Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Further Education and Skills course preparation
To help you feel prepared for your Postgraduate Diploma in Teaching Further Education and Skills studies, we’ve put together a list of key department contacts and how to connect with them, where you can expect to learn and other tips on how to prepare for your transition to postgraduate study. Read on to find out more.
Where your learning will take place:
As an education student based at Edge Hill University, you’ll benefit from our two Faculty of Education buildings: Lakeside and Piazza.
Facilities in our Lakeside building include:
- a 300-seat lecture theatre
- five well-equipped ICT suites
- 18 teaching rooms complete with the latest technology
Facilities in our Piazza building include:
- Research Hub
- a lecture theatre
- a number of seminar rooms
You’ll also take on professional practice placements, where you can put what you’ve learned in the classroom into practice.
If you choose to be based at Wirral Metropolitan College (Hamilton Campus), you’ll find a broad range of vocational and academic subjects, delivering 16-18, adults and Higher Education. It offers family-friendly timetables and use online tutorial to fit around work and home life as well as facilitating 24-hour access to all resources.
If you decide to study at Wirral Metropolitan College you will have the opportunity to visit Edge Hill University Ormskirk campus to use the facilities and access support services.
How to prepare for your transition to postgraduate study
At Edge Hill, we host specialist UniSkills workshops for anyone who is returning to learning. This is for you if you’re returning to study a postgraduate degree, no matter how long you’ve been away from education. We’ll contact you when session dates have been announced and provide you with details about how to book your place.
We know that you’re aware that you’ll be putting in hard work to study for your course when you arrive. But it’s not just academic skills that you’ll be using once you’re here. And there are a few skills that you might want to refresh now so that you’re a pro when it comes to the start of your studies in September,
- Time management – you may have conflicting deadlines as well as other personal activities to consider. So you’ll want to make sure that you manage your time well so that you can do everything you’d like to do. But, there may be times when you can’t do it all but managing your time well will help you to prioritise which activities are necessary and which you have to miss out on.
- Critical thinking – it’s important to show your true understanding of the topics you cover in lectures. And for some of this, you’ll need to critique the work you’re studying in a professional, academic manner. You may already be completing tasks like this in your current studies, so university will be a chance to enhance these skills. Don’t be afraid to share your opinions.
- Teamwork – some modules may require you to work with others on your course to complete tasks and discuss analytical findings.
- Independent work – in contrary to the above, it’s also important to be able to work independently. The majority of your work will need to be submitted individually so it’s important to take ownership of your learning. And if there is something that you don’t understand, make sure to ask your tutor.
- Self-motivation – you’ll be encouraged to work more independently which means that you won’t have a teacher that chases you up to make sure you’ve completed a piece of work on time. So it’s important that you hold yourself accountable and make the decision to put the work in.
To remind yourself of your course content, please visit your course page:
If you’d like to complete any preparatory reading, you can search for any reading related to your course on our online reading list.
Materials you may need:
It’s a good idea to wait until you start your course to buy any books or specific equipment as your tutor will be able to provide more details about what is essential. And our library may be able to provide you with reading materials. But there are a few things you may want to consider.
- Academic diary – a staple to help you with your time management as well as upcoming tasks in both your academic and personal life.
- Notepads and pens – some people prefer to do this digitally rather than on paper, whichever you prefer, make sure you have the resources to complete any notes you’d like to take. If you like to write on a physical notepad, consider an A5 size so that it’s easier to carry around.
And of course, anything else that you like to use for your academic studies, like highlighters, flashcards and folders.
