Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £7,295 for the course
International/EU: £7,435 per 120 credits -
How long will I study?
2 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2026
Course summary
- Strengthen your expertise in inclusive teaching, curriculum design and assessment.
- Apply educational theory across clinical, academic and interprofessional settings.
- Develop your strategic understanding of leadership, quality assurance and policy.
- Critically evaluate curriculum innovation and organisational learning.
- Prepare for senior roles in workforce development and education leadership.
The PGDip Health and Social Care Education deepens your ability to design, deliver and lead high-quality education across health and social care environments. You’ll enhance your postgraduate-certificate-level study or equivalent experience by exploring leadership, policy, regulation and curriculum strategy – all preparing you to influence education at both operational and organisational levels.
Successful completion provides 120 credits at Level 7 and may contribute towards the MSc Health and Social Care Education.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
In the first stage of this fully online programme, you’ll strengthen your ability to design and deliver inclusive, evidence-informed learning in both classroom and clinical contexts. You’ll consolidate your understanding of teaching, assessment and learner support within real-world health and social care settings.
As you progress, you’ll deepen your critical understanding of education within broader strategic and political contexts. Teaching and learning are rooted in knowledge-applied principles – so you’ll use your professional and organisational setting as a site for inquiry, reflection and transformation. You’ll explore macro-level influences on education, including policy, professional regulation, curriculum leadership and organisational strategy.
As well as developing your leadership identity and philosophy, the course is designed to help you critically engage with education strategy and influence educational development within your organisation or sector.
You learn through:
- online workshops and seminars
- self-directed study and digital learning activities
- peer learning and cross-professional discussion forums
- academic supervision and structured feedback
- formative engagement with professional practice and workplace-based tasks
Key themes
During the course you’ll critically examine curriculum theory, assessment design and quality assurance processes within health and social care education. In particular the course explores how curricula respond to professional regulation, service priorities and workforce development needs.
You’ll analyse the strategic and political context of health and social care education, exploring how policy, regulation and organisational systems shape learning environments. You’ll also develop insight into leading change, influencing strategy and contributing to educational governance.
You’ll then evaluate approaches to supporting learners within difficulty, mentoring and supervision structures and inclusive educational design. Through reflection and applied tasks, you’ll strengthen your capability to contribute to workforce development and organisational learning agendas.
Course-level support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled employment through a number of key areas. These include:
- guidance from experienced academics engaged in educational leadership and policy
- structured formative feedback across the modules you study
- peer collaboration within a multidisciplinary cohort
- access to our Skills Centre for academic writing and study development
- personalised academic support to help you progress towards masters-level study
Applied learning
Live projects
We embed applied learning throughout the PGDip. You’ll use your organisation as a living case study – critically evaluating and leading educational development.
Tasks are designed to align with your day-to-day responsibilities and professional goals. You could be designing or reviewing curricula, leading educational change initiatives, evaluating policy implementation, or supporting learners in complex systems. Assessments encourage you to draw directly on your professional context, strengthening both credibility and practical impact.
Networking opportunities
You’ll engage with senior educators and practitioners who provide insight into national education agendas and leadership in action. Through collaborative online discussions we encourage peer critique and the exchange of ideas across professions.
Course leaders and tutors
Nick White
Senior Lecturer In Adult NursingI am module leader for the Developing Simulation and Human Factors in Education Level 7 that is part of the MSc Healthcare Education and Clinical Simulation Lead for … Read more
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Aims
This module explores principles of formative and summative assessment, examining their design, purpose, and impact on learner progression. You will explore inclusive assessment strategies, constructive alignment, and equity in practice. The module also introduces feedback models and strategies that develop feedback literacy, promote learner independence, and shape professional identity. You will engage with quality assurance processes, institutional frameworks, and wider policy drivers to inform your own practice. Through critical reflection, you will develop strategies to enhance fairness, coherence, and sustainability in assessment and feedback across diverse learning environments.
Indicative content:
Principles of assessment in health and social care education
Formative and summative assessment: design, application, and impact
Inclusive assessment and equity in practice
Constructive alignment
Feedback models in practice
Feedback strategies in contemporary practice
Assessment and feedback in professional identity formation
Quality assurance, policy, and institutional framework(s)
This module introduces you to contemporary knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to teach and facilitate others’ learning effectively. You will explore a range of educational theories and pedagogies that underpin teaching and learning, enabling you to apply them directly within your health or social care setting. The module focuses on creating inclusive and engaging learning environments, helping you design effective and motivating learning experiences that respond to diverse learner needs.
You will critically examine how educational philosophies shape your teaching practice and develop your understanding of assessment strategies that support learning. By the end of the module, you will be equipped to make informed, reflective decisions about how best to support the learners in your practice area.
