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Advanced Educational Practice Grad Dip

Distance learning programme

The Graduate Diploma in Advanced Educational Practice will support you in solving the challenges you have identified in your own practice settings. It has been designed to help you respond to your professional needs.

UK students International students
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
£9,500
The published Full-time fee is for 120 credits. The published Part-time fee is for 60 credits and will apply each year for two years.
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
£19,700
The published Full-time fee is for 120 credits. The published Part-time fee is for 60 credits and will apply each year for two years.
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.
Duration
1 academic year
5 academic years
Programme starts
September 2026
Applications accepted
September 2026 entry: 20 Oct 2025 – 28 Aug 2026
Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Apply for this course

Entry requirements

An ordinary degree or level 5 equivalent qualification (e.g. Cambridge International Education Professional Development Qualification studied in English) as this is an Honours level award (i.e. level 6).

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

The Graduate Diploma focuses on learning and the relationship developed between professionals and their learners. You will examine current knowledge about theories and practices in education. You will also be encouraged to explore, enhance and innovate in education.

During the course you will be able to explore any subject area (e.g. Physical Education (P.E). or the Arts) or dimension (e.g. supporting special needs).  You will study educational practice through a variety of lenses including supporting learning and assessment, working with colleagues and supporting curriculum development.

The course responds to the needs of teachers and support staff in both UK and international settings. Skills developed are fully transferable to different contexts and settings. It is particularly relevant for support staff in schools.

Who this course is for

Anyone with a level 5 or above qualification who has access to a learning environment e.g., school or college.

The award has been developed for teachers, teaching assistants, educational administrators, tutors in FE Colleges as well as those in other professions such as medicine, the police force, librarians, and support staff working in educational settings.

Read about what it takes to study for a Master's at UCL

What this course will give you

Understanding best practice in teaching and learning is important for all professionals, especially if your work has an educational element. The Graduate Diploma in Advanced Educational Practice emphasises the practical application of educational research in your practice. It will advance your career through providing you with communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills. You will learn how to effectively explain your practice to non-experts (such as parents) and apply these insights to address challenges in your setting.

The Graduate Diploma is particularly flexible and can be tailored to your career. For example, you can:

  • Explore any subject, however obscure
  • Examine Special Needs or Collaboration in your professional role
  • Focus on developing relationships with other professionals, such as teachers.

The online format offers you the same educational quality as a campus-based course but with added flexibility. You can study from anywhere, balance learning with work and benefit from collaborating with peers from diverse settings.  You will also be studying alongside participants on other courses which widens your experience greatly.

With this course, it may be possible to reduce the cost of studying to three quarters of the total if you already have 30 honours level credits from your undergraduate degree. This is valid for up to 5 years since the completion of your degree. For more information, please contact ioe.aep@ucl.ac.uk. To discuss academic content, please contact Kim.insley@ucl.ac.uk

Read about what you'll get out of a graduate programme

The foundation of your career

Many of our part-time and flexible participants are already in their graduate destinations when they join us. The course offers an excellent opportunity to support current work and advance your career.

Successful participants in this course have moved onto Master's level study, and where appropriate may transfer 30 honours level credits to that study.

Employability

This course will empower you as an educational practitioner. You will develop both transferable and academic skills, including how to:

  • Engage in discussion and argument
  • Explain theory and practice to non-specialist audiences (parents. governors, policy makers)
  • Make connections
  • Enhance and research your practice

Networking

You will meet virtually with other participants who are working in the same or similar areas. As the course is taught online, this networking will be through module forums and optional live discussion groups.

You will also be taught by academics who specialise in a range of areas. This includes Maths, English, Arts, Religious Education (RE), Special Educational Needs (SEN), Nurture Group provision, Primary and Further Education (FE) teaching/tutoring, international teacher education and mentoring.

As an IOE participant, you will receive other opportunities through your UCL email. For example, face-to-face open seminars or Special Interest Groups.

Teaching and learning

Modules are normally taught online through a virtual learning environment. This means you can undertake activities at a time that suits you. Each module includes ‘Keep In Touch' (KIT) activities which are spread over 10 weeks. Attendance is measured through responses to KIT tasks.

The course team use distance and online learning strategies to ensure that you are supported. Distance learning tends to involve ‘self-study’. It includes engagement with texts written by the team, readings and online forums. It can also include links to videos and other online resources. Online learning involves lectures, seminars and opportunities for tutorials.

