Education - Professional Studies in Education
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Open University in Ireland

Education - Professional Studies in Education

This professional postgraduate qualification explores education through the lens of your chosen specialism and you will be encouraged to relate your learning and theoretical content to your own experiences and context. You’ll also have the flexibility to change your specialism at Stage 2 if you want to diversify your study area. On completion of this diploma you can choose to continue studying and complete the MA or MEd in Education.

Key features of the course
• Offers a rich diversity of specialisms to choose from to suit your professional requirements, experience, and interests.
• Has an emphasis on professional development through collaborative learning, though alternate ways of working can be facilitated.
• Develops and consolidates advanced scholarship and independent learning in the context of your own practice.
• Is a stepping stone towards the MA or MEd in Education.
• Gives you the option to count your previous study towards this qualification, helping you pay less and finish sooner.

How long it takes
The minimum time to complete is one year, and the maximum time to complete is four years.

Subjects taught

To gain this qualification, you need 120 credits.
Stage 1, 60 credits from:
Module - 60 credits each
• Educational leadership: concepts, change and challenges (EE841) NEW
• Equity, inclusion and social justice in educational practice (EE844) NEW
• Learning and teaching: educating the next generation (EE830)

​Or, if you have successfully completed EE806, you may count this module towards Stage 1 of this qualification. Alternatively, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules EE811, EE814 and EE817.

Stage 2, 60 credits from:
Module - 60 credits each
• Learning and teaching: understanding your educational practice (EE831)
• Exploring educational leadership: values, context and strategy (EE842)
• Social justice, equity and equality: inclusive practice for all (EE845)
• Language literacy, and learning* (EE818)

At Stage 2, you may choose to study the same specialism as you chose in Stage 1, or you can change to a different specialism. However, if you intend to progress to the MA/MED, your choice at Stage 2 here will commit you to that specialism as your Stage 3 dissertation topic.

*This is only available to students who have completed Stage 1.

You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 40 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.

For module details please see "Course Web Page".

Entry requirements

To study for this postgraduate diploma course you must hold a bachelors degree from a UK university or other recognised degree-awarding body, or a qualification at equivalent level.

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.

In order to study this qualification you do not need to be employed in an educational setting. However, it is important that you have some experience of engaging or working with learners, children or young people as our pathway disciplines (Learning & Teaching, Inclusive Practice, Applied Linguistics and Leadership and Management) are all explored through the lens of education. Therefore you will need to be able to apply your learning to a relevant context or learning environment.

This can be through employment or other means such as volunteering and/or special arrangements undertaken for the purposes of your study. Apart from schools and colleges, other organisations providing educational services – such as health and care education environments, youth, play, or early years work, armed forces, business and commercial environments – all could provide suitable settings to apply your learning and later carry out your dissertation should you decide to continue towards a full masters degree.

Duration

1–4 years

Enrolment dates

See Course Web Page link for next start date.

Post Course Info

Career relevance
Throughout the world, there is an increasing demand for creative, innovative education professionals who have highly developed skills and a deep understanding of learning; in many countries, a masters degree is becoming essential for career advancement in education, training and professional development settings.

This qualification is designed to enrich your knowledge and improve your professional practice.

On completing your studies, you should be able to:
• demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems at a professional or equivalent level
• reflect critically and constructively, in the light of ideas and frameworks presented in the modules, on how these apply to your practice and organisational context
• be ready to continue your studies and complete the Masters in Education (F70) with The Open University.
You will also acquire qualities and transferable skills that are highly prized by employers within education and related fields, such as
• exercising initiative and personal responsibility
• the ability to make decisions in complex and unpredictable situations
• the ability to critically draw on appropriate research
• have an understanding of ethical considerations in research
• the ability to produce reports/outputs for academic and professional purposes.

You will be guided through the materials on how you can recognise and acknowledge these additional skills.

Please note that this postgraduate qualification does not qualify you for teacher registration in any country.

More details
  • Qualification letters

    PG Dip

  • Qualifications

    Postgraduate Diploma at UK Level 7

  • Attendance type

    Part time,Flexible

  • Apply to

    Course provider