Indicative content:
Contemporary learning theories
Educational philosophies and practice
Interprofessional Education
Technology-Enhanced Learning
Inclusive pedagogy and equity
Motivation and engagement
Designing learning activities
Assessment strategies for learning
Elective modules
This module enables you to explore and apply advanced knowledge, skills, and values related to workplace learning, with a focus on supporting learners or colleagues experiencing professional difficulties. You will critically examine mentoring, coaching, and supervision models and their use across diverse, inter-professional settings. Emphasis is placed on the value of early, constructive support for individuals, teams, professions, and organisations.
Through engagement with evidence-based frameworks, you will develop strategies to support learners in difficulty, using a range of communication and support approaches. You will also reflect on your own development needs and create a personalised action plan. By the end of the module, you will be equipped with the insight and tools to foster an inclusive learning culture and support others through challenges.
Indicative content
Mentoring, coaching and supervision models
Inter-professional working
Supporting learners in difficulty
Communication strategies
Personal reflection
Evidence base evaluation
This module enables you to explore the pedagogical foundations of simulation-based education in health and social care. You will examine how experiential learning, scenario design, and structured debriefing techniques can enhance learner development, support reflective practice, and build critical thinking. You are encouraged to apply inclusive and psychologically safe approaches when designing simulation activities that mirror real-world challenges and promote service improvement.
Throughout the module, you will critically reflect on the role of simulation in advancing quality assurance, patient safety, and educator development. You will consider the responsibilities of the simulation educator and how to lead and facilitate meaningful simulation experiences that engage diverse learners.
Indicative content
Pedagogical foundations of simulation-based education
Simulation and quality improvement
Patient and service user safety
Inclusive simulation practice
Role of the simulation educator
Structured debriefing models
Scenario design and learning alignment
Leadership and facilitation in simulation
Final year
Compulsory modules
Module aims to:
This module will develop your critical understanding of curriculum theory, design, and review processes. You will explore how curriculum aligns with macro-level policy, workforce demands, and potential PSRB requirements. Through engagement with curriculum governance, quality assurance, and stakeholder expectations, you will gain the tools to lead inclusive, coherent, and strategically aligned developments in health and social care education.
You will consider your identity and influence as an educational leader, advocate, and change agent, fostering accountability, inclusivity, and sustainability.
Indicative content:
Curriculum design in complex systems
Strategic alignment and mapping for coherence
Leading curriculum change
Inclusive curriculum development
Macro policy and workforce influences
Stakeholder collaboration
Quality assurance and enhancement
The role and responsibilities of the curriculum leader
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
This module prepares and enables you to embed research and innovation as a core component of your practice and engage in projects that address priorities and seek to transform lives.
It explores the role of research and innovation in healthcare practice and will provide you with an in-depth insight into a range of designs and methods that are used when undertaking such projects.
The practicalities of proposing, implementing and undertaking successful projects is explored and you will be supported to create your own research and innovation plan for practice.
Indicative content:
Health innovation and research - principles and priorities
The research cycle:
Research paradigms and methodology
Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research
Service evaluation: applying research design and methods
Literature based reviews
Formulating research/evaluation questions
Ethics and governance
Public and service user and carer (social care) involvement and co-production
Funding and support
Project management
Research impact:
Dissemination and knowledge exchange (for example writing for publication)
Enhancement of career opportunities in research
Elective modules
This module introduces students to leadership within health and social care, focusing on developing self-awareness and reflective practice. Students will explore leadership and management theories, assess their leadership style using diagnostic tools, and create a development plan aligned with personal and organisational goals.
Module Content
You’ll study topics such as:
Key leadership and management theories in health and social care
Leadership challenges and strategies in professional practice
Understanding followership and its role in effective leadership
Self-assessment using leadership diagnostic tools
Personal leadership reflection and development planning
Ethical, inclusive, and values-based leadership
This module enables you to explore and apply advanced knowledge, skills, and values related to workplace learning, with a focus on supporting learners or colleagues experiencing professional difficulties. You will critically examine mentoring, coaching, and supervision models and their use across diverse, inter-professional settings. Emphasis is placed on the value of early, constructive support for individuals, teams, professions, and organisations.
Through engagement with evidence-based frameworks, you will develop strategies to support learners in difficulty, using a range of communication and support approaches. You will also reflect on your own development needs and create a personalised action plan. By the end of the module, you will be equipped with the insight and tools to foster an inclusive learning culture and support others through challenges.
