Postgraduate Certificate in Research and Innovation Leadership (Apprenticeship)

Virtual Open Events

To learn more about the programme and the student experience, and to ask any questions you may have, join us for our virtual open events. To register, follow these links:

Watch there Virtual Open Day webinar recording here

Aims of the course

The Postgraduate Certificate in Research and Innovation Leadership (Apprenticeship) is taught and awarded at FHEQ level 7 (i.e. Masters level) and is worth 60 credits. Certification is completed in one academic year, plus an additional 3-6 months for completion of the apprenticeship. It enhances the career development and skills of the next generation of research leaders.

The programme builds on researchers’ primary training in developing original contributions to knowledge and the advancement of their specialist discipline. It equips researchers with the skills, knowledge and values necessary to meet wider intellectual, social and economic challenges and have significant impact on the world around them.

Course delivery

Course content will be delivered and facilitated in a blended manner – i.e. a mix which includes synchronous face-to-face delivery, asynchronous delivery, self-directed learning and reading, assessment preparation and writing. Online content will be delivered through a dedicated Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) or through video-based remote meeting software platforms.

Face-to-face sessions will be delivered by subject specialists in one of several available spaces in Cambridge, which is planned to include the flagship Postdoc Centre on the Eddington Site. Participants would be expected to make every effort to attend these elements of the programme.

Module 1

• Monday 18th October 2021
• Friday 5th November 2021
• Wednesday 17th November 2021
• Thursday 2nd December 2021
• Tuesday 14th December 2021
• Friday 14th January

Module 2

• Tuesday 1st February 2022
• Friday 11th February 2022
• Thursday 3rd March 2022
• Thursday 24th March 2022
• Thursday 31st March 2022

Module 3

• Friday 8th April 2022
• Tuesday 26th April 2022
• Thursday 5th May 2022
• Friday 13th May 2022
• Thursday 26th May 2022
• Tuesday 7th June 2022
• Wednesday 22nd June 2022

Module 4

• Thursday 30th June 2022
• Wednesday 7th July 2022
• Wednesday 14th July 2022
• Friday 23rd September 2022

We plan to deliver our postgraduate and MSt qualifications in-person in the academic year 2021-22. Please note that this will be reviewed in line with the latest public health guidance available at the time. If required, to ensure the health and safety of students, we may look to utilise alternative teaching formats and will contact students if we expect changes to the course delivery.

Employer’s Requirements

People who are interested in applying are expected to already have the support from their employer before doing so. The employer will be required to complete the necessary paperwork, therefore a representative will need to be available to assist in the enrolment phase of the programme.

The employer must be based in England and all applicants must be UK or EEA citizens, or have lived in the UK or EEA for the past 3 consecutive years, to qualify for an apprenticeship under the Government’s rule.

The employer should be an Apprenticeship levy payer in this instance and will need to apply to the University to submit an apprentice. Employers and apprentices will be required to sign contractual documentation with the University.

The apprentice for their part, will be required to work diligently throughout the course and the University will undertake to provide the relevant training to provide the knowledge, skills and behavioural requirements to complete the course.

Applicants require the support of their host Institute/Department and may require a minimum of 18 months remaining on their contract of employment.

Expected academic standard

Applicants for this course will normally be expected to have achieved a UK 2.i honours degree or overseas equivalent.

Please see this chart to check equivalent International qualifications

Level 2 Maths and English - GCSE grade C (5) or above (or equivalent) must be evidenced in the form of a certificate during the admissions process.

There is provision to accept non-standard applicants who do not satisfy the standard academic criteria, but such applicants must produce evidence of relevant and equivalent experience and their suitability for the course.

Language requirement

For those candidates who are not native speakers, the following levels of English are required:

• IELTS Academic: Overall score of 7.5 (a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component)
• TOEFL Internet: Overall score of 110 (a minimum of 25 in each individual component)
• Cambridge English: C2 Proficiency: Grade A, B, or C (with at least 200 in each individual element)
• Cambridge English: C1 Advanced: Grade A or B (with at least 193 in each individual element), plus a Language Centre assessment

For full details of the University Language Requirement, see: https://www.graduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international/competence-english

Apprentices on this course will be funded through their employer. Apprentice travel costs and meals will need to be agreed with their employers prior to the course start.

All Apprenticeship costs must be covered by the employer. Levy-paying employers can pay for part of the cost (up to the maximum funding band of £9,000) using their apprenticeship levy which will cover the University composition fee.

The total charge for this course is £9,000 which includes the end point assessment (EPA). Where reassessment or retakes are required, the employer will also be liable for these costs.　

The Apprenticeship costs cover:

• Course teaching
• Course materials
• Supervisory support and mentoring
• End point assessment (EPA)

To view the application process for the PG Cert in Research and Innovation Leadership (Apprenticeship) please see here (link to follow).

Supporting documents

Below are details of the Course Specific Questions and other supporting information you will be asked to provide before you can submit your application. These are marked with an asterisk (*). References and transcripts can be provided either at the time of submitting your application or shortly after.

If you have any questions, please contact: ice.admissions@ice.cam.ac.uk 

References

You will need to provide the details of two referees who can provide academic or professional references. You will be asked to provide email addresses for your referees so that they can submit their reference via the online referencing system, so it is important for you to ensure that your referee is able to provide a reference for you before you submit your application form.

Your referees should be senior people acquainted with your work and able to comment on your professional experience and suitability to undertake the course. One of the referees should be a line manager or someone in a senior position in your practice.

The referee should describe how long they have known you and in what capacity as well as commenting on your suitability and commitment to the course.

If your referees are unable to use the online referencing system, or do not have email addresses, please contact the ICE Admissions office for further assistance.

Transcripts

A transcript is a list of all the courses you have taken during a programme of study, with the result you obtained, and with the credit value if applicable.

If you are currently studying, please provide a transcript listing the courses taken during your programme of study, with the results or grades obtained for each. Current Cambridge students should upload a copy of their unofficial transcript from their Student Self-Service.

If you have previously completed degree-level study, please provide a transcript or degree certificate for each degree-level programme you have studied, showing the date the degree was awarded and the final class or grade obtained.

The transcript should be uploaded via your Applicant Portal Account. Please note that we may also ask you to send the originals via post if we make you an offer of admission and supplying these may be a condition of your offer.

If your documents are not in English, you must also upload a full translation of each document, prepared by a registered translator.

*Level 2 Qualifications - Mandatory

Level 2 (GCSE) equivalent at grade C (5) or above in Mathematics and English. Evidence will be required during the admissions process in the form of a certificate.

*Letter of support from your employer

Students who are interested in applying are expected to already have the support from their employer before doing so. The employer will be required to complete the necessary paperwork, therefore a representative will need to be available to assist in the enrolment phase of the programme.

*Personal statement

Applicants must submit a personal statement of no more than 750 words, outlining a) their motivation for doing this course, b) the relevance of the course for their current role and future career, (c) their interest in working with other researchers across academic disciplines to achieve their learning and professional goals.

Applications will be accepted until Monday 14 June 2021. Please see APPLY NOW button above and follow the instructions carefully.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview, which is due to take place in June / July 2021.