Academic Practice MA AP | PGDAP | PGCAP – Online Course
Develop your academic practice and gain global perspectives on higher education with this professional postgraduate teaching qualification designed to enhance your career in higher education.
What is academic practice?
Academic practice is the term used to define any work that uncovers, researches, and teaches information, knowledge and learning materials. Academic practitioners include researchers, higher education and university lecturers, professors, teachers, analysts, librarians, and academic laboratory technicians – their contributions go toward providing students in higher education with a better standard of knowledge within their field.
The University of Liverpool’s online Master of Arts in Academic Practice is a qualification for those who wish to enhance their academic practice and develop their higher education teaching career, providing students with invaluable teaching methods and techniques, informed by global pedagogical viewpoints.
Our online Academic Practice programme is designed for applicants with limited or no experience teaching or supporting learning in higher education. Through this programme, students will develop their academic practice and build employability skills to enhance their teaching careers in higher education in the UK and around the world.
There are three study awards for the online Academic Practice programme – starting with the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice (PGCAP) and progressing to the Postgraduate Diploma in Academic Practice (PGDAP) and full Master of Arts in Academic Practice (MA AP).
On the PGCAP award, students will develop their academic practice and build employability skills to enhance their teaching careers in higher education in the UK and around the world. The PGDAP builds on learning from the PGCAP to further develop academic leadership, scholarship, and pedagogic research in preparation for progression to the MA AP which gives participants the opportunity to complete a supervised academic practice project.
Active learning plays a fundamental part in the programme structure. You will have opportunities to demonstrate your understanding of educational concepts and barriers to learning and your ability to apply pedagogical theory from varied global perspectives to the classroom. Furthermore, you will be encouraged to utilise international educational frameworks to design lessons, set assignments and design learning outcomes that can be applied to your own context or to a global teaching space.
The online interaction with international peers and those working within higher education will also provide you with opportunities to give and receive feedback relevant to academic practice and develop your knowledge from peers who may have different experiences across a variety of educational contexts. By the end of your studies, you will be prepared to take your practice to the next level within the ever-changing higher education sector.
Download a prospectus for more details on this programme including module information.
This programme consists of the following modules. Participants are required to complete 180 credits to achieve the Master of Arts (MA AP), 120 credits to achieve the postgraduate diploma (PGDAP) and 60 credits to achieve the postgraduate certificate (PGCAP).
Throughout the programme, students will be encouraged to contribute to learning, providing case studies and perspectives from their local contexts. This will create a strong global and active learning experience and a global network of contacts.
| Modules | MA AP | PGDAP | PGCAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundational Approaches to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (15 credits) | x | x | x |
| Contemporary Approaches to Teaching in a Global HE Context (15 credits) | x | x | x |
| Designing Learning and Assessment in a Global HE Context (15 credits) | x | x | x |
| Elective modules (choose one from) Enhancing Academic Practice in a Global HE Context (15 credits) or Developing Your Career in a Global HE Context (15 credits) | x | x | x |
| Developing Academic Leadership (15 credits) | x | x | |
| Evidencing Academic Leadership (15 credits) | x | x | |
| Developing Scholarship (15 credits) | x | x | |
| Pedagogic Research Design (15 credits) | x | x | |
| Academic Practice Project (60 credits) | x |
All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you want to discuss your previous qualifications and experience before applying, please contact us now via LiveChat.
Applicants must have:
- A degree equivalent to a lower-second class UK bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
All applicants from outside the UK must provide evidence that they have an English language ability equivalent to an IELTS (academic) score of 6.5 (with all parts of the score being above a minimum of 6)
If you don’t have an IELTS or equivalent certificate, you can take our free online English test to assess your proficiency. You don’t need to prove your English ability if you are a national of or have completed a qualification equivalent to a UK degree in, any of these countries.
Fees for the academic year 2024/25
MA: £16,868
PGDAP: £11,246
PGCAP: £5,623
This fee* is fully inclusive of all costs, including all teaching materials, core textbooks, assessments and resits.
Executive Scholarship
An Executive Scholarship of 15%** is available for our January 2025 intake. Contact our admissions team for more information.
Other scholarships and discounts
You may be able to benefit from the following scholarships and discounts:
- Regional Scholarships of up to 20%. To find out the scholarship offered in your region, please make an enquiry now.
- 10% UK Scholarship for students residing in the United Kingdom is available for our intakes in the 2024/25 academic year for all full master’s awards.
- 10% discount for University of Liverpool alumni.
- 5% discount for up-front full tuition fee payment.
Further support
We aim to make it as easy as possible for you to cover the costs of your studies. You could benefit from:
- Simple monthly payment plan provided to spread the cost over the duration of study
- Students living in England may be eligible for a postgraduate loan to cover some of the programme cost.
Please speak to our admissions team for more details of fees, scholarships, discounts and support.
*All tuition fees shown are net of any applicable sales tax payable by you in your country of residence. Where we are required to add sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the tuition fees shown and confirmed.
**Please note that the Executive Scholarship can only be used with the Up-Front Payment Discount.
Teaching and assessment
The learning, teaching and assessment strategies for all online programmes are aligned with the three University of Liverpool Hallmarks of research-connected teaching, active learning and authentic assessment – as well as the three University of Liverpool Graduate Attributes of confidence, digital fluency and global citizenship.
Teaching methods
Studying online allows you to study in your own time and from wherever works best for you – whether that is from your home, during your lunch hour or anywhere else you have internet access.
