Program Overview

Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (Online)

Course Overview

Gain the expertise to support and enhance your work in digital and face-to-face teaching and learning contexts with our online Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE). This is an internationally recognised qualification designed in consultation with education professionals and external bodies to give you the skills to succeed in teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Why Study This Course at Falmouth?

• Develop your ability to critically evaluate your practice in the light of pedagogical research, scholarship and wider developments in society and the HE sector
• Benefit from studying alongside HE professionals from different countries, disciplines and backgrounds and by interacting with new perspectives
• Gain the confidence, knowledge and pedagogical fluency to be able to effectively explain your approach to colleagues and students
• Learn how to prepare applications for recognition from various professional bodies, for example Fellowship recognition (FHEA) from Advance HE

Course Details

Across two modules you will investigate current theories, concepts and practices within higher education, and explore and develop the ways you support student learning in a variety of different learning environments.

You will cover areas of planning, teaching, learning and assessment that are current in HE, as you reflect on and develop areas of your own practice. You will engage with the design, implementation and evaluation of the use of technology to enhance learning as part of a blended or online learning approach. Through reflection and discussion, you will consider strategies for curriculum design for supporting flexible, inclusive learning in online and/or blended learning environments.

By the time you finish the course, you will be confident in critically reflecting on your practice to inform your continuing professional development.

Course Structure

You will need to complete two 30-credit modules (60 credits in total). Both modules are compulsory and must be passed to complete the award.

Module Details

Supporting Student Learning

In this module you will investigate a range of current theories, concepts and practices of planning, teaching, learning and assessment, and be introduced to key areas of activity, knowledge and professional values recognised by professional bodies such as Advance HE.

Through online and offline activities, learning-by-doing, preparatory readings and reflective discussion, you will share your understanding of pedagogy in your own teaching context, incorporating perspectives from sector and subject scholarship into your evaluation and development of your practice.

(30 credits)

Developing Flexible Learning Environments

In this module you will further explore and develop the ways in which you can support student learning, especially via online and blended learning environments.

Learning from your peers and sharing your practice and experience of supporting learning, you will discuss the relative advantages and challenges for learning offered by these different environments.

Engaging with and applying pedagogical learning theory and scholarship to your practice, you will explore the design, implementation, evaluation and use of technology to enhance learning as part of a blended or online learning approach.

(30 credits)

Who is This Course For?

As the sector places increasing emphasis on the student experience, effective teaching and learning practice is taking centre stage. This creates a need for both academic and support staff that are confident and qualified in the teaching they deliver.

You may be:

• Starting a teaching career within HE and looking for an award that is increasingly considered mandatory for applicants to jobs in the sector
• Moving into HE from another industry
• New to teaching at a university
• New to e-learning and wishing to gain the knowledge and skills required to teach through blended and online approaches
• An experienced teacher looking for the time, space and support to reflect upon and evaluate your practice
• Working in a support/subsidiary role that is increasingly student facing, with elements of teaching
• Teaching in an institution outside the UK, looking to gain an internationally recognised qualification

Learning and Support

How Online Study Works

You'll learn through a blend of lectures, webinars, guest talks, tasks and discussion forums, which you'll access via our dedicated virtual learning environment. This is also where you'll find all key documentation, get course announcements and access extensive learning resources.

Based on the total learning time for the Postgraduate online courses, an average study week can be up to 25 hours. As our online courses are intended to be flexible, the time required to study will vary based on the level of study, the module week, and individual learning pace.

How Will I Be Supported?

You'll be supported academically by Online Tutors, who will also deliver weekly webinars and facilitate the online forums. If you need assistance with anything that isn't directly related to course material, a dedicated Student Advisor team will be on hand to help. You'll also have access to our Employability Service.

Assessment Methods

All assessments are taken and submitted online.

You will be assessed through written coursework and practical activities, such as:

• Work-based assignments that are grounded in your current teaching and learning practice where you apply pedagogical scholarship and best practice to develop it
• Written assessments where you design and critically evaluate your curriculum
• Practical assessments where you plan, deliver, and evaluate learning activities with your learners, in both face-to-face and online/blended learning contexts

Resources and Support

• Dedicated easy-to-use virtual learning environment (VLE)
• Accessible online audio / visual content
• A Student Advisor to support you throughout your studies and access to our Student Support Services
• Access to our Employability Service
• 24/7 access to Falmouth's extensive online library of contextual books, journals and resources
• Access to online software tutorials at LinkedIn Learning
• Students' Union community
• Invitation to attend alumni events

Meet the Team

Andy Peisley

Course Leader, PGCHE (Online)

Andy Peisley is a Senior Fellow of the HEA, with an PGCHE/MA in HE. He is Course Leader of Falmouth's PGCHE (Online).

Careers

Graduates have worked in HE as academic teaching staff at all levels and in a range of roles to support student learning. Other opportunities include the development and delivery of innovative new forms of HE provision.

"The materials, lectures and support provided were excellent and greatly contributed to allowing me to become a University lecturer subsequent to taking the course." Gavin Redding, graduate

Entry Requirements

All applications are considered on an individual basis. You would normally be expected to hold an honours degree. Applicants with qualifications other than a first degree, and those without formal qualifications or accreditation but with substantial, relevant professional experience are also encouraged to apply.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to submit a description of your prior experience, motivations for studying the course and how you believe it will develop your career aspirations.

We expect applicants to be undertaking sufficient learner-facing teaching or student support activities in a Higher Education context during the course, whether in-person, online, synchronous or asynchronous and this could include seminars, lectures, assessment, curriculum design, feedback or other student support services, sufficient to be able to reflect on these during their own learning experience.

Candidates without a degree or formal qualification are also encouraged to apply. If you have prior learning or experience with this subject, you may even be able to apply for Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL). You can learn more about this via our APL guide.

Language Requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to meet the same standard which is equivalent to the IELTS Academic 6.5 overall score, with at least 5.5 in Reading, Writing, and Listening, and a minimum of 6.0 in speaking.

We also accept a range of other recognised English language qualifications. You can visit our English Language Requirements page for more information.

Deadlines

This course has two intakes per year: January and September.

Academic start date | Application deadline -------------------|------------------- 22 September 2025 | 1 September 2025 19 January 2026 | 9 January 2026

Fees, Costs & Funding

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees for September 2024 entry: £3,394 (including £250 acceptance fee)

Tuition fees for January 2025 entry: £3,394 (including £250 acceptance fee)

Tuition fees for September 2025 entry: £3,394 (including £250 acceptance fee)

Tuition fees for January 2026: £3,394 (including £250 acceptance fee)

PGCHE courses are not eligible for Student Loans from Student Finance England, therefore our PGCHE students self-fund their PGCHE tuition fees. This is usually through personal savings, private loans or through contributions from their employer.

Tuition fees are set annually and are subject to review each year. The University may therefore raise tuition fees in the second or subsequent years of a course, in line with inflation and/or the maximum permitted by law or Government policy. Students will be notified of any changes as soon as possible.

The figures above don't include accommodation and living costs.

Typical Course Costs

You’ll require a desktop/laptop. This machine should have a minimum operating system of Windows 10 or Mac OS 10.15, at least 8GB of RAM, and an i7 processor.

We recommend a 15” screen, with a minimum of 256GB hard drive space. It will also need to be capable of running our virtual learning environment.