Indicative content
Mentoring, coaching and supervision models
Inter-professional working
Supporting learners in difficulty
Communication strategies
Personal reflection
Evidence base evaluation
This module enables you to explore the pedagogical foundations of simulation-based education in health and social care. You will examine how experiential learning, scenario design, and structured debriefing techniques can enhance learner development, support reflective practice, and build critical thinking. You are encouraged to apply inclusive and psychologically safe approaches when designing simulation activities that mirror real-world challenges and promote service improvement.
Throughout the module, you will critically reflect on the role of simulation in advancing quality assurance, patient safety, and educator development. You will consider the responsibilities of the simulation educator and how to lead and facilitate meaningful simulation experiences that engage diverse learners.
Indicative content
Pedagogical foundations of simulation-based education
Simulation and quality improvement
Patient and service user safety
Inclusive simulation practice
Role of the simulation educator
Structured debriefing models
Scenario design and learning alignment
Leadership and facilitation in simulation
This module provides you with an understanding of the standards and competencies required to successfully undertake the role of the Professional Midwifery and Nurse Advocate (PMA/PNA). The PMA/PNA model links leadership and supervisory work with staff personal development, with the aim of impacting quality improvement and enhancement initiatives.
The module will focus on the four functions of the Advocating for Education and Quality and Improvement (A-EQUIP) Model which are:
• Clinical Supervision (Restorative)
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality Control (Normative)
• Personal Action for Quality Improvement
• Education and Development (Formative)
You’ll study topics such as:
• National and local policies informing the role of the supervisor/Professional Midwifery/Nurse Advocate within the context of national and local governance policies.
• Background and the development of the A-EQUIP model leading to a working knowledge of the model for resilient practice.
• Articulation of models of supervision within the PMA/PNA role and how clinical supervision supports staff to reflect and consider their practice in relation to these models. Formative, normative and restorative supervision practice.
• A range of supervisory approaches and methods including facilitation, coaching, motivational interviewing, assertiveness, reflection, debriefing, advocacy, and managing challenging conversations.
• The therapeutic and compassionate skills communication skills, parallel processes as applied to supervisory frameworks for understanding and managing the supervisory relationship.
• Leadership and change management models, incorporating challenges that organisations and individual leaders encounter in the organisation.
• Leadership and critical thinking skills which underpin the setting up and development of a successful PMA/PNA relationship, including setting ground rules, negotiating, and working in partnership.
• Approaches to change management and quality improvement through evidence-based practice to ensure people experience safe, compassionate, person-centred care including the concept of advocacy.
• Ethical issues for PMA/PNA facilitating change management and mentorship which may affect the process for example, conflict of interest, maintaining professional boundaries, and performance management.
• Leadership techniques and processes for change management, collaborative working and leadership of teams and groups.
• Establishing PMA/PNA roles and frameworks for on-going development of to secure team building and participation.
• Equity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion within organisational cultures and organisational dynamics.
Future careers
This course prepares you for roles in:
- clinical education leadership
- curriculum development
- practice development
- simulation and educational innovation
- education advisory positions
- workforce development and organisational learning
Graduates progress within NHS trusts, universities and professional education teams, (subject to employer and professional-body role requirements).
The PGDip is the second step of our Health and Social Care Education pathway, following the PGCert. You can then progress to the MSc, undertaking a substantial master’s level research or educational development project aligned to your professional context – demonstrating advanced critical analysis and strategic influence in health and social care education.
If you already have relevant postgraduate credits, you may be able to enter the pathway at an appropriate stage, subject to university regulations.
Equipment and facilities
This is a fully online distance-learning course, so you’ll need regular access to a PC, laptop or Mac with reliable internet connectivity, as well as the digital literacy to engage with Microsoft Teams and Blackboard.
On this course you use:
- our Blackboard virtual learning environment
- Microsoft Teams for live sessions and collaboration
- digital academic resources
A significant proportion of learning is self-directed, enabling flexibility alongside your professional commitments.
Where will I study?
You study this course online from any location
Entry requirements
All students
Normally, a first degree or professional qualification in a related health care subject, and 2 years post qualification experience. If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in all skills, or equivalent
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2026/27 is £7,295 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. If the full course is more than one year in duration, the fee will be divided into annual payments which will then be rounded. This may mean the total fee you pay is slightly higher than the fee stated above. If you take a break in study or have to re-take part of the course, you may also be charged an additional fee and will be notified of this at the time. Our tuition fee for UK students starting part-time study in 2026/27 is £3,650 per year.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for international/EU students starting distance learning part time study in 2026/27 is £7,435 for 120 credit
Scholarships and financial support
Find information on scholarships, bursaries and postgraduate student loans.
International scholarships up to £3000 ›
Alumni scholarships up to £2000 ›
Postgraduate loans for UK students ›
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Health and Social Care (PDF, 277.7KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
