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
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Fees and how to apply
Information regarding fees, funding and applying for your Professional Development Award.
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Benefits for employers
Discover how Professional Development Awards can help strengthen your workforce and address skills shortages.
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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.