Outdoor Learning (Full-time) (CertHE)
Do you love the outdoors and want to turn your passion for adventure into a career? Our Certificate of Higher Education in Outdoor Learning is perfect for you. This course combines practical learning with academic knowledge, giving you a solid foundation for a career in outdoor education.
You will gain hands-on experience through a variety of activities and expeditions. Imagine learning in wild locations, tackling challenging environments, and growing your skills in real-world settings. Our course covers everything from teaching and coaching to understanding important theories and practices.
Our unique location gives you access to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Bannau Brycheiniog, and Gower Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These areas offer some of the best sea kayaking, coasteering, mountain biking, and rock climbing in the world. You can also enjoy hill walking, caving, white-water kayaking, and woodland activities.
Our programme is designed to help you develop essential skills through practical learning and fieldwork. You will learn from experienced tutors and adventure education providers who are passionate about outdoor learning. They will guide you in creating safe experiences and building a strong community of outdoor enthusiasts.
Throughout your studies, you will explore subjects like teaching methods and the psychological, sociological, and philosophical aspects of outdoor education. This mix of theory and practice will prepare you for various roles in health, education, and physical activity sectors.
Join us and become part of a vibrant community that values the great outdoors. You can also study some modules in Welsh to make your learning experience even richer.
Our programme benefits from its own specialist facility for outdoor adventure provision, Cynefin. This space offers fantastic opportunities to develop your skills with excellent resources, teaching spaces, and on-site facilities.
Course details
- On-campus
- Full-time
- English
- Welsh
Undergraduate Fees
Home (Full-time): £9,535 per year
Overseas (Full-time): £15,525 per year
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
Throughout the Outdoor Learning CertHE course, you’ll gain essential skills and knowledge in practical outdoor activities, and pedagogical principles. You’ll engage in hands-on learning, theory-based studies, and real-world experiences that will prepare you for a career in the outdoor education sector.
In the first year, you’ll build a strong foundation in outdoor adventure education, focusing on practical learning and fieldwork. You’ll explore key principles such as Learning in the Digital Era and the Ecology of Adventure, develop essential skills, and engage in various outdoor activities. This year is all about immersing yourself in the great outdoors and starting your journey in outdoor learning.
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Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Course Page Disclaimer
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The modules outlined above provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this course based on recent academic teaching. We continuously review our courses to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course includes optional modules, these are to provide an element of choice within the course. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
You’ll typically complete 120 credits per year of study on a full-time course. For more information visit our Student Agreement.
Further information
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32 UCAS tariff points 
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e.g. A-levels: E, BTEC: PPP, IB: 24
The UCAS tariff score is applicable to you if you have recently studied a qualification that has a UCAS tariff equivalence. UCAS provides a  for you to work out what your qualification is worth within the UCAS tariff. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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GCSE grade A*-C (grade 9-4 in England) in English and Mathematics is also required. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Alternative entry routes 
Once you have successfully completed your CertHE studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remaining two years of the bachelor’s degree. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
These are ideal routes if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Admissions Advice and Support 
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, such as your background, experiences and individual circumstances. This is known as ‘Contextual Admissions’. For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
English language requirements 
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses.
Visa and funding requirements 
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For full information read our visa application and guides. â¶Ä¯â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
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The aim of the assessments are to enable students to demonstrate that they have met the aims of the programme and achieved the learning outcomes of each module.
Given the practical nature of the programme, assessments are devised to maximise the link between theory and practice and allow students to demonstrate intellectual rigour and to reflect critically on their own experiences.
A variety of formats are used for coursework and practical assessments, including:
Portfolios
Practical teaching/coaching
Essays
Journals
Presentations
Digital Media
Blogs
Academic interviews. -
Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh.
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies.
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed.
Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities
There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Opportunities to Learn Welsh
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills. â¶Ä¯&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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‘Other than providing a personal first aid kit, river knife and some basic outdoor clothing there are currently no mandatory additional costs to this programme.
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You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available please visit our Scholarships and Bursaries.
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The Outdoor Adventure Education programme is enhanced with our established partnership with the University of South-Eastern Norway which offers an outstanding opportunity to study Nordic Backcountry Skiing and Outdoor Leadership for a semester in the second year.
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There are numerous opportunities for students to gain experience of different employment roles within the sector.
There are close ties between the programme and the relevant professional and governing bodies, with a number of strong partnerships with local businesses and third-sector organisations. As such, students are well placed to relate their studies with the wider communities of practice.
The programme includes opportunities for students to gain a number of governing body awards at different levels, in a range of activities. These awards require students to register with the relevant governing bodies and to maintain logbooks of experience.