University of the Highlands and Islands
PgCert Outdoor and Adventure Therapeutic Practice
Online
Certificate
DURATION
4 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
GBP 3,330
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
About: The PgCert Outdoor and Adventure Therapeutic Practice at the University of the Highlands and Islands defines standards for outdoor and adventure therapeutic practice. It combines therapeutic theory with adventure settings for those expanding into the field. Study is supported online across three modules with two 1-week residentials in Scotland and includes National Governing Body (NGB) training.
Career Outcomes: After completion you could work in expedition-based therapeutic programmes, outdoor facilitating or leadership, mental health services with vulnerable groups (child and adolescent; criminal justice), start outdoor enterprise in adventure tourism, wilderness leadership, or integrate outdoor practice with counselling or psychotherapy qualifications.
What is special about this course?
The PgCert Outdoor and Adventure Therapeutic Practice signals an important development for the adventure and therapy sectors, offering an innovative approach to defining and upholding professional standards for outdoor and adventure-based therapeutic practice.
Placing therapeutic theory and practice in professional adventure settings, this programme is essential for anyone wishing to expand into this field and enhance knowledge of therapeutic interventions in the outdoors.
Special features
- Unlock your future potential: focus on professional specialisation and synthesis of academic knowledge to shape your future
- Be part of the story: become a future shaper of the adventure sector with this innovative new and unique programme.
- Learn in your place at your pace (with some face-to-face!): supported online learning across all three modules, with two 1-week residential components based in Scotland.
- Learn with Adventure Therapy experts with worldwide experience.
- Access to outstanding adventure facilities set amongst some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK during two residential courses.
- Opportunities to receive tailored outdoor-activity skill development and professional NGB training and assessment with the School of Adventure Studies' continuous professional skills development.
Core modules:
- Theoretical basis of outdoor and adventure therapies
- Reflexive therapeutic practice in outdoor environments
- Therapeutic programming in outdoor and adventure practice
Start date
- September
How will I study my course?
- Part-time (structured)
- Part-time (unstructured)
- You will learn through a combination of video-conference lectures and tutorials, and online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors. You will also learn applied knowledge and practical skills through two mandatory residential experiences based in Scotland
How long will my course last?
- Part-time: 1 year @ 21 hours per week
- you will complete all three modules and both residentials in the same year
- this is estimated to require a total of 600 hours of study time (21 hours per week over 28 semester weeks)
- this time includes programmed sessions and independent study time, as well as your contact time during residentials
- actual weekly hours will vary considerably, but we recommend that you allocate a minimum of 2 days per week to undertake this mode, as well as both week-long residentials and your own travel time to get to them
- Part-time (extended): 2+ years @ 7 hours per week (per module)
- in year 1 you will complete one all-year module, Theoretical Basis of Outdoor and Adventure Therapies; you should allow for an average study time of 7 hours per week
- during year 2, you will complete both remaining modules, which include some online study topics and a 1-week residential for each module
- the actual time commitment will vary from week to week, with a full week required for each residential, plus your own travel time to get to them
On-campus study - live and learn in Scotland
Courses in health, sustainability, engineering, history, outdoors and more with the University of the Highlands and Islands:
- #3 in the UK and #1 in Scotland for postgraduate student satisfaction
- Top 10 most affordable UK universities
- Specialist subjects with links to industry
Browse all of the on-campus undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that we offer for international students.
Online study - achieve a UK degree without moving abroad
Courses in health, sustainability, engineering, history, outdoors and more with the University of the Highlands and Islands:
- Flexible study options to fit with your life
- Top 10 most affordable UK universities
- Decades of online teaching experience
Browse all of the online undergraduate and postgraduate programmes that we offer for international students.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have completed this course, you might like to consider:
- Working in expedition-based therapeutic programmes
- Working with vulnerable groups, such as child and adolescent mental health services or the criminal justice system
- Providing enhanced delivery and leadership in outdoor facilitating and outdoor education roles
- Enterprise and business start-up in outdoor development, adventure tourism or wilderness leadership opportunities.
Qualified and accredited counsellors and psychotherapists may also wish to integrate their knowledge and qualifications to practice in the outdoor and adventure therapeutic domain.