CPD courses
Jon BerryAdmissions Tutor, CPD Programme
March 2012
01707 285660
Summer School: July, 2012
We are pleased to be able to confirm that we will be offering Learning Through Enquiry Using ICT as a summer school module this year. (You certainly don’t need to be an ICT expert to enroll on this module – the emphasis is on the learning, not the ICT!).
The module will run on the following dates and times:
Monday 16th July: 5.00 p.m – 7.30 p.m
Monday- Thursday, 23rd- 26th July. 9.30 a.m. – 4.00 p.m
Friday 24th July 9.30 a.m – 12.30 p.m
Submission date will be Monday 3rd September, 2012
To register an interest in this module, please contact Betty Thomas before Monday 18th June.
The cost for this module will be £800.
MA Education 2012
A full Masters programme will run from September.With the following modules on offer in Semester A:
- Developing Subject and Professional Knowledge
- Mentoring and Coaching
- Promoting wellbeing and involvement in the early years
To register an interest, contact Jon Berry.
1. What sort of people study for education based masters degrees?
2. What are the entry qualifications?
3. Why study for a masters degree?
6. What are the implications in terms of time?
7. Where and when do taught sessions take place?
9. Key contacts and Open Evenings
1. What sort of people study for education based Masters degrees?
The majority of people on our part-time Masters degrees are serving practitioners, most of whom are teachers. There are, however, a range of practitioners from a variety of professions and occupations involved in training and education in a broader sense, who join our courses. This includes medical practitioners, social workers, police officers and others involved in workplace training and education.
2. What are the entry qualifications?
In most cases you will need an undergraduate degree or professional qualification in an area related to your proposed course.
3. Why study for a Masters degree?
The principal reason for studying for a Masters is to deepen your professional and personal knowledge and understanding. Masters degrees differ from previous study in that demands are made of you to think critically and analytically, often challenging fixed ideas and precepts. In some professional spheres, the acquisition of a Masters degree is seen as a necessary prerequisite for promotion and advancement. Many students see the Masters as an interim step to studying for a doctorate.
4. Which course is for me?
We offer a number of different ways of completing the course consisting of various modules. For most people the choice is self-evident, but feel free to discuss this with us before committing yourself to a particular route. Semester A modules begin in late September, Semester B in late January, with Semester C beginning after May.
MA Education. Suitable for all teachers and other practitioners.
MA Early Years. Designed specifically for those working in this area. For further information, contact Sally Graham
MA Deaf Education. Designed specifically for those working in this area. For further information, contact Judy Hortt
5. How much will it cost me?
Charges at May, 2012 are £800 per 30 credit module. Some schools and employers do choose to allocate some funding for masters students as part of their own CPD provision. We will be keeping potential applicants up to date with all developments about funding.
6. What are the implications in terms of time?
There is no avoiding the fact that studying for a Masters degree, especially on a part-time basis, is a demanding experience. At some point during the course students have to make some difficult decisions about establishing priorities. However, as serving practitioners, much of what you do on a daily basis can inform your study. As a general rule, for each 30 credit module (180 credits are required for the full Masters degree) you will need to attend some thirty hours of seminars, lectures and tutorials. These usually take place in the evening in three hour sessions with occasional weekend sessions on some programmes.
7. Where and when do taught sessions take place?
The majority of the taught sessions take place at the de Havilland campus in Hatfield. There are also some satellite venues, principally based in schools and teachers’ centres in Hertfordshire, Harrow and Brent.
8. How and when do I apply?
You can apply immediately, but before you do so, we suggest that you have a look at the following.
Then, apply using this form, returning it directly to me at either j.berry@herts.ac.uk or sending it to me at :
Room R231
University of Hertfordshire
De Havilland Campus
Hatfield
AL10 9AB
The application process timeline
- Having decided which programme is for you, complete the application form and return it as indicated under How and when do I apply?
- Within 6 weeks you will receive a letter informing you of the outcome. You will either be offered a place conditionally, unconditionally or you will be told that your application has been unsuccessful. If the place is conditional, these conditions will be identified, along with the timescale for meeting them.
