Career Guidance and Development PgDip



You will explore the latest career counselling techniques, and undertake work placements or work-based learning

Overview

This two-year part-time programme is accredited by the Career Development Institute and is recognised by the profession throughout the UK.  

You will study the latest developments in career development theory and career counselling and coaching practice as well as undertake work placements or work-based learning to prepare you for work in the career development sector. 

The programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills to support your clients navigate the complex web of pathways in employment and education and develop their career potential. You will work with young people, adults, parents, teachers, employers and training providers.

Typical entry point to this course is in September. Please enquire for more information.

 
Atrium at Sighthill campus

Mode of Study:

Distance learning (Available as full-time)

Duration:

2 years

Start date:

Sep

Course details

With an excellent employment rate for graduates, our postgraduate diploma combines academic study with practical professional training, including an optional four weeks of work placement. Academic teaching staff on the programme are also qualified and experienced career professionals and bring additional specialist expertise to the course.

You will acquire effective interpersonal communication skills for one-to-one career guidance, working with groups and via online media. You will learn and put into practice the latest career counselling techniques, while developing the necessary research and teamwork skills to carry you into your own successful career as a career practitioner.

The skills taught are also transferable to many other roles in employment, education and training and former students have also gone on to work in education-industry liaison, and projects promoting mentoring or equality and diversity.

Additional mandatory costs

  • Professional body fees, payable to the Career Development Institute, £345 (the total amount consists of two elements: student membership, £35 and registration for the Qualification in Career Development, £310)
  • Optional placement. Travel expenses are issued in some situations and are at the discretion of the Dean.
  • calendar

    How you’ll be taught

    The programme is delivered over a two-year part-time basis. It has six modules taught over the two years (three per year). 

    Lectures will be delivered face to face/ virtually and recorded.

    It is necessary for you to attend campus one day a week or on a block basis for the assessment of practical skills unless you are employed in a career guidance role and are assigned a workplace supervisor.
  • note and pen

    Assessments

     • No exams
    • Essays
    • Professional reports
    • Case studies
    • Group project
    • Observation
  • briefcase

    Work placement

     Twenty days of work experience - optional:
    To obtain the professional qualification from the Career Development Institute you must undertake twenty days of work experience. This may be completed in your current place of work, if you are employed in a career guidance related role.
  • library

    Facilities

     Based at our Sighthill Campus, students on the programme have access to a suite of interview training rooms equipped with CCTV facilities.

Modules

Modules that you will study* as part of this course

Advanced Career Counselling, Coaching and Development ( CRG11128 )

This module is intended to develop the advanced skills, techniques and understanding necessary to deliver effective career guidance services to individuals and groups both face to face and through digital modes of delivery.
You will learn how to apply more advanced counselling and coaching models to your developing practice with individual clients to enable you to identify and address their career learning and development needs.
You will also learn how to apply learning theory and group counselling concepts to your practice with groups of clients. You will become more skilled at designing and delivering interactive group work which meets the needs of your learners.
Your practical skills will be developed by background reading, observing experienced practitioners, using role-play, feedback on performance, discussion and reflecting on practice.
There will also be a focus on developing the knowledge and skills to design an integrated guidance system which is able to blend the delivery of a suite of one-to-one, group and digital services.

Further information

Career Counselling, Coaching and Development ( CRG11127 )

This module is intended to develop the skills, techniques and understanding necessary to deliver effective career guidance services to individuals and groups.
You will learn how to apply counselling and coaching concepts to your developing practice with individual clients to enable you to identify and address their career learning and development needs.
You will also learn how to apply learning theory and group counselling concepts to your practice with groups of clients. You will become skilled at designing and delivering interactive group work which meets the needs of your learners.
Your practical skills will be developed by background reading, observing experienced practitioners, using role-play, feedback on performance, discussion and reflecting on practice.
There will also be a focus building up the knowledge and skills to enable you to critically reflect theories and models of counselling and coaching. You will be required to understand your own developing practice in the light of the conceptual literature.

Further information

Career Development Theory ( CRG11106 )

This module will assume no prior knowledge of psychology or sociology. Career theories will be compared and contrasted. The relationship between theory and practice will be explored, while placing guidance in its political context. Every opportunity will be taken to relate the value of theory to the practical day to day work of professional careers advisers. Psychometric testing and other assessment practices will be explored in relation to their underpinning theory.

