PgCert

Lots of students have studied postgraduate degrees and have considered postgraduate study as a way of furthering their careers, a PgCert is a great way for stuents to expand on their exsisting knowledge and start themselves on the path towards something truly special.

What does PgCert stand for?

PgCert stands for Postgraduate Certificate, a specialised qualification or a ‘mini master’s’ that can be taken after an undergraduate degree.

What is a PgCert?

A PgCert is completed at master’s level, though for a shorter duration; it’s worth a third of a master’s degree overall, and is equivalent to 225 university contact hours.

A PgCert is a level 7 qualification in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, or level 11 within the Scottish framework. In all areas of the UK, this makes it the same level as a masters degree. A PgCert is worth 60 credits, or a third of a master’s degree (which has 180 credits).

It usually takes around three months full-time to complete a PgCert, although it takes a year to complete the PgCert Education (more commonly known as a PGCE) because that also includes extensive teaching practice. We have a special guide to PGCEs for prospective trainee teachers and a guide to PGCE funding.

Contact the university directly to apply for one of their PgCert courses.

Why do a PgCert?

A PgCert can hone your knowledge and skills, as well as boosting your student CV by giving you an edge over other job applicants.

It’s less of a time commitment than a full master’s, but if the course is close enough in topic, you can still transfer credits. This means that at a later date, you can use those credits towards a master’s degree if you choose.

What is PgCert and PGDip?

The PgCert / PgDip difference is to do with the duration of study. Whilst they’re both level 7 qualifications, the PgCert is worth 60 credits (a third of a master’s course) and the PgDip is worth 120 credits (two-thirds of a master’s course).

What is the difference between PgCert and MSc?

The difference when considering PgCert vs MSc is the length of the course: the master’s programme has more content and therefore more contact hours and more credits. An MA or MSc carries 180 credits, and a PgCert is one-third of this.

A PgCert is completed at master’s level, though for a shorter duration; it’s worth a third of a master’s degree overall, and is equivalent to 225 university contact hours.

Can I study a distance learning PgCert?

You can study a PgCert online or by distance learning, and the flexibility makes it an attractive option for students who live remotely, work full-time, or have dependents.

For medical graduates who can’t relocate for study, a PgCert medical education distance learning course or a PgCert clinical education distance learning programme can be the perfect option to top up their professional knowledge.

Business professionals and managers can sharpen their skillsets on evenings and weekends with a PgCert. Students can prepare for promotion with universities including Manchester, Lancaster, Oxford Brookes and Aberdeen.

Can I study a PgCert part time?

Yes, there are lots of part-time PgCert courses available, including the distance options listed above. A part-time PgCert usually takes 6-18 months instead of three months full-time to complete.

What subjects can I study as a PgCert?

There’s almost no limit to the number of subjects you can study as a PgCert. Law, informatics, English literature, prescribing, oncology, applied marketing science, historical studies: it’s all out there.

It’s not just for academics, either. Practising physicians might pursue a PgCert surgery or PgCert aesthetic medicine to improve their niche knowledge, while psychologists can take courses such as PgCert autism and PgCert low-intensity psychological interventions.

University support staff can also refine their skills with the Association of University Administrators on their AUA PgCert in Higher Education Administration, Management and Leadership.

The PgCert / PgDip difference is to do with the duration of study.

What are the entry requirements for a PgCert?

PgCert applicants usually require a good undergraduate degree in a subject closely related to the PgCert, such as a 2:1 in mathematics for a financial mathematics PgCert.

Universities set their own entry criteria and they vary wildly from one provider to the next. For example, the Worcester PgCert in teaching and learning in HE requires a good degree and ‘current and ongoing experience of supporting the learning of HE students’, whilst Edinburgh Napier expects a 2:2 or above and ‘a substantive teaching and assessment role within higher education’. QMUL, meanwhile, is even more specific, requesting that applicants are ‘leading a module or modules and actively teaching in HE for at least 10 hours’ in the year of study.

As every course is so different, it’s important to check directly with the university or course provider.

How to apply for a PgCert

Contact the university directly to apply for one of their PgCert courses. They’ll ask for supporting evidence, such as copies of your undergraduate degree transcript, and will likely also require a cover letter or application form.

Most PgCert courses accept applications all year round, though they close applications when the next academic year is full. You should therefore apply as far ahead of September as possible to secure a place in the next cohort.

What are the PgCert fees?

Because a PgCert is a third of the teaching time of a master’s programme, is is usually a third of the price. This means that the price of a PgCert is usually around £3000, but the exact amount varies according to the course provider and subject.

Can I get funding for PgCert study?

Unfortunately, you can’t get a tuition fee loan to study a PgCert. Student Finance England only provides loans for full degrees: first undergraduate degrees and first postgraduate degrees (such as a taught master’s or research master’s). As a PgCert is not a complete degree, it’s not eligible for student finance. There is an exception for the teacher training postgraduate certificate, the PGCE, which has its own set of funding rules.

You might be able to receive help with your fees from your employer if they consider the qualification to be of benefit to your work, so speak to them if you’re thinking about applying.

There’s almost no limit to the number of subjects you can study as a PgCert.

What is a PgCert qualification likely to include?

Course content differs depending on subject. A PgCert in higher education may focus on teaching techniques, assessment systems, professional development, and wider policy, while a PgCert Applied Linguistics will look nothing like the PgCert HE, instead covering sociolinguistics, language acquisition, and grammar.

Assessment is likely to be made through a portfolio of evidence, including presentations, written assignments, practicals, and digital assessments.

What is a PgCert in education?

PgCert vs PGCE simply comes down to the way the title is phrased: a PgCert Education is more commonly known as a PGCE. It’s a PgCert teaching route for graduates of specialist subjects like maths and biology to become school teachers.

You can also study a PgCert in higher education, or in specific fields of education such as a medical education PgCert. These are not the same as a PGCE and fall into the main PgCert category explored in this guide.