- You must then return the acceptance form as directed. Please note – this does not mean you are now registered. Registration is a separate process and you will be given details of how and when this will take place.
- You will be advised of the date set for induction and registration for before it takes place in late September, 2012. There will also be a reserve date in early October for those unable to attend on that day. It is critically important that you attend on one of these occasions.
- The deadline for applications for 2012 is Friday, August 31st. We cannot guarantee any places on courses if applications are received after this date.
Key terminology
- Application – filling in the form and returning it to us.
- Offer letter – you will be either offered a place conditionally, unconditionally or you will be told that your application has been unsuccessful.
- Acceptance form – this must be returned to us as a matter of urgency.
- Joining information – Once the acceptance form is returned, you will be sent an email with important information about joining the course.
- Induction – initial visit to the university in September for briefing and completion of the registration process.
- Registration – the vital process of registering as a student, thereby gaining access to all University services, including StudyNet – the university’s internal website and virtual learning environment - and all learning resources. You will also be issued with your student ID card.
FAQs
How long will the whole course take? That depends on a number of factors. You need 180 credits to get a full Masters and you may join us with, for example, 60 credits from PGCE or NPQICL. Most part-time students complete after two or three years and most full-timers after a year. Look at Which course is for me? for details
Can I import credits from elsewhere? We will take a maximum of 60 credits from elsewhere as long as they are relevant to your chosen programme. However, do ensure that these are credits at Masters level before relying on them. Your previous provider or training course should be able to make the status of any previous study clear to you.
Can I get credit for previous professional experience or training? There is a possibility that you could do so, but this needs to be discussed with us on a case-by-case basis. You will incur some administration fees when undertaking this process.
If I don’t finish the course, do I still get an award of any sort? If you choose to finish at 60 credits you can be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate and at 120, a Postgraduate Diploma.
Can I take a rest from my studies and return later? Yes. You can temporarily suspend your studies. We understand that some students need to do this and will support you in your decision.
How long do my credits last for if I do choose to rest for a while? In most cases, credits are valid for five years from their award date.
With a busy professional life, I’m not sure I’ll be able to attend all sessions. How important is this? We are fully aware that events mount up for busy professionals – parents’ evenings, staff meetings, school events and so forth. Attendance at sessions should be at 80%, but we know that sometimes this becomes very difficult to attain. Speak to your tutors if this looks like being a problem for you; we can usually resolve such matters.
I’m not great at academic writing. How much of a disadvantage is this? How long are assignments? Parts of the course will be dedicated to improving your approach to writing and some modules will offer alternative forms of assessment. The general rule is that each 30 credits requires a 5,000 word assignment. On some modules you will be given the opportunity to present your knowledge in ways that are different from traditional essays, should you choose to do so. Guidance will be given and your reading will also help you. Strangely enough, most students find that they would like to write more than the allocated 5,000 words once they get going!
What happens if I fail an assignment? It does happen that students fail assignments, although this is relatively rare. If this does happen, you are given guidance about how to retrieve the assignment and to resubmit your work at a later date. It is perfectly possible to complete the full masters having failed an assignment.
Do I have full access to all library resources and materials? Yes.
Will I be eligible for student benefits? Once you are fully registered, you will have an ID card that entitles you to the benefits and discounts enjoyed in shops and various outlets enjoyed by all students!
Important guidance on completing the form
When completing the form, ensure that you follow these important guidelines. Failure to do so causes delay in processing and means that you may not receive important information.
If you are a returning University of Hertfordshire student, there is no need to complete Sections 11 or 12.
In Section 2, please ensure that you identify your course.
In Section 10 fill in your last three places of employment or study.
In Section 12 one of your referees must be your current employer/headteacher.
9. Key contacts
We hope that the material here has answered your questions. However, if this is not the case, your key contacts are:
For general queries about the application process, course content, suitability, funding and eligibility, contact Jon Berry – 01707 285660
For queries about the registration process, contact Betty Thomas - 01707 285607
For queries about StudyNet access or difficulties locating study material, contact helpdesk@herts.ac.uk . You can only do this once you are registered.