Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Who is the course designed for?

The course is aimed at staff who teach and/or support learning of students who are studying at the University of Cambridge. Participants normally have at least three years’ experience of teaching and/or supporting students in higher education. The course assumes a significant amount of independent study, as well as active involvement in teaching and/or supporting learning during the course. The course is not normally open to PhD students. 

The course is designed so that participants are able to investigate aspects of teaching and learning that are particularly important to them. Some of the outcomes that are likely to arise from taking the course are:

• greater understanding of student engagement in higher education;
• increased confidence;
• an ability to think creatively and from an evidence base, about how to improve education within and beyond your own practice.

Aims of the programme

The course is designed to enable its participants to develop enquiry-based approaches to engaging with educational challenges and contributing to improvements in the education of students at Cambridge and at tertiary level more broadly. You will:

• develop your understanding of how students learn;
• extend your repertoire of teaching, learning and assessment methods; and
• develop a cogent personal philosophy of education drawing on understanding, use and critical awareness of educational research methods and reflective practice.

In doing so, you will develop practical understanding of how research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge about teaching and learning in higher education. The programme is also designed to facilitate cross-disciplinary discussion of teaching, learning and assessment.

Teaching and learning

Unit 1: Developing as an enquiring university teacher

Introduces selected practitioner research methods and methodologies.

Day-schools: 13 September 2023 (2.00-5.00), 27 September 2023 (10.00-4.00) and 10 July 2024 (10.00-4.00)

Unit 2: Teaching and learning strategies and techniques

Introduces selected theories of learning, considers the strengths and limitations of a range of teaching and learning formats, and introduces selected evaluation methods.

Day-school: 10 January 2024 (10.00-4.00)

Unit 3: Designing teaching, learning and assessment

Investigates theoretical perspectives on curriculum and course design and considers their implications for teaching, learning and assessment.

Day-school: 17 April 2024 (10.00-4.00)

It is expected that participants attend all day-schools, as well as participate fully in online learning through the course VLE and in termly individual tutorials and peer-learning communities. A significant amount of independent study is also required.

Full details of each Unit; including key dates, learning objectives, outcomes and assessment, are given in the Course Guide, which will be available shortly at the bottom of the page under Documents.

What is the status of this qualification?

The Postgraduate Certificate is equivalent to 60 credits at FHEQ Level 7. It is accredited by Advance HE at Descriptor 2 (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy / FHEA)

Find out more

If you have any academic questions, please contact Dr Meg Tait: mebt1@cam.ac.uk

If you have any questions about the application process, contact our Admissions team: pgadmissions@ice.cam.ac.uk

Entry requirements

If you wish to apply to join the programme you must:

• teach and/or support learning of students who are studying at the University of Cambridge;
• have confirmed teaching and/or supporting the learning of student commitments at Cambridge during the course of the Postgraduate Certificate;
• normally have at least three years’ experience of teaching and/or supporting the learning of students in higher education;
• be able to attend all day-schools, tutorials and peer learning activities, as well as engage fully in online learning through the course VLE;
• be able to arrange your commitments so that you are able to undertake a significant amount of independent study during the course.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education is in its seventh year and there are a limited number of places available.

Applications will be accepted on the basis of (a) the quality of your application, (b) your commitment to attending all day-schools, tutorials and meeting all assessment deadlines and (c) balance and diversity within the programme cohort. The Institute’s decision is final.

We do not currently accept participants who are not teaching/supporting the learning of University of Cambridge students.

Fees and funding

This course is open to staff who teach and/or support the learning of University of Cambridge students. There is no course fee. 

We do not currently accept participants who are not teaching/supporting the learning of University of Cambridge students.

How to apply

Please apply via the link on the top right of this page. Only applications fully completed by the deadline of 19 May 2023 will be considered and must include:

• References - Applicants are required to provide the details of two referees who can provide academic or professional references. Please provide e-mail addresses for referees who will be required to submit references online. Applicants must ensure that referees are willing to provide a reference before the application is completed. If referees do not have e-mail addresses, please contact PG Admissions pgadmissions@ice.cam.ac.uk for further assistance.
• Employer letter of support (download and complete the ‘Employer letter of support’ from the 'Supporting documents required for application' document below);
• Applicant declaration form (download and complete the 'Applicant Declaration' form from the 'Supporting documents required for application' document below)

Please note transcript upload(s) are not a mandatory requirement of the application process for this course

Application fee

There is no application fee for this course. Please ignore any reference to an application fee which appears on the first log in page of the application system; when you submit your application you will not be asked for payment.

Interview dates

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview on one of the following dates:

• Tuesday 13 June 2023
• Wednesday 14 June 2023
• Thursday 15 June 2023

Below you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQs). Please do read through these, as well as the information provided on the tabs, and you should find the answers to most questions. However, if you still cannot find what you are looking for then please click on, the ‘ASK A QUESTION’ link at the top right of this page to send the course team a message and we will respond as soon as possible.

Who is this course for?

This course is open to Cambridge teaching staff with a minimum of three years' experience of teaching in higher education who teach and/or support the learning of University of Cambridge students.

Current and recent participants teach or support the learning of Cambridge students across the full range of disciplines; they include University and College academics, and professional staff supporting learning.

I do not teach at the University of Cambridge; can I still apply?

No - we do not currently accept applications from those who are not teaching/supporting the learning of University of Cambridge students.

What time commitment does the course require?

Participation will require between 30 and 35 days of your time devoted to preparing for and attending the five face-to-face sessions and engaging with the assignments and developmental exercises. The schedule is structured flexibly to accommodate the commitments of participants.

Where are the Study Days held?

Teaching takes place at the Student Services Centre: Student Services Centre | Cambridge students

How many places are available on the course?

There are up to 30 places available for 2023-24.

Can I discuss the course and my suitability prior to applying?

Yes, if you have any academic related questions, please contact Dr Meg Tait: mebt1@cam.ac.uk 

Is this course accredited?

Yes - the course is accredited by Advance HE at Descriptor 2 (Fellow of the Higher Education Academy / FHEA).