Academic Practice MEd: Online distance learning
For University of Glasgow staff only. If you are internal to the University and want to extend your studies beyond PGCAP towards MEd or PgDip, please email add-medap@glasgow.ac.uk
Our blended Academic Practice programme is designed to support the professional development of staff involved in teaching and supporting learning in higher education at various points in their career. The programme strives to provide a variety of practical advice and support to enhance the competence, confidence and professional development of teachers in higher education as well as provide an opportunity to engage in scholarly practice, theory and research and scholarship related to higher education. The programme is taught through a combination of ‘Online Live’ classes and ‘Online Anytime’ activities, meaning you have flexibility in your engagement and a high degree of accessibility is ensured to facilitate your study alongside your normal work in higher education.
- Online distance learning
- Academic contact: add-medap@glasgow.ac.uk
- Teaching start: January or September
- Glasgow: Gilmorehill campus and Online
- MEd: 60-72 months part‑time maximum 96 months
Why this programme
- The programme aims to engage participants in both initial and continuing professional development related to learning and teaching, with the aim of enhancing your practice and student learning.
- It will enhance your understanding of a variety of higher education pedagogies through practice, reflection and engagement with theory.
- We will support you to gain professional recognition of your teaching through engagement with the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) for teaching and supporting learning and the University of Glasgow’s Recognising Excellence in Teaching (RET) framework.
- We have flexible blended and online study options to suit your needs, with opportunities to study regardless of your location.
Programme structure
The programme is built around four phases of study. Phase 1 is initial professional development in learning, teaching and assessment in higher education and comprises three core courses. Phase 2 explores continuing professional development and comprises eight optional courses.
Phase 1: core courses
- Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
- [[[EDUC5983]]]
- [[[EDUC5984]]]
Phase 2: optional courses
- Supervising Students
- Creative Pedagogies for Active Learning
- [[[EDUC5986]]]
- Scholarship of Teaching and Learning I: designing a practice enquiry
- [[[EDUC5988]]]
- Impact and Influence in Learning and Teaching
- Inclusive Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
- Designing Online Education: MOOCs, micro-credentials and online, distance learning
- Intercultural Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
Successful completion of all Phase 1 and two Phase 2 courses will result in the professional recognition as a RET Fellow, aligned against Descriptor 2 of the UKPSF. Phase 3 continues your learning journey. You will take five courses in total including the core ‘Approaches to educational enquiry’ course as well as four other courses drawn from the remaining Phase 2 and Phase 3 offerings.
Phase 3 (online)
Core course
Elective courses
Phase 4 requires the completion of a Masters project related to your own academic practice and is delivered by distance.
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
The professional recognition and qualifications you gain through completion of this programme are designed to support you in advancing your academic career.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2027-28
MEd
There are no fees for University of Glasgow staff.
Fee status
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
UK Study Online Scholarship
The UK Study Online scholarship is open to UK, EU and international students taking online undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Please see UK Study Online for more details.
The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
- You should have a confirmed teaching related workload of at least 30 hours for the duration of the first year of the programme. This equates to 10% of the notional learning hours for the Introduction to Learning and Teaching in Higher Education course. (A typical academic contract might have in the region of 2-400 hours of ‘teaching related workload’ per annum, though individual workloads do vary greatly.)
- Your ‘teaching related workload’ must include student contact hours (these can be online) and assessment responsibilities. It is also expected that ‘teaching related workload’ will include some degree of curriculum design responsibilities.
- ‘Student contact hours’ should normally equate to at least one third of the minimum teaching related workload (i.e. around 10 hours).
- Where ‘student contact hours’ are considered to be ‘online teaching’ then a calculation based on ‘notional learning hours’ will be conducted to quantify approximate contact. Typically, around 10% of the notional learning hours attributed to a course can be considered as ‘student contact hours’.
For University of Glasgow staff members, it is expected that the first 60 credits will be achieved through completion of the PgCert in Academic Practice (PGCAP). PGCAP forms part of the Early Career Development Programme (ECDP) and is equivalent to Phases 1 and 2 of this programme.
English language requirements
Please note: for external applicants only.
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
For applicants from non-majority English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
Accepted English Language Tests
We accept a wide range of English language tests for entry to this programme. Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date, and requirements must be met using a single test.
IELTS Academic/IELTS Academic for UKVI/ IELTS Academic online
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- We do not accept General Training
TOEFL iBT (including MyBest and Home Edition)
Test taken up to 20 January 2026
- 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
Tests taken from 21 January 2026
- 92 overall with no subtest less than 4.5
PTE Academic (test centre only)
- 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
- We do not accept the online PTE Academic
Cambridge C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
Oxford ELLT
- 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
LanguageCert Academic/Academic SELT/ Academic Online
- 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
Password Skills Plus
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II
- 96 overall with no subtest less than 90
Kaplan Test of English
- Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
PSI Skills for English
- B2 Pass with Merit
Duolingo English Test
- 120 overall with writing at 120 and no subtest less than 110
Oxford Test of English Advanced
- 140 Overall with any two subtests at 126 or higher, and any two subtests at 136 or higher
Alternatives to English Language test
Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within 6 years of programme start.
TNE degree from UK university taught at a campus outside of the UK
- students must be awarded the degree by the UK university and must have completed the degree within 6 years of programme start.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study and remain valid for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS);
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University;
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
For more detail on our pre-sessional courses please see: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/mlc/eas/pre-sessionalcourses/
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- St Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham
How to apply
If you are internal to the University and want to extend your studies beyond PGCAP towards MEd or PgDip, please email add-medap@glasgow.ac.uk
Application deadlines
September 2026
- International & EU applicants: 30 June 2026
- UK applicants: 31 July 2026
January 2027
- International & EU applicants: 30 September 2026
- UK applicants: 31 October 2026
For entry in September 2027
- Deadlines for this programme will be confirmed shortly.
Related programmes
Online postgraduate
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