University of Liverpool Online
Master of Arts Academic Practice (MA AP)
Liverpool, United Kingdom
Postgraduate Certificate
DURATION
24 months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 17,947 / per course
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Key Summary
About: The University of Liverpool’s online Master of Arts in Academic Practice (MA AP) is a professional postgraduate programme from a Russell Group university, designed for applicants with limited or no higher education teaching experience. It offers three awards—Postgraduate Certificate (PGCAP), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDAP) and MA AP—built around active learning, global pedagogical perspectives and online peer interaction. You’ll explore educational theory, barriers to learning, curriculum design and assessment, and apply international frameworks to design lessons and learning outcomes to enhance academic practice in diverse higher education contexts.
Career Outcomes: Open to applicants; prepares for academic lecturer and instructional designer roles.
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.
The University of Liverpool achieved Gold in the Times Higher Education (THE) Online Learning Rankings 2024.
About the programme
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).
Active learning plays a fundamental part in the programme structure of all awards. 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 context or the global teaching space.
The online interaction with international peers and those working within higher education will also provide opportunities to give and receive feedback relevant to academic practice and develop your knowledge from peers who may have different experiences across various 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.
This programme consists of the following modules. Participants are required to complete 60 credits to achieve the PGCAP, 120 credits to achieve the PGDAP and 180 credits to complete the MA AP.
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.
PGCAP
- Foundational Approaches to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (15 credits)
- Contemporary Approaches to Teaching in a Global HE Context (15 credits)
- Designing Learning and Assessment in a Global HE Context (15 credits)
- Enhancing Academic Practice in a Global HE Context (15 credits) (Elective)
- Developing Your Career in a Global HE Context (15 credits) (Elective)
PGDAP
- Developing Academic Leadership (15 credits)
- Developing Scholarship (15 credits)
- Evidencing Academic Leadership (15 credits)
- Pedagogic Research Design (15 credits)
MA AP
- Academic Practice Project (60 credits)
Is this the right course for you?
This programme will support your understanding of the online learning environment. The syllabus delves into theories and their practical applications to build on your existing skills within education.
Through this programme, you will:
- Take part in a collaborative and active learning approach. Participants will demonstrate their understanding of educational concepts, apply pedagogical theory from varied global perspectives to the classroom, and utilise international educational frameworks to design lessons, set assignments and decide on learning outcomes.
- Gain a unique opportunity to reflect on teaching skills and develop practice. Participants will evaluate class presentations from their international peers, gaining an insight into practices across the world, and receive feedback on their own practices.
Learn from industry experts.
This course is run by The Leadership, Organisational, Professional & Academic Development Academy (The Academy) at the University of Liverpool. The Academy supports higher education professionals to develop their academic practise in relation to teaching and learning, as well as enhance their skills in research, leadership, and management within the sector.
Scholarships and discounts:
- 10% discount for University of Liverpool alumni.
- Global scholarships of up to 15% for international students residing in specific regions outside the UK.
A separate application form is not required for a scholarship, as it will be applied once you have received your official offer letter. Please note, scholarships cannot be combined.
Please speak to our admissions team for more details of fees, scholarships, discounts and support.
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.
*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 during the payment process.
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.Alongside the subject-specific knowledge gained, you will also develop professional skills such as communication, digital literacy, teaching and research, which could improve your career prospects and open access to new opportunities.
Is this the right course for you
This programme will support your understanding of the online learning environment. The syllabus delves into theories and their practical applications to build on your existing skills within education.