Professional Practice (Strategic Leadership in Higher Education) (Part-time) (PGCert)
Designed for academic and administrative professionals in the higher education sector, this part-time programme offers a unique opportunity to grow your leadership skills without stepping away from your career.
Whether you aim to excel in your current role or prepare for new challenges, this course equips you with the expertise to navigate complex organisational challenges with confidence.
This programme directly addresses the specific demands of the higher education environment, offering a learning model that balances practical application with theoretical depth. You’ll explore key areas such as policy, strategy, and organisational change, developing the insight and skills needed to make a meaningful impact at your institution.
Through a structured curriculum, this programme helps you refine your strategic leadership capabilities. It bridges the gap between academic theory and workplace practice, enabling you to address modern challenges in higher education. Whether leading teams, shaping policy, or driving institutional innovation, this course is designed to empower your career trajectory.
This PGCert supports your professional development, preparing you to thrive in an increasingly complex education landscape. The combination of research-based insights and practical learning equips you to tackle critical issues in higher education management, ensuring your contributions are both informed and innovative.
Embark on this transformative journey and take the next step in becoming a strategic leader in higher education.
Course details
- Part-time
- English
- Welsh
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
The Professional Practice (Strategic Leadership in Higher Education) PGCert prioritises a learner-centred approach, blending practical application with theoretical insights. Our flexible, reflective model is designed to enhance leadership capabilities and equip you to address the challenges within the higher education sector, fostering both personal and professional growth.
Year One (PGCert)
In your first year, the focus is on foundational skills. You’ll delve into professional reflection, research in the workplace, and applying new insights to real-world challenges. By critically examining sector-wide issues, you’ll deepen your understanding of how leadership practices can transform higher education.
This foundational year equips you to reflect critically on your practice and enhances your ability to lead effectively within your institution.
Optional
(20 credits)
(15 credits)
(10 credits)
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
Year 4
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.
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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Assessments include reflective assignments, project-based reports, and strategic case studies.
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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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Prepare for leadership roles, enhance policy impact, or transition to senior management in higher education.