Professional Development Award qualifications

Qualifications available and required credits

The Professional Development Awards (PDA) programme enables you to create a bespoke course where you can build credit to gain an award from a 60-credit certificate (both undergraduate and postgraduate), Certificate of Higher Education, Foundation Degree and other undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications.

Undergraduate awards

Certificate (Cert)

Award

  • Certificate in Professional Development

Credit requirements

  • 60 credits at level 0 or above, with not less than 50 at level 1 or above

Compulsory module

  • At least one 15+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level 1 or above

Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)

Award

  • Certificate of Higher Education in Professional Development

Credit requirements

  • 120 credits at level 1 or above, with not less than 100 at level 1 or above and not less than 40 at level 2 or above

Compulsory module

  • At least one 15+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level 2

Diploma (Dip)

Award

  • Diploma in Professional Development

Credit requirements

  • 200 at level 0 or above, with not less than 180 at level 1 or above and not less than 80 at level 2 or above

Compulsory module

  • At least one 15+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level 2

Foundation Degree (FdSc/FdA)

Award

  • Foundation Degree in Professional Development

Credit requirements

  • 240 at level 0 or above, with not less than 220 at level 1 or above and not less than 100 at level 2 or above and must include 40 credits of work-based learning, 20 at level 1 or above and 20 at level 2 or above

Compulsory module

  • At least 40 credits of work-based learning in the form of UWE Bristol work-based learning project module(s), 20 credits at level 1 or above and 20 credits at level 2 or above

Degree (BSc/BA)

Award

  • Degree in Professional Development

Credit requirements

  • 300 credits at level 0 or above of which not less than 280 are at level 1 or above, not less than 60 are at level 2 or above and not less than 60 are at level 3 or above

Compulsory module

  • At least one 15+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level 3

Degree with Honours BA(Hons), BSc(Hons)

Award

  • Honours Degree in Professional Development

Credit requirements

  • 360 credits at level 0 or above, with not less than 280 at level 1 or above, not less than 60 at level 2 or above and not less than 100 at level 3 or above

Compulsory module

  • At least 35+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level 3 including research or evidence-based work

Postgraduate awards

Graduate Certificate (GradCert)

Award

  • Graduate Certificate in Professional Development*

Credit requirements

  • 60 credits at level 1 or above, with not less than 40 at level 3 or above

Compulsory module

  • At least one 15+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level 3 or above

Graduate Diploma (GradDip)

Award

  • Graduate Diploma in Professional Development

Designed to build on existing intellectual attainment and develop new knowledge and skills in a professional discipline.

Credit requirements

  • 120 credits at level 1 or above, with not less than 80 at level 3 or above

Compulsory module

  • At least one 15+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level 3

Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert)

Award

  • Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Development

Designed to build on existing intellectual attainment and develop new knowledge and skills in a professional discipline.

Credit requirements

  • 60 credits at level M (up to 20 will be allowed at level 3)

Compulsory module

  • At least one 15+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level M

Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)

Award

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Development

Credit requirements

  • 120 credits at level M (up to 40 will be allowed at level 3)

Compulsory module

  • At least one 15+ credit UWE Bristol work-based learning project module at level M

Master's Degree (MSc/MA)

Award

  • Master's Degree in Professional Development

Credit requirements

  • 180 credits at level 3 or above, with not less than 120 at level M

Compulsory module

  • A total of 60 credits studied on this award at level M, of which there must be at least one 40 credit level M work-based project module, including research or evidence-based work

Subject-specific qualifications

In addition to the general PDA qualifications, there are subject-specific qualifications, such as the MSc PDA - Social Work.

Bespoke awards

Employers may contract with UWE Bristol to design a bespoke award within the PDA framework and negotiate a specific title if necessary. Please contact us to discuss your needs in more detail:

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