Education - Teaching & Learning in Higher Education - For Third Level Teachers - Online

Course Outline

The aim of this Postgraduate Certificate programme is to provide staff in higher and further education with the opportunity to develop and professionalise their teaching practice to enhance learning, while gaining an internationally recognised postgraduate qualification in Teaching and Learning. Our programme allows you to be part of an international and interdisciplinary community of practice, and attend live sessions led by the Centre for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL). The highly experienced teaching team of CIRTL will facilitate you to engage with quality materials on this fully online programme.



Students who have completed the PG Certificate and wish to further their professional development can progress to the PG Diploma and subsequently the MA Teaching & Learning in Higher Education, also coordinated by CIRTL.



Postgraduate Certificate

The Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education showcases best practices in online teaching and acquaints participants with relevant theories and frameworks for designing curricula and assessments. The practical component of the programme enables participants to apply their learning in their own teaching context and share reflections with peers.



On successful completion of 30 credits from the Postgraduate Certificate, there is an opportunity to progress to the Postgraduate Diploma. Contact cirtl@ucc.ie for further information.

The 30-credit Postgraduate Certificate comprises three modules in total. Two core modules to the value of 25 credits are taken sequentially, typically in one academic year:



TL6017 Theories of Teaching, Learning and Assessment (10 credits) - Semester 1

TL6004 Practice Approaches to Teaching, Learning and Assessment (15 credits) - Semester 2



Students also choose one 5-credit module from the following electives to be taken in Semester 1:



TL6009 Digital Education for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (5 credits) - Semester 1 or

TL6010 Inclusive Academic Practice for Research Supervision (5 credits) - Semester 1

TL6011 Making Thinking Visible: Visual Critiques and Methods for Teaching and Learning (5 credits) – Semester 1.

Applicants must have a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) and be teaching in the third level education sector and have an active teaching timetable. An active teaching timetable could include, supervision, placement work, lab-based work, in the field or in an online context. A minimum of 12 hours of teaching in both semesters 1 and 2, is required in order to fulfil the learning outcomes of the programme, i.e., a minimum of 24 teaching hours over the academic year.



In exceptional circumstances, and subject to review by the programme team, applicants with a primary ordinary degree (NFQ, Level 7) may also be considered subject to meeting the teaching requirements.



PhD students who are not in a position to meet the minimum teaching hours required to successfully complete the Postgraduate Certificate are not eligible to apply for the programme but are encouraged to apply for the Postgraduate Training Modules in teaching and learning. PhD students should also consider, along with their supervisors, the significant workload of this 30-credit programme and whether the 5-credit Postgraduate Training Modules are more appropriate given time demands.



PhD students should contact cirtl@ucc.ie in the first instance to discuss.



For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland

Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.



International/Non-EU Applicants

For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.

• In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.

• Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.



English Language Requirements

Applicants who are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements.

Closing Date 31 July 2025

1 year part-time, Online.

Start Date 8 September 2025