Master of Arts Academic Practice (MA AP) (Online)

This online academic practice programme has been designed for students from both teaching and non-teaching backgrounds in higher education (HE) to provide an opportunity to enhance their academic practice, academic leadership and ability to support learning and teaching in a global context.

There are three study awards for the programme: the Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice (PGCAP), the Postgraduate Diploma Academic Practice (PGDAP) and full Master of Arts Academic Practice (MA AP).

Is this the right course for you?

Depending on a student's background, the online Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice award offers two pathways.

Standard Pathway

If you do not hold a teaching position in a higher education institution you can take the route of gaining a Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice that will provide you with the theory and practice of teaching and supporting learning in higher education in a global context.

Fellowship (FHEA) Pathway

If you do hold a teaching position that enables you to demonstrate Descriptor Level 2 of the Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023), you can obtain a Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice and through our partnership with Advance HE, gain recognition as a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA), the UK’s agency for driving excellence in higher education.

Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Arts

The Postgraduate Diploma Academic Practice builds on learning from both pathways of the Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice to further develop academic leadership, scholarship, and pedagogic research in preparation for progression to the Master of Arts in Academic Practice which gives participants the opportunity to complete a supervised academic practice project. Throughout the programme you will acquire a comprehensive understanding of academic teaching concepts, such as utilising international educational frameworks to design lessons and assignments as well as applying learning outcomes to your own context. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge by articulating pedagogical theories in the classroom. The extensively diverse cohort of international peers will provide you with a global outlook on higher education practices and allow you to interchange experiences across a variety of educational contexts.

Programme structure

Students are required to complete 60 credits to achieve the Postgraduate Certificate Academic Practice (both pathways), 120 credits to achieve the Postgraduate Diploma Academic Practice and 180 credits to complete the Master of Arts in Academic Practice.

Postgraduate Certificate Modules

• Foundational Approaches to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (15 credits) - PGCAP (Standard Pathway)
• Contemporary Approaches to Teaching in a Global HE Context (15 credits) - PGCAP (Standard and FHEA Pathway)
• Designing Learning and Assessment in a Global HE Context (15 credits) - PGCAP (Standard and FHEA Pathway)
• Enhancing Academic Practice in a Global HE Context (15 credits) - PGCAP (FHEA Pathway; Optional for the Standard Pathway)
• Developing Your Career in a Global HE Context (15 credits) - PGCAP (FHEA Pathway; Optional for the Standard Pathway)

Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Arts Modules

• Developing Academic Leadership (15 credits) – PGDAP and MA AP
• Evidencing Academic Leadership (15 credits) – PGDAP and MA AP
• Developing Scholarship (15 credits) – PGDAP and MA AP
• Pedagogic Research Design (15 credits) – PGDAP and MA AP
• Academic Practice Project (60 credits) – MA AP

Teaching methods and style 

This programme is designed to be studied online and part-time. Teaching is delivered through our state-of-the-art Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), which provides students with access to all resources required for interactive study online. On this platform, you will be encouraged to work collaboratively with classmates and actively read around your topic through our comprehensive library of eBooks and journals.

Programme modules, apart from the academic practice project, are delivered over an eight-week period with one module studied at a time. The student’s learning journey is facilitated by the use of written materials, lecturecasts (video presentations), interactive individual activities, case studies, and discussion boards.

Methods of assessment 

Assessment is exclusively through online assignments rather than examinations. You will be assessed through a range of activities, including written assignments, presentations, discussion forum participation and journal entries. 

Love what you've read so far?

Visit our website for more information on this programme, you can also contact one of our admission advisers to get your questions answered.

One of the best ways to see if the programme is right for you is to join one of our regular virtual events where you will be introduced to our range of online programmes, our online learning facilities, and Q&A’s with staff to help you make the best decision about the future of your education.

This programme is for those who are interested in transactional education and in developing a toolkit to work with international students and faculty. Beyond the curriculum-specific knowledge, you will also become more proficient in communication, digital literacy, teaching and research, ultimately opening doors to many new professional opportunities.

For both PGCAP pathways, applicants must have: 

• A degree equivalent to a lower-second class UK bachelor’s degree or equivalent.

For pathway two leading to Fellowship (FHEA), applicants must also:

• Hold a teaching position in a higher education institution with sufficient depth and breadth of practice with learners that enables them to demonstrate all Dimensions of the Professional Standards Framework (PSF 2023).

All applicants must provide evidence that they have an English language ability equivalent to an IELTS (academic) score of 6.5 (with all parts of the score being above a minimum of 6).

The expertise you will acquire by studying this online programme is directly applicable and transferable to other HE institutions. The second FHEA pathway offers the postgraduate certificate and automatic professional recognition (FHEA) to successful graduates, which can fast-track your career in higher education.