Program Overview

Career Development and Employability MA (Distance Learning)

The Career Development and Employability MA (Distance Learning) course is designed for those seeking a professional qualification in Career Guidance. This online distance learning course could lead to a wide variety of career opportunities in career guidance companies, education settings (secondary, further and higher education), and third sector organisations.

Overview

On this distance learning course, you will have the opportunity to develop an understanding of critical reflection and how to employ independent learning strategies to enable you to evaluate and inform your professional practice. You will also develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of educational research. This course is for those seeking a professional qualification in Career Guidance. You will have the opportunity to take the Qualification in Career Development (QCD) - the nationally recognised professional qualification awarded by the Career Development Institute (CDI) - alongside the Master's qualification.

Why Career Development and Employability?

• The course can lead to a wide variety of interesting and rewarding career prospects in the career guidance and development sector, including higher and further education careers and employability services, secondary education, and third sector organisations.
• Successful completion of the course can result in the Career Development Institute approved career guidance professional qualification (the Qualification in Career Development or QCD).
• You will study 100% online, which gives you the flexibility to work at your own pace and fit your studies alongside other work and home commitments.
• Students who do not wish to commit to the full MA may choose to study the Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip), which also leads to the award of the QCD.
• Huddersfield has been teaching career guidance courses for over 40 years and has established a strong national reputation in the sector. You will also have access to our extensive professional and academic network, which feeds directly into course design and delivery, and to excellent facilities and specialist equipment.

Key Information

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

• A degree or an equivalent professional qualification. Suitably experienced applicants without a degree will be considered.
• Relevant experience in a paid or voluntary basis.
• Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Complete a satisfactory interview.
• International applicants must be available for interview in person or via Skype.

In order to successfully study this distance learning course, you must also have:

• Access to a computer with a reliable internet connection.
• The ability to access and use online study guidance and support.
• Appropriate video and audio devices so that you can participate in webinar tutorials.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 with a minimum score of 6.0 in writing and a minimum of 5.5 in any single component or Duolingo English certificate, score 105 or above.

Start Dates

• 22 September 2025
• 30 January 2026
• 11 May 2026

Duration

• 1 year full-time, distance learning
• 2 years part-time, distance learning

Course Detail

Core Modules

You will study the following seven core modules:

1. Effective Careers Conversations (DL): This module examines the professional role of a career development practitioner in order to enable you to develop as a reflective practitioner who draws on developmental supervision. It considers the theory, principles, and practice of working with individuals within a Careers Education, Information, Advice, and Guidance (CEIAG) setting.
2. Theories of Career Decision Making (DL): This module critically evaluates a range of theories relating to occupational choice and examines the relationship between theory and professional practice.
3. Facilitating Careers Work in Groups (DL): This module will support you to develop the knowledge and ability to design and deliver career and employability group work whether that sits within the curriculum or not.
4. Organisational Culture (DL): This module examines approaches to professional practice in a range of contexts. It considers the nature of the organisation within which professional practice related to career development and employability is located.
5. Understanding the Labour Market (DL): This module will critically evaluate the major labour market sources used in careers and employability work across a range of relevant sectors and will explore how guidance professionals use this in their professional practice.
6. Research Methodology (DL): This module will help you design and develop a piece of individual research or a professional project. You will draw upon a relevant literature review and select and explain an appropriate research design and technique.
7. Independent Research Project (DL): This module will help you design and develop a piece of individual research or a professional project into a topic of your choice that is related to your course.

You will also choose two option modules from a list, which may include:

• Higher Education in Context (DL): This module focuses on the policy and institutional strategy contexts in which careers and employability work is carried out in the higher education sector.
• Leadership and Management in Careers Education (DL): This module will develop your understanding of theories of leadership, management, and the organisation of professional practice within the career education and development sector.
• Employer Engagement and Business Support (DL): This module focuses on the key policy, strategic, and operational issues relating to employer engagement, business support, and Knowledge Exchange in the context of the Careers and Employability effort and offer in and around Higher Education.

Placements

For learners undertaking the qualification on Career Development, you will be required to complete a minimum of 30 days of compulsory placement in an institution where career guidance is practised. You will gain hands-on experience, allowing you to to develop practical skills in delivering career guidance to both adults and young people.

Fees and Finance

• Tuition Fees - full-time: In 2025/26, the total fee for UK and international students on this course will be £7,900.
• Tuition Fees - part-time: In 2025/26, the total fee for UK and international students on this course will be £7,900.
• Additional costs:
  • Career Development Institute (CDI): In addition to the MA or PgDip, you will also be working towards your professional qualification – The Qualification in Career Development (QCD). This is awarded by the CDI and is recognised nationally. There is an additional cost for this qualification, which needs to be paid to the CDI directly.
  • Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check: A DBS check is required to enable you to undertake placements in settings with children. We arrange this as part of the application process. Please note that there may be a charge for the DBS check.

Important Information

We will always try to deliver your course as described on this web page. However, sometimes we may have to make changes as set out below.

Changes to a Course You Have Applied for But Are Not Yet Enrolled On

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment.

Changes to Your Course After You Enrol as a Student

• Changes to Option Modules: Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research, and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules.
• Major Changes: We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part-time provision), type of delivery, or assessment of the core curriculum.