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 one to three years’ experience of teaching 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
The course is structured around three units and includes plenary day-long workshops, defined periods of online study through the VLE, individual tutorials and small-group peer learning communities. All participants design a practitioner research proposal, which provides an opportunity to integrate learning and practice during the programme.
Unit 1: Developing as an enquiring university teacher
Introduces selected practitioner research methods and methodologies.
Day-schools: 7 and 28 September 2016 and 5 July 2017*
Tutorials: 1-12 November 2016
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: 11 January 2017*
Tutorials: 1-12 February 2017
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: 19 April 2017*
*Whilst every effort is made to avoid changes to the workshop dates, these dates still may be subject to change.
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 2016/17 Course Specification, which is available at the bottom of the page under Downloads.
Assessment
You will submit three 3,000-word assignments for formative assessment, with a 1,000-word reflective account of your learning during the programme. You will receive formative feedback from your tutor and will be supported in developing and acting on collegial formative feedback through your peer-learning community. The course is summatively assessed through a 10,000-word portfolio which you will develop from your formatively assessed drafts and which you will submit by the final deadline of 30 September 2017.
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 commitments at Cambridge during the course of the Postgraduate Certificate;
- normally have at least one to three years’ experience of teaching 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 a new course. During its pilot year, it is important that its students are drawn from across the University. This means that 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.
Language requirements
You must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language; students whose first language is not English must be able to satisfy the following requirements:
- IELTS Academic: Overall band score of 7.5 (with a minimum of 7.0 in each individual component)
- CAE: Grade A
- CPE: Grade A, B or C
Fees and funding
The Institute of Continuing Education will be offering a full fee bursary to all successful applicants.
How to apply
Please note applications are now closed. Only fully completed applications will be considered and must include:
- Copies of relevant qualification certificates and transcripts
- Language proficiency if required
- Contact details of two referees who will be contacted on your behalf
- Employer letter of support
Interview dates are 29 and 30 June 2016.
Download the application form, complete and return to: pgadmissions@ice.cam.ac.uk
What is the status of this qualification?
The Postgraduate Certificate is equivalent to 60 credits at FHEQ Level 7.
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
For all other enquiries, please contact the Academic Programme Manager, Victoria Steenkamp: victoria.steenkamp@ice.cam.ac.uk