Professional Practice (Part-time) (MA)
The MA Professional Practice (Distance Learning, Part-Time) is a flexible, career-focused master’s programme designed for working professionals who want to advance their expertise, develop leadership skills, and gain a formal qualification without taking a career break.
Delivered 100% online, this part-time programme allows you to apply what you learn directly to your workplace, enhancing both your personal and professional development.
This work-based master’s degree is highly customisable, enabling you to tailor your studies to your career goals. With a range of modules in leadership, coaching, mentoring, change management, and digital transformation, you can shape your learning experience to suit your industry and aspirations. Whether you work in business, healthcare, education, public services, or the non-profit sector, this programme equips you with practical skills and strategic insights to enhance your professional practice.
A key benefit of this distance learning MA is its Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway, which allows you to gain academic credit for your previous professional experience, training, or qualifications. This can accelerate your progress and make your master’s degree more affordable.
Throughout the course, you will engage with research-led teaching, real-world case studies, and independent study projects, culminating in a major work-based research project that aligns with your career objectives. You will graduate with advanced critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills that can open doors to senior roles, consultancy opportunities, or further academic study.
If you are looking for a flexible, industry-relevant master’s degree that lets you study anytime, anywhere, the MA Professional Practice at ÃÜÌÒ´«Ã½ is the ideal choice.
Course details
- Part-time
- English
- Welsh
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
This programme develops critical reflection, leadership, and research skills tailored to your professional sector. You will engage with:
- Contemporary professional practice and leadership strategies.
- Work-based learning and independent study modules.
- Research methodologies applied to workplace challenges.
- Ethical and professional considerations in your field.
The programme structure is highly flexible, allowing students to tailor their learning.
Core Modules:
- Continuing Professional Development (20 credits)
- Recognition and Accreditation of Learning (RAL) (20 credits)
- Work-Based Research (20 credits)
- Research in Workplaces (10 credits)
Optional Modules (examples):
- Leadership and Change (30 credits)
- Coaching and Mentoring (30 credits)
- Managing Work-Based Projects (30 credits)
- Authenticity and the Role of the Leader (30 credits)
- Financial Management for Public Sector (30 credits)
Students must complete a total of 180 credits to graduate with an MA.
Optional
(20 credits)
(15 credits)
(20 + (40-160 credit claim))
Optional
(30 credits)
(20 credits)
(30 credits)
(15 credits)
(20 credits)
(30 credits)
(30 credits)
(20 credits)
Optional
Year 2
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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.
Year 3
Further information
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Minimum of 5 years’ level-appropriate work-based or voluntary experience.
Alternative entry routes-
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert). This is the first part of the full Master’s degree.
Once you have successfully completed your PGCert studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remainder of the Master’s degree.
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.
Admissions Advice and Support  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements.
As a potential student the Admissions Team will arrange a meeting to discuss the options open to you. This normally takes place online at a time convenient to you.
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.
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa.
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship.
For full information read our visa application and guides.
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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- Work-based projects
- Written assignments
- Research-based reports
- Reflective portfolios
- Presentations
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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.  &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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. &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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 &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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. 
Opportunities to Learn Welsh &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills.   &²Ô²ú²õ±è;
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There are no additional required costs for the course. There is the option to undertake an Insights Psychometric assessment.
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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 section on our website.
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Graduates pursue roles in:
- Leadership and management across industries
- Public sector and non-profit organisations
- HR and talent development
- Coaching and consultancy