Professional Practice (Teaching and Learning) MSc is a part-time, work-based programme for qualified teachers who want to develop and enhance their working practice at Master's level.
This part-time, flexible, work-based Master's qualification is suitable for all qualified teachers and offers you the opportunity to attain academic recognition for the skills, knowledge and experience that you have developed in the workplace whilst focusing on a specific area of practice relevant to your work and career progression.
You explore your profession further and consider the professional challenges associated within your specific area of practice, with modules that have been designed to help you review and analyse the current debates relevant to the professional context in which you are working.
You are encouraged to convert prior learning achievements into University of Kent academic credit via Accreditation of Prior Experiential and/or Certificated Learning. To be eligible for accreditation, prior learning must be at the appropriate and relevant to the programme's learning outcomes. For further information, visit: https://www.kent.ac.uk/professional-practice/programmes/apecl
Our Global and Lifelong Learning (GLL) division is founded on the belief that employers can benefit from the University of Kent’s academic and research excellence, quality teaching, design and development activities to create positive change and to forge new knowledge within their organisation. GLL's programmes are designed to enhance career progression and foster intellectual and professional development and practice.
We work with a wide range of external partners and employers to create distinct and original work-based and work-related developmental and educational solutions, which respond to the unique workforce challenges experienced by employees and organisations across the region and beyond.
Applicants are normally required to have a minimum of two years’ professional experience and hold an undergraduate degree, in addition to a teaching qualification.
If you do not hold the required entry qualification(s) but believe that you would be able to participate in this programme and have the potential to work at Master's level please contact us.
All applicants are considered on an individual basis and additional qualifications, professional qualifications and relevant experience may also be taken into account when considering applications.
Please see our International Student website for entry requirements by country and other relevant information. Due to visa restrictions, students who require a student visa to study cannot study part-time unless undertaking a distance or blended-learning programme with no on-campus provision.
This course requires a Good level of English language, equivalent to B2 on CEFR.
Details on how to meet this requirement can be found on our English Language requirements webpage.
Examples:
IELTS 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each component
PTE Academic 63 with a minimum of 59 in each sub-test
A degree from a UK university
A degree from a Majority English Speaking Country
Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.
The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year.
In Stage 1 - Year 1 (PG Certificate) you take the following core modules:
In Stage 2 - Year 2 (PG Diploma) you take the following core modules:
In Stage 3 - Year 3 (MSc) you take the following core module:
Taught sessions are delivered in a welcoming, supportive and flexible academic environment, by an academic team with extensive professional practitioner experience. They are experienced in delivering work-related programmes and understand the constraints of balancing a career with the demands of higher education.
Duration: 3 years part-time
This part-time, flexible programme has been designed to encourage you to think more deeply about the challenges associated with your professional practice while enabling you to tailor your degree to your particular interests and career aspirations. The programme is both academic and practical in its orientation: it aims to improve professional skills alongside those of academic analysis, synthesis and criticality.
Core and optional modules are taught on our Medway campus or at a Medway Partnership School via a series of extended weekend sessions, on average four weekends a year, Friday-Sunday, 9.00-17.00.
As the prime objective is to enhance professional practice applied within the workplace, you will be expected to demonstrate an appropriate level of conceptual and analytical skills.
All assessment and prepartory tasks are designed to allow you to develop expertise in the application of professional practice within the context of your work and specialist subject area.
Assessments can be through:
In Stage 3 you complete a dissertation of 10,000-12,000 words.
For course aims and learning outcomes please see the course specification.
The Centre recognises and understands the individual needs of working professionals, who participate as non-traditional part-time learners, and the balance required between study and the specific areas within which they operate. Our flexible programmes of study provide inclusive and coherent educational and work-related opportunities, which provide you with the opportunity to study either individual modules or to work towards a postgraduate certificate, diploma or Master’s degree. Taught sessions are delivered in a welcoming, supportive and flexible academic environment, by an academic team with extensive professional practitioner experience.
Our staff have a wealth of experience and knowledge in designing and delivering work-related programmes, providing valuable contributions to the design, development and delivery of current professional practice programmes. With strong links to local and national employers, the Centre is able to ensure that its programmes are contemporary.
The Centre is also responsible for developing and accrediting postgraduate training courses delivered by NHS Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex (Postgraduate Dental Deanery), Kent Community Health NHS Trust and the New Horizons Teaching School Alliance, with whom the University of Kent has close working relationships.
We offer a number of CPD courses in evidence-based practice, research skills, collaborative and inter-professional working. You can obtain further information about these programmes from the Centre.
Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books, both nationally and internationally.
All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.
Building on Kent’s success as the region’s leading institution for student employability, we offer many opportunities for you to develop the specific skills and aptitudes that employers will value.
A postgraduate degree in professional practice is a particularly valuable and flexible qualification that can open the door to exciting careers in many professions. Our graduates have gone on to work as head teachers, subject leads and head of departments. Most recent graduates have gone on to work at Rochester Grammar School, Chatham Grammar School for Boys and the University of Kent.
The 2025/26 annual tuition fees for this course are:
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.
For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.
Tuition fees may be increased in the second and subsequent years of your course. Detailed information on possible future increases in tuition fees is contained in the Tuition Fees Increase Policy. If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.
You'll need regular access to a desktop computer/laptop with an internet connection to use the University of Kent’s online resources and systems. We've listed some guidelines for the technology and software you'll need for your studies.
Find out more about accommodation and living costs, as well as general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Next steps
Learn more about the application process or begin your application by clicking on a link below.
You will be able to choose your preferred year of entry once you have started your application. You can also save and return to your application at any time.
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