Deaf Education PGDip
Year of entry 2023
- Start date
- September 2023
- Delivery type
- Blended learning
- Duration
- 24 months part time
- Entry requirements
- A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons)
Full entry requirements - English language requirements
- IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component
- UK fees
- £7,250 (total)
- International fees
- £7,250 (total)
- Contact
- pgeduc@leeds.ac.uk
Course overview
Please note the information on this page relates to the academic year 2023/24. Course information for the academic year 2024/25 will be published in due course.
The Postgraduate Diploma in Deaf Education Qualified Teacher of the Deaf (QToD) is a two-year programme leading to the Mandatory Qualification for Teacher of the Deaf for England and Wales, which is accredited by the Department for Education (DfE). This course is taught using blended learning, providing the opportunity to study both online and face to face. This provides the flexibility for you to balance your studies alongside your existing work and other commitments.
We also offer a MA Deaf Education QToD in this subject. See MA Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf) for more information.
Expertise
The School of Education has a national reputation both in teaching and research in the field of deaf education and draws students from all over the UK with a variety of experiences and knowledge, which you can also benefit from as part of our community. The programme is led by national and international leaders as well as senior practitioners in the field.
You will work closely with peers and build a strong network of colleagues from across the UK, across a wide range of settings.
Approved by the Department for Education (DfE) to offer the Mandatory Qualification for Teachers of the Deaf, the programme integrates cutting-edge research knowledge with practitioner expertise to develop skilled, knowledgeable and critical practitioners.
Our assessments are varied and designed to develop the skills you need in the field and updated in response to student feedback. From September 2023 assessed presentations may be delivered in British Sign Language (BSL).
All University based sessions are supported by BSL interpreters and notetakers.
We welcome suitably qualified deaf and hearing applicants and provide appropriate access and support arrangements for all students.
Bursaries are offered to UK Deaf Education schools or services funding more than one student per school or service in a single year.
Approved by the Department for Education (DfE) to offer the Mandatory Qualification for Teachers of the Deaf, the programme integrates cutting-edge research knowledge with practitioner expertise to develop skilled, knowledgeable and critical practitioners.
Course details
PGDip Deaf Education comprises six core modules delivered across two years. All the modules are developed in conjunction with the new Mandatory Qualification (MQ) and you will build a portfolio of professional skills across the two years to demonstrate your proficiency against the required MQ competencies. You will work closely with peers from across the UK and build a strong network of colleagues from across a wide range of different settings
Central to the programme is an understanding of the establishment of language fluency and effective communication as a basis for cognitive, social and emotional development. It recognises the plural and diverse linguistic contexts of deaf children’s lives and that maximising engagement with curriculum must be the educational priority for all deaf learners whilst support their development as an individual who is deaf.
Through consideration of the roles of spoken and signed languages and increasingly sophisticated hearing technologies, you will develop a broad knowledge base and the skills to respond flexibly to deaf children’s dynamic and changing communication academic, social and emotional needs. You will become a reflective and critical thinker equipped with the competencies to work with deaf children, their parents/carers and other professionals to prepare deaf learners for life as a deaf adult.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.
Year 1 compulsory modules
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Deafness and Development | 30 |
| Communication in Deaf Education | 15 |
| Deaf Education in Context | 15 |
Year 2 compulsory modules
| Module Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| Educational Audiology | 30 |
| Facilitating Learning in Deaf Education | 15 |
| Professional Placement | 15 |
Learning and teaching
Each semester comprises a study day or a short residential in Leeds, followed by online sessions, two live online tutorials and a live regional tutorial. Bespoke online meetings, phone, email and Teams support is also available from tutors.
We expect you to commit to the equivalent of one study day per week as a minimum for this programme – to be negotiated with your employer at the application stage. Some practical requirements of the programme are difficult to fulfil without this allocated time. We also ask you to identify someone in your school or service who will act as a mentor for you throughout the training.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Assessment
Assessment is through a combination of presentations, essays, critical reports, case studies and a practical skills portfolio that includes a minimum of 20 days assessed placement. Assessed presentations may be delivered in BSL.
Applying
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree (hons) with a 2:1 or non-UK equivalent.
You will also need:
Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or Qualified Teacher Learning and Sskills (QTLS) (required for Teacher of the Deaf award)
two years of teaching experience or experience of working with deaf children in educational settings
access to a school or service's audiological resources and support
British (or local) Sign Language CACDP/ Signature/ iBSL Level 1 (required for Teacher of the Deaf award) or equivalent
access to local sign language tuition
access to internet facilities for e-learning.
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.
Improve your English
International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Education (6 weeks) and Language for Social Science and Arts: Education (10 weeks).
We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.
You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.
How to apply
Application deadlines
International – Thursday 29 June 2023
UK – Friday 18 August 2023
If you intend to apply for funding, you should submit an application for a place on your chosen course at least one month before any specific scholarship deadline.
The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.
If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.
Documents and information we will need include:
Original or certified copies of your transcripts
Original or certified copies of your degree certificate
Original or certified copy of your IELTS/TOEFL results (if English is not your first language)
Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.
Admissions policy
University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024
This course is taught by
Contact us
Postgraduate Admissions
Email: pgeduc@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:
Fees
UK: £7,250 (total)
International: £7,250 (total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.
Part-time fees
Fees for part-time courses are normally calculated based on the number of credits you study in a year compared to the equivalent full-time course. For example, if you study half the course credits in a year, you will pay half the full-time course fees for that year.
Additional cost information
This fee includes the cost of the two programme residentials. It does not include the cover and travel costs associated with programme attendance and teaching placements.
There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.
Scholarships and financial support
If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more at Masters funding overview.
Scholarships are available to UK/EU schools or services funding multiple students in a single year to the MA or PGDip Deaf Education (Teacher of the Deaf) programmes.
Career opportunities
Graduates will use the knowledge and skills developed throughout this specialist teaching qualification to progress in their existing educational roles or pursue opportunities in schools, local authority support services or clinical programmes.
Careers support
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more about Careers support.
Study abroad and work placements
For the Teacher of the Deaf award, a minimum 20-day assessed teaching placement is required. Additional days may be required depending on experience.