All our online programmes are delivered through a specially designed online learning platform. This allows 24/7 access to your study materials, which includes:
- innovative lecturecasts consisting of audio recordings, infographics, videos, animation, short tasks, and written content
- a comprehensive eLibrary of ebooks and academic journals
- forums for you to discuss programme content with peers
- support from academic staff and a dedicated Student Support team
Assessments
Online programmes are assessed based on work carried out in the virtual classroom. Reflecting the hallmark of authentic assessment, this may include report writing, reflective practice, research projects, and individual or group presentations that represent the kinds of tasks you would be expected to undertake in a professional setting.
We are committed to:
- providing frequent and transparent feedback
- ensuring our assessment criteria are simple and clear
- making it easy for you to clearly view your marks in your gradebook when you log into the learning platform
- delivering provisional marks and feedback of assessed work usually within seven days for taught modules
- ensuring academic support through weekly lecturer office hours
- providing access to our Student Support team, with whom you can discuss any concerns or issues
Online learning experience
We will support your online learning experience with high-quality learning materials and resources, which can all be found on our state-of-the-art virtual learning platform.
Typically, your learning experience will include the following:
- directed learning – including participation in virtual discussions with peers, led by the lecturer, working through relevant and specially prepared videos and lecturecasts; completing interactive exercises on the learning platform; appointments with your lecturer during office hours
- self-directed learning – including wider reading and research in your subject area to further develop your knowledge and understanding
- assessment – time taken to prepare and complete assignments and activities which contribute to your overall assessment
On average, you will need to dedicate a minimum of 15-20 hours of study per module, per week.
Study duration
Our master’s award has an approximate study duration of 30 months, studied online and part-time. Our PG Diploma award has an approximate duration of 20 months and our PG Certificate has an approximate duration of 10 months.
Please note, that the actual study duration may be longer depending on study options chosen, speed of study, and module availability.
Students pursue the programme in a linear fashion, which is organised into modules, typically with a one or two-week break between modules, and a three-week break for the Christmas period. You will receive an indicative module timetable during the enrolment process.
On successful completion of your degree, and payment of any outstanding tuition fees, you will receive an invite to attend an in-person graduation ceremony in the vibrant city of Liverpool
Academic staff
We are committed to delivering an enriching online study experience, and all our lecturers are experienced subject specialists with demonstrated learning and teaching proficiency.
They play an integral part in ensuring the latest theories and research feature in our programmes and are dedicated to providing a high level of support throughout your studies.
All lecturers and supervisors are honorary faculty at the University of Liverpool.
Quality and assurance
As one of the Russell Group’s 24 members, the University of Liverpool is recognised as a world-class, research-intensive institution, that adheres to strict quality standards.
The University is registered with the Office for Students and an established member of the Quality Assurance for Higher Education.
Apply for this course by completing a simple online form.
In order to apply, you will need to provide copies of the following supporting documentation:
- University transcripts and certified translations if applicable
- Degree certificates
- Evidence of English language proficiency (EU and international applications only)
- Personal statement
- An up-to-date CV
Acknowledgement of your application
The admissions team will acknowledge receipt of your application and will pass it to the Department Head and/or appropriate academic department(s) for consideration.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from students with disabilities and consider them on the same academic grounds as those of other students. If you have a disability, medical condition and/or support needs it is important that you inform the University so that you receive appropriate support.
Deadlines
We have regular start dates throughout the year with regular application deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to apply in good time, particularly if they have special needs.
The content of the University of Liverpool online Academic Practice programme includes the necessary knowledge, skills and values to teach effectively in higher education to enhance student learning outcomes and experiences. The programme is open to applicants from around the world and the part-time, online delivery method is designed to suit individuals with busy lives and other commitments.
The programme takes into consideration the diverse nature and location of participants and their diverse disciplinary and teaching contexts. Students are expected to contribute to the content by sharing their knowledge and experience of their own global perspectives of academic practice in higher education.
Alongside the subject-specific knowledge gained, students will also develop professional skills such as communication, digital literacy, teaching and research, which could improve career prospects and open access to new opportunities.
Academic Development is part of The Leadership, Organisational, Professional & Academic Development Academy (The Academy) at the University of Liverpool. The Academy supports higher education professionals to develop their academic practice in relation to teaching and learning, as well as enhance their skills in research, leadership and management within the sector.
By studying online with Liverpool, you can gain a highly regarded qualification from a prestigious redbrick university and a member of the Russell Group, a group of 24 research-led UK universities committed to maintaining the highest possible standards of research and education. You will acquire new skills and knowledge, all while continuing to work in your current role.
The University of Liverpool has been offering online programmes since 2000. We are recognised as one of Europe’s leading providers of wholly online postgraduate degrees. All our programmes are designed for online delivery, and our state-of-the-art learning platform encourages collaboration with fellow professionals from around the world.
Study Online with the University of Liverpool
In these two student testimonials, Assoc. Prof. Mark Oliver S. Llangco from the University of the Philippines Los Baños and Asst. Prof. Kathleen M. Morales from Xavier University talk about their experiences on the online PGCAP programme taken as part of the Transformative Academic Practice for Higher Education in the Philippines (TAPHEP) project.
The TAPHEP Project was launched in 2021 and aims to support related capacity building of the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and other selected higher education institutions in the country.
Assoc. Prof. Mark Oliver S. Llangco – the University of the Philippines
Asst. Prof. Kathleen M. Morales – Xavier University
More student testimonials from the TAPHEP project are available to watch on our group testimonials webpage.
