PgCert: Preparing for your studies

Becoming an independent learner is a part of level 7 (master’s level) study. Self-directed study is about managing your learning according to what your needs are and taking responsibility for that learning process.

Some characteristics of a successful independent learner include:

– Enjoyment of learning

– Seeking out opportunities to learn

– A knowledge of how you learn best (eg by reading, by doing, group discussions)

– An ability to identify what is impeding your learning

– Knowing what you know, and what you need to know

– Accepting responsibility for your own learning, setting goals, finding resources, and for evaluating the outcomes of your learning activities

Keep the end goal in sight! Think about what’s going to keep you going as you study alongside your work and personal commitments. It’s important that you have a real interest in the sector and your professional development.

It might be that you have chosen postgraduate study for several different reasons; to broaden your understanding of HE, to gain an academic qualification or further your career. It’s worth really thinking about why you want to study and how you’ll feel once you’ve achieved this at the end of the 12 months!

Talking to our students, we know that finding time to study can be the biggest challenge so thinking of ways you can incorporate it into your current routine will really help.

Plan – Look at the timeline of key dates for assessment and study days and work out where there might be crunch points at work or at home and plan in advance. Factor in buffer time for unexpected events so that your deadlines aren’t affected.

Prioritise – Think about some things that might have to take a back seat while you prioritise your study.

Utilise – Are there times in the day or week where you could be studying? Using your daily commute to read or your lunchtime to add to your learning logs, perhaps? Think about your time and how to use it more effectively.

Commit – Make a commitment to your study in your diary and protect your time. Putting regular appointments in your calendar and sticking to them protects your time and helps you keep the habit. It shows friends, family and colleagues that you are committed to your studies and unavailable during those times.

It might be helpful to ask your employer about whether study leave options are available to you.

Study skills refer to the skills you need to enable you to study and learn efficiently.

When it comes to academic study the first step will be understanding what study skills you need.

It might be some time since your first degree, or you may not have studied academically at all, whatever your level there will be things that you will need to familiarise yourself with. Understanding and working on what skills you need to succeed at postgraduate level now will help you when you come to research your assessment topics and content.

Further guidance and reading has been provided below.

While you’re studying it’s really good to have a supportive network around you that understands the commitment you’ve made to your professional development. Even if that is simply in the form of your friends or family understanding and respecting the time you’ve allocated to study.

Your support network can be made up of a selection of people for different things and for different stages in your study. Think about the resources that are available to you but also try to think beyond your immediate context of work.

Keeping in touch and making connections with your fellow students on the programme early on will really help you as you study – you’re all in the same boat so when you’re working at a distance it’s good to know that your peers are there with you.

As a work-based learning programme your colleagues could be a really helpful resource when it comes to reflecting on your professional practice – identifying your strengths for example, this will be particularly useful when you come to focusing on your areas for development.

You’ll also be allocated an AHEP mentor who will be there to help support you and your professional development journey.

Think about other resources within your institution. Studying the PgCert gives you the opportunity and excuse to talk to people within your institution that you may not ordinarily have any contact with – they can give you some great insight into the knowledge areas you might be working on and it’s a brilliant way to network.