Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Practice | Open University

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An image to illustrate the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Practice

This qualification builds on your professional experience and continuing professional development (CPD), helping you turn workplace learning into deeper insights and lasting impact. You'll explore the theory and evidence behind effective practice, critically evaluate your CPD, and apply new ideas to your role. Through independent research on a topic that matters to you, you'll deepen your understanding of how learning drives meaningful change, create practical outcomes for your workplace, and share insights with peers to enhance reflective practice. By the end, you'll have the advanced skills and confidence to influence practice and lead meaningful change in your organisation and profession.

You'll be learning from experts at a top triple-accredited business school:

To gain this qualification, you need 60 credits. You'll study one compulsory 30-credit module and 30 credits from a choice of option modules.

Modules	Credits	Next start
You'll study the following:
Continuing professional development in practice (BXM800) You’ll review your past CPD, assess its impact, plan future growth, and learn simple ways to share your learning and turn it into real‑world professional impact. Next start date: 07 Nov 2026 See full description	30	07 Nov 2026
You'll choose one from:
Advance your independent learning (YXM830) This innovative module allows you to take a topic of your choosing and focus on it in depth while developing your postgraduate study skills. Next start date: 03 Oct 2026 See full description	30	03 Oct 2026
Employment relations and employee engagement (B813) Examine how employment relations and practices operate within changing economic, political and social contexts and at various levels. Next start date: 02 May 2026 See full description	30	02 May 2026

By studying this Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Practice, you’ll:

You’ll study online with tutor support, using activities to apply ideas to your practice.

You’ll be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Practice upon successful completion. You’ll be entitled to use the letters PG Cert (Open) after your name.

Your postgraduate certificate may be awarded with a distinction or a merit. The qualification regulations explain the criteria you’ll need to meet to earn one of these classifications.

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

contact us

Most students study the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Practice part-time, completing 60 credits over a one-year period. Typically, this translates to 16–20 hours of study per week.

The recommended hours include time to work through that week’s online study planner, complete recommended reading, and attend tutorials.

You must complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Practice within four years.

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:

The Open University provides advice and guidance to help students who have disabilities, long-term health conditions, specific learning difficulties or mental health difficulties.

For more information, visit our Disability support page.

Discover how the OU’s Disability Support Team helps students with advice, adjustments and resources.

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 qualification, you’ll need either a UK honours degree (or equivalent) or at least three years’ experience in a managerial, technical or professional role. You should also bring substantial prior learning – formal or informal – amounting to a minimum of 150 hours in any subject area.

Your spoken and written English must be at a suitable standard for postgraduate study. If English isn’t your first language, we recommend an IELTS score of 6.5 or above.

If you don’t meet these requirements, you can still contact us to discuss your experience, and we’ll review your application individually.

2026/27 fees and funding information will be available on the 25th of March, when this qualification opens for registration.

This qualification helps you turn your professional experience into a recognised qualification while building a powerful set of skills. You’ll sharpen your ability to reflect critically, conduct independent research, and communicate your ideas clearly and effectively. The qualification also boosts your digital literacy, problem-solving and project planning skills, which are essential for leading change and improving practice. You’ll explore a topic that matters to you, create practical outputs and share insights with others. It’s a chance to grow professionally, gain confidence and develop the tools you need to make a real impact in your organisation and wider sector.

The Open University Business School is also one of the few institutions worldwide that is triple-accredited by AMBA, EQUIS and the AACSB. These internationally recognised quality standards independently validate the quality of the School's teaching, research, and operations. The School undergoes regular reviews to ensure that standards are maintained and has successfully retained its triple-accredited status since 2004. This qualification is accredited through inclusion in these reviews.

Association of MBAs (AMBA)

European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS)

Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)

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, website, interview simulation, 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.

This new course opens for registration on the 25th of March. If you’d like us to keep you updated, register your interest.

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This new course opens for registration on the 25th of March. If you’d like us to keep you updated, register your interest.