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:
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 81158
- Email: PD@uwe.ac.uk
You may also be interested in
Fees and how to apply
Information regarding fees, funding and applying for your Professional Development Award.
Benefits for employers
Discover how Professional Development Awards can help strengthen your workforce and address skills shortages.
Professional Development Awards
The flexible structure of Professional Development Awards allows you to tailor your course to match your interests and professional development (CPD) needs.