Professional Studies (Learning at Work)

Program Overview

Professional Studies (Learning at Work) MA / MSc

Overview

This multi-disciplinary work-based degree allows you to consolidate your years of learning and experience into a Master’s qualification. You can tailor the course to match your professional and personal aspirations.

Key Information

• Study mode and duration: Flexible
• Start date: September 2025, January 2026

Course Information

Information for International Students

This learning at work course is not eligible for a student visa.

Course Description

Boost your career prospects by studying for a Master's degree alongside your current job. Develop a range of transferable skills for your future career aspirations. We offer both an MA and an MSc Professional Studies. If your professional aspirations mean you want to focus on studying topics found in the arts, humanities, and social sciences, you'll want to study for an MA; you'll want an MSc degree if you want to focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths).

Because the course is work-based, you need to already be in a full-time, part-time, or voluntary role. If you don't have an undergraduate degree, you could still do this postgraduate course if you have several years of experience in a responsible position or you have high-level skills through experience that isn't reflected in your qualifications.

Our courses are designed for busy people. You can tailor the course to match your aspirations and your employer's objectives, and negotiate the pace of your studies around your existing commitments. Your work-based projects have flexibility in their submission deadlines, and with no residential requirements, you can study wherever is most convenient for you.

You'll get to put your knowledge, skills, and behaviors to work instantly in your job, contributing to the success of your company. When you complete the course, you'll have gained the confidence and skills to move into the next phase of your career. You'll also be able to get help, advice, and support for up to 5 years from our Careers and Employability service as you advance in your career.

On This Course, You'll:

• Design your programme of study to match your personal and professional goals, as well as your employer's objectives
• Develop your ability to analyze problems, research, and propose solutions, and make sound professional judgments when faced with the organizational, financial, and management aspects of a business
• Design and manage work-based learning (WBL) projects that ensure the knowledge you develop is relevant to your employer's business
• Have access to a virtual learning environment containing both a host of tutorials, lectures, and study support materials and opportunities for you to engage with tutors and fellow students to support your learning
• Tap into our Library's electronic resources, which you can access from anywhere with a Web connection
• Have support from an academic tutor specializing in your area of study and a University learning manager who oversees your programme
• Choose a Workplace Mentor to support your learning – someone at work who can offer advice, guidance, and moral support
• Get an optional 1-day induction in Portsmouth at the start of the course and have the opportunity to study on campus, if it suits you

Entry Requirements

MA/MSc Professional Studies Master's Degree (Learning at Work) Entry Requirements

• Qualifications or experience: A degree or equivalent. Other qualifications such as HNDs and Foundation degrees, supported by several years of relevant post-qualification experience in responsible posts, may also be acceptable.
• Applicants are usually working at a professional level.
• If you do not hold a level 6 qualification, you may be required to present evidence of your ability to study at level 6.
• Applicants may be asked to attend an online interview.
• English language requirements: English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.

Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

Your tuition fee depends on if you have been awarded any Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and how many credits you need to study. To achieve a postgraduate Master's degree, you need to accumulate a total of 180 credits. Tuition fees may be subject to annual increase.

• 60 credits (to be paid over 1 year): £4,200
• 90–120 credits (can be split over 1 or 2 years): £6,300 (90 credits), £8,400 (120 credits)
• 150–180 credits (can be split over 1, 2, or 3 years): £10,500 (150 credits), £12,600 (180 credits)

Additional Course Costs

• Recommended reading: While studying the online modules, you may have to read several recommended books or textbooks for each module. Most texts are available online through the library.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) portfolio: There's a fee before you start the course if we need to assess a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) portfolio. If you're starting in September 2025 or January 2026, the fee is £1,200.

How You'll Study

On this Professional Studies Master’s degree, you’ll work with our Learning at Work team and your employer to arrange a programme of study that reflects your existing experience, your personal and professional goals, and your current employment situation. This makes up your Learning Contract.

Through a sequence of work-based learning projects, you’ll develop your ability to analyze a problem and deliver a professional solution, with support from a workplace mentor, academic tutors, online lectures, and a suite of virtual learning tools hosted by the university. You don’t need to attend the campus if you don’t want to, but you will have an invitation to an induction day and to make use of student facilities here in Portsmouth.

Your Learning Contract

Your study will include up to four elements:

• Learning Management: You'll set out a plan to shape your learning, and prepare for the research reports you'll produce.
• Recognition of Prior Learning: You can bring up to 120 credits of the 180 you need from your existing learning, such as a PgCert in a relevant subject, on-the-job training, or relevant experience in your career.
• Work-based learning (WBL) projects: Most of your new learning will be done through WBL projects, where you’ll practise new skills and develop your knowledge alongside your current role.
• Learning modules: You can also study in a more formally-structured manner by joining in with the university’s academic modules.

Support While You Study

• Skills support: Extra support is available for skills including university study, getting into the right study mindset, note-taking and note-making skills, referencing, presentation skills, time management, planning, and goal setting, critical thinking, and avoiding plagiarism.
• Additional support: If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support, and advice.
• Workplace Mentor: You'll have support from a Workplace Mentor chosen by you – someone at work who can offer advice, guidance, and moral support.
• Academic Tutor: You'll have support from an Academic Tutor specializing in your area of study.
• Learning Manager: You'll have support from a Learning Manager who oversees your programme.

Apply

Before you apply for this course, please contact us to discuss the content of your programme of study.

• September 2025 / January 2026 start: You can study this course starting in either September or January each year. To apply for the upcoming courses, please follow the links below:
  • September 2025 start (MSc)
  • September 2025 start (MA)
  • January 2026 start (MSc)
  • January 2026 start (MA)

Admissions Terms and Conditions

When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules, and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.

Recognition of Work-Based and Distance Learning Courses

Our Learning at Work degrees at levels 6 and 7 are approved by the University under its powers to award degrees. They comply with the Office for Students (OFS) and Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) standards in the United Kingdom.

These qualifications are generally recognized internationally but as with distance learning type courses, each country will have its own regulations and rules on work-based and distance learning education. You should check with the qualification recognition authority in the country you reside in or intend to use the degrees to secure employment, that the Learning at Work degrees are recognized by them before you commit to studying with us.

We also strongly recommend you check that your employer recognizes the value of our work-based/distance learning courses. Some countries, including Singapore, state the 'value of the qualification is subject to the employer'.