Courses & Qualifications

Please note we are not currently recruiting new students onto our undergraduate or postgraduate courses.

Postgraduate Diploma leading to an MA

Since 1998 the Department of Voluntary Sector Studies has run a series of Distance Learning courses and qualifications, designed specifically for busy people working or volunteering in the Voluntary Sector.

All study is part-time and designed to be flexible and fit into already busy lifestyles.

All courses are worth credits, the number of which varies by course.  Courses are split into three levels, level three being the most demanding.  We recommend that new students, especially those with little or no previous academic experience, start with the Certificate in Interpersonal Skills for Volunteers course that has been specifically designed as an introduction to university level study.

When studying towards a qualification some courses are core (or compulsory) parts of the qualification and some are optional, giving our students the flexibility to tailor a qualification to their specific needs or interests.

Undergraduate Qualifications

BA Degree in Voluntary Sector Studies
(BA Hons)

Undergraduate Degrees are made up of a total of 360 credits.  Students must successfully complete 120 credits at each level (1, 2 and 3).  A part-time degree takes a minimum of 4½ years to complete and a maximum of 10 years.

Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE)

A diploma of higher education is awarded after the successful completion of 240 credits (120 at levels 1 and 2).  A diploma is usually achieved within 3 – 5 years.

Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE)

A certificate of higher education is awarded after the successful completion of 120 level one credits.  A CertHE is usually completed in 1½ – 3 years.