Further information

Contemporary Guidance Practice ( CRG11123 )

This module will examine contemporary approaches to career guidance practice and the move towards the professionalisation of the sector. The development of reflective professionalism and ethical awareness will be key to this module and you will develop this through learning about models of reflective practice and applying such approaches to your practice to both impact your client’s ongoing career development and your own professional practice.
You will take part in discussion, debate and interaction between fellow students and practitioners in the workplace to develop skills to begin to operate as an autonomous reflective practitioner, integrating information from diverse sources to refine your professional practice and incorporate the values and ethics of the profession into your practice.
The module content will include – Gaining an understanding of the term professionalism and the implication of a move towards the professionisation of the career guidance sector on your developing practice. Being able to develop and critique your own digital literacy skills and use a range of digital career development platforms. Understanding how to engage in constructive professional dialogue and incorporate mentoring and supervision into your practice. Examining different forms of training and development and the impact of engaging in continuous professional development to your practice. Considering how evidence based practice can inform your professional reflection.

Further information

Education and Labour Markets ( CRG11126 )

The module will give you a broad understanding of structures in education and employment, as well as government training and initiatives to combat unemployment. You will be supported to undertake field research experience on visits to opportunity providers, which will give specific examples to balance the overview provided by formal teaching input. This culminates in an industry specific project which integrates the collection of LMI, making sense of the information and then presenting knowledge in accessible ways. This provides a holistic and experiential view of labour markets as they relate to the work of career practitioners.

Further information

Policy and contexts for practice ( CRG11103 )

In this module, you will study:
(1) The development, structure and function of career guidance services;
(2) The relationship between public policy, guidance practice and social justice;
(3) The impact of government policy, notably devolution, equality legislation and social inclusion;
(4) Service level responses to equality of opportunity and social justice;
(5) Partnership working and locating guidance providers within networks;
(6) Key service functions including marketing, quality assurance, client management systems;
(7) Screening and the identification of client needs.

Further information

* These are indicative only and reflect the course structure in the current academic year. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

RECOGNISED BY

Disclaimer

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Full information is available in our disclaimer.

Entry requirements

 

What are the entry requirements for Career Guidance and Development?

The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above. We look for applicants to have a background in any discipline in order to be eligible for the programme.

We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient relevant work experience within the industry.

All successful applicants must complete a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme or police check.

Can I get admission into Career Guidance and Development based on my working experience in this sector?

This course has academic entry requirements which are assessed alongside relevant work experience. Full details of any relevant work experience, including references should be submitted with your application and may be considered for entry where the minimum academic entry requirements are below those required.

Usually, unrelated work experience is not considered sufficient for entry without meeting the minimum academic entry requirements. Please contact us with your specific circumstances by submitting an enquiry form above and we will be happy to discuss your options.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the postgraduate admissions team by submitting an enquiry form above.

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English, or your undergraduate degree was taught and examined in English (within two years of starting your postgraduate course). Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.
Entry requirements by country

Please note that international students are unable to enrol onto the following courses:
  • BM Midwifery/MM Midwifery
  • All Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

See who can apply for more information on Graduate Apprenticeship courses.

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study. 

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Undergraduate admissions policies
Postgraduate admissions policies

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees
Students from 2023/24 2024/25
Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland £3,155 £3,315
Overseas and EU £7,680 £8,450
Please note tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other Tuition Fee matters please see Frequently Asked Questions about Fees Click this link for Information of Bursaries and Scholarships
Please note that the tuition fees liable to be paid by EU nationals commencing their studies from 1 August 2021 will be the Overseas fee rate. The University offers a range of attractive Tuition Fee bursaries to students resident in specific countries. More information on these can be found here.


In addition to University fees there is another mandatory charge for this programme. Student membership and registration for the professional body qualification amounts to £365.00, which is payable to the Career Development Institute (CDI).”

Please note:

The discount for Edinburgh Napier alumni can only be applied to year one of a full-time Postgraduate degree, any additional years are exempt from the discount.

For part time Postgraduate degrees the discount will apply to years one, two and three only and any additional years will be exempt from the discount.

Please read our full T&C here

Careers

• Career Adviser
• Guidance Practitioner

Main Employers:

• Skills Development Scotland
• University Careers Services
• Community agencies promoting employability for disadvantaged groups

Student in a one-to-one session with a Learning Adviser