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An image to illustrate the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education
This professional postgraduate qualification introduces you to the field of advanced educational study. You will choose a specialism from three available routes: learning and teaching, leadership and management or inclusive practice. Each pathway encourages you to draw on your professional experiences and undertake enquiry within your own context. This certificate is also the first stage of our Masters programme. You can conclude your studies with this qualification or continue your professional development by progressing through the stages of the degree toward the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education and ultimately the MA or MEd in Education.
You can progress from this Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education to our Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Studies in Education (E88) or our Masters Degree in Education (F70). Please note this qualification provides a strong foundation in education but does not confer Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which requires further study to meet professional teaching requirements.
To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits. You'll choose one 60-credit module from a choice of option modules.

ModulesCreditsNext start
You’ll choose one from:
Educational leadership: concepts, change and challenges (EE841)
Explore educational leadership and management concepts, change, and challenges in local and global contexts.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Equity, inclusion and social justice in educational practice (EE844)
Explore contemporary issues in equity, inclusion, and social justice in educational practice, including disability, gender, poverty, and race, in this OU postgraduate module.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Learning and teaching: educating the next generation (EE830)
This masters module will challenge you to think about what purposes of education could have and how education can be made fit for the future.
Next start date: 03 Oct 2026
See full description
6003 Oct 2026
Subject to regulations, if you’ve passed the discontinued module EE811, EE814 or EE817 and are looking to progress towards the Postgraduate Diploma or Masters degree, you may count one of these instead.

By studying the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education, you’ll:
You’ll learn through tutor-supported online study, guided activities and structured assessments.
You’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education upon successful completion. You’ll be entitled to use the letters PGCPSE (Open) after your name.
If you plan to work or study outside the UK, we recommend checking whether this qualification meets local requirements. Find out more about the international recognition of Open University qualifications.
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the qualification-specific regulations below and the academic regulations that are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.
We regularly review our curriculum to keep it up to date. This means the structure, availability, and content of the course or modules may change. We’ll update this page as soon as possible if there are any changes. If you have already registered for this qualification, we’ll inform you in good time of any upcoming changes where practicable. For more details, see our Academic Regulations or contact us.
You’ll study the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Studies in Education part-time, completing 60 credits over one year. Typically, this translates to 13–19 study hours each week.

The recommended hours include time to work through that week’s online study planner, complete recommended reading, and attend tutorials.
At the OU, flexibility and support go hand in hand. You’ll be in control of when and where you study, with clear deadlines to guide your progress. Whether you’re balancing work, family or other commitments, our approach helps you fit learning into your life. Students consistently praise the support we provide, and from the very start, you’ll be part of a vibrant OU learning community.
As you progress through your qualification, you’ll have access to a dedicated online study space, expert tutor guidance, optional live tutorials, and a wide range of resources to help you succeed. The sections below outline what you can expect.
Your module website will be a central hub for your learning, giving you easy access to:
Discover how the OU’s module websites, course materials, and support tools help you study online with confidence.
Each module has a dedicated tutor who will guide you through your studies. They’ll provide feedback, help you find resources, mark your assignments and support your learning journey.
For extra support, you can attend optional live tutorials with your tutor. These are usually conducted online, and most are recorded so you can review them later.
See how OU tutors and tutorials help you build confidence, connect with others, and get the support you need to succeed in your studies.
Our assessments reinforce what you’ve learned and show your understanding. Assessment types vary by module and may include:
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a wide range of support services and be part of a vibrant learning community. Our subject-specific Student Support Teams can help with general queries and any updates to your OU account. You’ll also benefit from:
Discover the support network and learning tools you'll have access to throughout your studies.
To study for this postgraduate certificate, you must hold a bachelors degree from a UK university or other recognised degree-awarding body or a qualification at an equivalent level.
In order to study this qualification, you do not need to be employed in an educational setting. However, it is important that you have some experience in engaging or working with learners, children or young people, as our pathway disciplines (Learning and Teaching, Inclusive Practice, and Leadership and Management) are all explored through the lens of education. Therefore, you will need to be able to apply your learning to a relevant context or learning environment.
This can be through employment or other means, such as volunteering and/or special arrangements undertaken for the purposes of your study. Apart from schools and colleges, other organisations providing educational services – such as health and care education environments, youth, play, or early years work, armed forces, business and commercial environments – all could provide suitable settings to apply your learning and later carry out your dissertation should you decide to continue towards a full masters degree.
The various activities embedded in the study guide and supporting examples and literature will help you develop skills of independent study and enquiry.
Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. If English is not your first language, we recommend that you will need a minimum score of 7 under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see their website for details.
If you are not sure whether your qualifications and experience are suitable, please contact us for advice.
You’ll pay for your qualification one module at a time, rather than the full cost upfront. The fee for each module is listed in its description.

£2,950*
Your module materials, tuition, assessment and exams are all included in our module fees.
There are some additional costs that aren’t included.
Further information is available in the module descriptions.
*The fee information provided here is valid for modules starting before 31 July 2027. Fees typically increase annually. For further information about the University's fee policy, visit our Fee Rules.
Learn more about spreading the costs with monthly instalments and our other funding options below.
Pay for each module with a debit or credit card in one quick, simple payment.
More than 1 in 10 OU students are sponsored by their employer.
We’ll show you how you can pay by bank transfer or combine payment methods.
You may be eligible for:
Throughout the world, there is an increasing demand for creative and innovative education professionals who have highly developed skills and a deep understanding of learning. In many countries, a masters degree is becoming essential for career advancement in education, training and professional development settings.
This qualification is designed to enrich your knowledge and improve your professional practice. On completing your studies, you should be able to:
You will also acquire qualities and transferable skills that are highly prized by employers within education and related fields, such as:
You will be guided through the materials on how you can recognise and acknowledge these additional skills.
Please note that this postgraduate qualification does not qualify you for teacher registration in any country.
Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.
Once you register with us (and for up to three years after you finish your studies), you'll have full access to our careers service for a wide range of information and advice, including: online forums, a website, interview simulation and vacancy service, as well as the option to email or speak to a careers adviser. Some areas of the careers service website are available for you to see now, including help with looking for and applying for jobs. You can also read more general information about how OU study enhances your career.
Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.
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Our prospectuses help you choose your course, understand what it's like to be an OU student and register for study.
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Select the module you will study first, read the full description, and follow the instructions to register.
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