All modes use a range of tools to support learning and teaching, such as 'Padlet' or 'Zoom'. There are no compulsory ‘live’ sessions.

You will have a variety of non-graded assessments throughout module teaching. These activities support your learning and provide opportunities for feedback from tutors and peers. Examples include:

  • Quizzes
  • Keep in Touch activities
  • Forum discussions
  • Opportunity for virtual face to face tutorials and seminars. These develop understanding further through discussion and dialogue
  • A full draft of the final assessment for formative feedback. This includes up to three strongly advised actions in the final assignment.

All modules have an essay (usually 4000 words) as the standard graded assessment. In addition, two modules offer alternative assessments of presentation (Teacher as Author) and portfolio (Independent Study Module). 

All participants are expected to study for the same amount of time in total. However, how long you spend studying per week will depend on whether you are a full time, part-time or a flexible/modular participant.

Full time participants will study up to 40 hours per week. Participants are therefore not advised to study this route if they are in full-time employment.

Flexible/modular participants may study between 10-40 hours per week depending on the modules they have chosen. We strongly discourage participants from doing more than two modules a term. Most modules will require 10 to 15 hours study each week. As this course is fully online, there is no requirement of ‘contact’ hours, i.e. synchronous teaching hours

Modules

The Graduate Diploma structure consists of 4 modules (all optional).

Most participants are full-time teachers or support staff in school, and it is not recommended that the course is studied in one year. Only participants who are working part-time may be able to study full-time. In that case, we advise that you follow this pattern of study:

  • Autumn term: Module 1
  • Spring term: Module 2
  • Summer term: Module 3 and Module 4

The flexible/modular option allows participants to structure study to suit their own needs. Participants will have up to 5 years to complete the diploma and can study 0-120 credits in any year. This is the most popular option for those who are working full-time. Most participants study two modules a year.

Participants should note that most modules are available to start in any term, but the module 'Action Research' is only available in Autumn or Summer Terms of any year.

Optional modules







Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 120 credits. Upon successful completion of 120 credits, you will be awarded a Grad Dip in Advanced Educational Practice.

Fieldwork

Participants are expected to be working in educational settings or have access to educational settings as a volunteer. Some modules have an expectation that participants will carry out an inquiry or project in their educational setting. This can be as a volunteer but the team do not make placements or arrange field opportunities.

Placement

All participants should normally have access to an educational setting either as paid work, or as a volunteer. Placements are not arranged by the course team.

Accessibility

The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.

For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.

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All open days and events

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Graduate Open Events: Education MA (also includes routes)

Are you interested in furthering your career in education and making a difference in the UK or worldwide? Meet our academics, hear about the courses you are interested in and have the chance to ask any questions you might have. Be inspired by our wide-ranging and flexible courses run by leading academics.

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2026/27) £9,500
Tuition fees (2026/27) £19,700

The published Full-time fee is for 120 credits. The published Part-time fee is for 60 credits and will apply each year for two years.
Programme also available on a modular (flexible) basis.

Additional costs

Participants need to have access to an appropriate device with good access to the internet. Whilst a smart phone may be appropriate, it is not suitable for typing long essays or documents. This means that participants must have access to a standalone computer or laptop, and should plan to cover the cost of this device in their budget.

Students who choose to do their dissertation research in a school in the UK will need a DBS check. The DBS application cost will be covered by UCL, but offer holders will also need to have their ID checked and verified at a Post Office, for which they will incur a charge of £15 (note this was the fee for 2025 so may change).

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Next steps

There is an application processing fee for this course of £90 for online applications. Further information can be found at Application fees.

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

  • why you want to study Advanced Educational Practice at graduate level
  • why you want to study Advanced Educational Practice at UCL
  • what particularly attracts you to the chosen course
  • how your academic and professional background meets the demands of this challenging course
  • where you would like to go professionally with your qualification

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this course match what the course will deliver.

Normally applicants for the Graduate Diploma in Advanced Educational Practice are working in educational settings. This may be full-time, part-time or as a volunteer.

Most applicants are teachers, tutors or teaching assistants, but we welcome applicants from other professions who support learning in their settings.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate courses (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2026-2027

Apply for this course

Got questions? Get in touch

Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment

Ioe.aep@ucl.ac.uk

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