidance Practitioner

Main Employers:

• Skills Development Scotland
• University Careers Services
• Community agencies promoting employability for disadvantaged groups

Program Outline

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Career Guidance & Development PgDip - Edinburgh Napier University

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Degree Overview:

This one-year full-time program is accredited by the Career Development Institute and recognized by the profession throughout the UK. It focuses on the latest developments in career development theory, career counseling, and coaching practice. The program includes work placements and work-based learning to prepare students for careers in the career development sector.

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Objectives:

• Equip students with the knowledge and skills to support clients in navigating employment and education pathways.
• Develop students' ability to help clients reach their career potential.
• Prepare students to work with diverse populations, including young people, adults, parents, teachers, employers, and training providers.

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Outline:

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Mode of Study:

Full-time (available as Distance Learning)

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Duration:

1 year

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Start Date:

September It covers applying advanced counseling and coaching models, identifying and addressing client needs, designing and delivering interactive group work, and developing an integrated guidance system. It covers applying counseling and coaching concepts, identifying and addressing client needs, designing and delivering interactive group work, and critically reflecting on theories and models of counseling and coaching.

• Career Development Theory (CRG11106): This module explores career theories, comparing and contrasting them.
It examines the relationship between theory and practice, placing guidance in its political context, and exploring psychometric testing and other assessment practices in relation to their underpinning theory. It focuses on developing reflective professionalism and ethical awareness, exploring models of reflective practice, and integrating information from diverse sources to refine professional practice.
• Education and Labour Markets (CRG11126): This module provides a broad understanding of structures in education and employment, government training initiatives, and strategies to combat unemployment.
It includes field research experience on visits to opportunity providers and culminates in an industry-specific project that integrates the collection of LMI, making sense of the information, and presenting knowledge in accessible ways.

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Assessment:

• No exams
• Essays
• Professional reports
• Case studies
• Group project
• Observation

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Teaching:

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Visits to employers
• Independent study
• Individual coaching with an experienced careers adviser

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Careers:

• Career Adviser
• Guidance Practitioner

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Main Employers:

• Skills Development Scotland
• University Careers Services
• The program includes a mandatory placement of up to four weeks.

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| | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | |---|---|---| | Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland | £6,630 | £tba | | Overseas and EU | £16,900 | £tba | Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.