PGCert Work-Based Learning

You are required to have:

• an undergraduate honours degree in the first- or second-class range, or international equivalent, in a relevant healthcare subject
• a current role working in, or sufficiently linked to, healthcare in the United Kingdom
• evidence of being able to study at level 7 (master's level)
• the ability to meet any module specific entry requirements (e.g. Independent Prescribing); you will need to meet these requirements to be eligible to study these modules
• a minimum of one year of relevant work experience, or sufficient evidence of how you will be supported if you do not have this existing workplace-based experience (this does not apply to modules that are designed to be studied in the first year of qualified practice)
• a discussion with the admissions tutor prior to submitting an application if you wish to have previous academic credits recognised.

Before you apply

1. If you are applying for the full MSc or to RPL/RPEL academic credits you should email the admissions tutor at cippet@reading.ac.uk to discuss the modular structure you are interested in applying for. If you are applying for a specific CPD module you can submit an application following the instructions below as per the information provided by the admissions team via cippet@reading.ac.uk.

How to apply

Once the admissions tutor has recommended you are ready to apply, you should complete the following:

2. Write a statement of purpose that includes information on these points:

• A brief outline of your current clinical work
• How you will be supported in the workplace to undertake the programme
• Any information on your readiness for the module, for example for the MSc top-up this might include a brief outline of your research experience and an outline of your project proposal (the project idea could be an audit, service evaluation, quality improvement, quantitative research or qualitative research in design.). For the advanced history taking and physical skills module this might include your existing experience in clinical sills and how you will use the qualification).

3. Prepare the following documents:

• CPD programme checklist (PDF)
• Workplace-based learning declaration or if you are self-funding and completing the programme without the support of your current employer, the self-funding declaration.
• If you are being part or fully sponsored: Proof of funding (some NHS organisations require a Purchase Order number for the payment of invoices. This must be stated on this letter to ensure invoices are paid promptly).
• If you are self-funding, or doing your learning in practice hours with an organisation who is not your employer, the Self-funding declaration.

4. To apply to the programme, you need to use the University's online application portal.

All communication from the application system is via automated email. Some National Health Service (NHS) email servers flag these email addresses as spam, so we recommend using a personal email address to ensure you receive all communications at this stage.

Once you have started an application, the system will email you to remind you to start, and/or complete, your application at regular intervals. If your account is flagged as dormant for three or more weeks, your application may be automatically removed.

5. Once you have created an account, select your programme choice from the drop-down menu:

• CPD course Advancing Healthcare Practice (part-time flexible)
• N.B. all students are enrolled and billed on a modular basis but they sit under this generic programme. The CPD application checklist (see step 3) will indicate to the admissions tutor which modules you want to study.

6. Complete all the required fields (marked with an asterix *) and upload all of the documents stated above (step 2 and 3).

• Make sure you upload your statement of purpose to the 'statement of purpose' field in the application portal.
• Upload your degree certificates and transcripts.
• The application portal cannot accept multiple uploads therefore, you may need to scan the documents from step 3 into one document.

7. References

Once you have submitted an application, an automatic email will be sent to your referees (if you have provided an email address for them). It is your responsibility to make sure that your referee supplies a reference. We would therefore advise that you contact them in advance of submitting an application so that they have time to prepare a reference. They can use this template to prepare their reference in advance. Please also note that emails from the application system may be sent to their 'spam' folder, which they should check if they have not received the email when expected.

You should provide the email address of one academic and one non-academic referee; a suitable non-academic referee is typically a past or current employer, or a workplace-based supervisor.

8. Attending an interview

As part of the application process, students may be asked to attend an interview.  This enables us to determine your suitability for the programme against the entry criteria and find out further information about your experience. Interviews will usually take place online via MS Teams. 

9. The outcome of your application

Applications are reviewed throughout the year. However, the greater the number of applications we receive, the longer it may take to inform you of the outcome.

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score, you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

• Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme