Teaching Qualification Further Education (SCQF level 9) CPD Award

Course code X301

What is special about this course?

If you are a lecturer with practice experience, hold professional awards in your subject and are looking to gain a teaching qualification for further education, this course is ideal for you.

This CPD Award Teaching Qualification Further Education (SCQF level 9) is a one-year, part-time online programme to develop effective teaching by lecturers in colleges and tertiary establishments.

It will equip you with the knowledge, skills and attributes to support your registration with the General Teaching Council of Scotland as a lecturer. The programme uses a collaborative approach to online learning, with activities designed to help you develop professional knowledge and understanding, engage in professional dialogue, and develop critical enquiry to inform practice.

You will develop your skills in reflective practice, and engage with educational theory, research, policy and complex professional issues in this sector of education. This programme will support you to develop your teaching practice, with positive outcomes for you and your learners.

This course is accredited for the award of a Teaching Qualification in Further Education by the Scottish Government and the General Teaching Council of Scotland.

Special features

  • This programme is fully online, allowing you to fit your studies around your professional and personal commitments.
  • You will have the opportunity to work with colleagues across the sector from different colleges and subject areas.
  • You will carry out a reflective enquiry in your workplace.
  • Successful completion of the course willl give you a teaching qualification to support your registration as a lecturer with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Entry requirements

  • All applicants must be employed in a tertiary institution and hold a minimum teaching contract of 120 hours during the time they complete the programme. Your application must be supported by your employing institution as, under the National Bargaining Agreement NJNC 03/18, lecturers taking a TQFE programme must be allocated 150 hours of study time across the two semesters involved. You must agree this with your employer prior to commencing the programme
  • You must also hold an HNC or HND in your subject area.
  • Where the highest qualification available in your subject area is an HNC, you must hold an HNC and have completed one of the following awards:
    • GC87 49 PDA Teaching Practice in Scotland's Colleges (SCQF Level 9 16 points)
    • GR5K 49 Teaching Practice in Scotland's Colleges
    • GG82 49 PDA Developing Teaching Practice in Scotland's Colleges (SCQF level 9 40 points)
  • Consideration will be given to applicants holding an HNC and passes in other relevant PDAs.

CPD Award

You will study the following core modules:

  • Curriculum and pedagogy (tertiary) SCQF level 9
  • Professional practice (tertiary) SCQF level 9
  • Professionalism (tertiary) SCQF level 9

How will I study my course?

  • Part-time (structured)
  • You will study through supported online learning using the university's virtual learning environment (VLE)
  • Activities and reading are supported with online seminars enabling discussion with tutors and peers

How long will my course last?

  • Part-time (structured): 1 year

Where can I study my course?

  • Argyll
  • Inverness
  • Moray
  • North, West and Hebrides
  • Orkney
  • Perth
  • Shetland
  • This fully online course can be studied from anywhere in Scotland. You will be enrolled and supported by staff across the university
  • If you are employed as a lecturer in a UHI college, you should apply for a place on the programme at your current campus
  • If you are employed in a college that is not part of UHI, please apply to our Perth campus

Start date

  • September

Fees

The following fees apply for UK students ie students assessed as Scottish or rest of the UK for fee status :

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
  2023-24 2024-25
Three 20 credit modules £1,500 £1,500

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

International students

This course is not available for international students requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study here, including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK. For students living in the UK and assessed as international for fee status, the following fees will apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

  2023-24 2024-25
Three 20 credit modules £3,240 £3,240

 

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed this course, you will be elgible to register as a Lecturer with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Can I progress into further study?

You may wish to progress from CPD Award Teaching Qualificatioin Further Education (SCQF level 9) to complete a BA in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business.

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Teaching Qualification Further Education (SCQF level 9) CPD Award

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2025

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.