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

Our Teaching & Learning in Higher Education (for third-level teachers) is an online programme offered by the Centre for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) at UCC. We provide teachers in higher education with an ideal opportunity to learn how to research their teaching and evaluate evidence of student learning. This pedagogical leadership draws on evidence-based practices and awareness of these approaches is an important step in a lecturer’s career trajectory, opening up opportunities for collaboration and development and promotion.



Postgraduate Diploma

The aim of this programme is to provide the staff of universities and other third-level institutions with the opportunity to develop a research approach to their teaching and student learning and to provide them with the pedagogical tools that will enable them to document and harness student learning for curriculum design. The programme is grounded in the principles of a scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL) approach that advocates evidence-based decision-making.



Staff taking this course do so to enhance and research their teaching. It is an important step in a lecturer’s career trajectory, opening up opportunities for collaboration, development, and promotion.

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



TL6005 Disciplinary Approaches to Teaching & Learning in Higher Education (15 credits) - Semester 1

TL6018 Diversity in Student Learning (10 credits) - Semester 2



Students also choose one 5-credit module from the following electives to be taken in Semester 2:



TL6009 Digital Education for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (5 credits) - Semester 2 or

TL6010 Inclusive Academic Practice for Research Supervision (5 credits) - Semester 2TL6011: Making Thinking Visible: Visual Critiques and Methods for Teaching and Learning (5 credits) – Semester 2

TL6012 Design Thinking for Problem Solving in Higher Education - Semester 2



On successful completion of 30 credits from the Postgraduate Diploma, there is opportunity to progress to the MA Teaching & Learning in Higher Education. Contact cirtl@ucc.ie for further information.

The minimum academic entry requirement is a primary undergraduate degree (NFQ, Level 8) and the successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning in Higher Education. The programme is open to all staff who teach in the third level education sector who have an active teaching timetable. This 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 is required in order to fulfil the learning outcomes of the programme, i.e. a total 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 are not eligible to apply for this programme but are encouraged to apply for the postgraduate training modules in teaching and learning. Contact cirtl@ucc.ie.



English Language Requirements for Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education



For applicants from non-native English-speaking backgrounds, proof of English language certification is not required if currently employed in the third-level education sector where the main language of instruction is English. Applicants who fall into this category are required to show proof of employment, e.g. a letter from your director of Human Resources, which is evidence of working in a third-level educational setting where the main language of instruction is English.



Additional Requirements

Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following:



You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.



In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.



Describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.



What is your current occupation/specialty?



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. Visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.

Closing Date 31 July 2026

1 year part-time, Online.

Start Date 7 September 2026