(Distance learning) 2021 start
Deaf Education PGDip

Coronavirus information for applicants and offer holders
We hope that by the time you’re ready to start your studies with us the situation with COVID-19 will have eased. However, please be aware, we will continue to review our courses and other elements of the student experience in response to COVID-19 and we may need to adapt our provision to ensure students remain safe. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19, regularly visit our website, which we will continue to update as the situation changes www.leeds.ac.uk/covid19faqs
Overview
This Postgraduate Diploma provides a flexible opportunity for professional development in the area of deaf education. Less intensive than the Masters route (see MA Deaf Education) this course allows you to qualify as a teacher of the deaf without the need for a dissertation.
Designed for individuals in work, the course allows you to learn through distance learning materials, which are supported by tutorials and regular day schools as well as two short residential stays which will allow you to learn from fellow students.
Drawing on your own experiences with deaf children, the course allows you to reflect upon this crtitically and relate your knowledge to current theories and research regarding childhood deafness, development and learning.
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 England and Northern Ireland with a variety of experiences and knowledge, which you can also benefit from as part of our community.
Accreditation
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 content
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 of 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.
Individual auditory potential must be carefully evaluated and regularly reappraised for all deaf children. Consideration is, therefore, given to the range of communicative and educational demands of the different contexts in which children learn so that advances in personal and assistive hearing technologies, combined with acoustic environment management, can be optimised for deaf learners.
Through consideration of the roles of spoken and signed languages and increasingly sophisticated hearing technologies in deaf children’s lives and education, you will develop a broad language base and the skills to respond flexibly to deaf children’s dynamic and changing communication needs.
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.
Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Please note: You will study the Professional Skills: Learning, Teaching and Audiology module in both Year 1 and Year 2, but credits will not be awarded until Year 2.
- Educational Audiology 30 credits
- Learning and Teaching in Deaf Education 30 credits
- Professional Skills: Learning, Teaching and Audiology
Year 2
Compulsory modules
- Deafness and Development 30 credits
- Policy and Practice in Deaf Education 30 credits
- Professional Skills: Learning, Teaching and Audiology 15 credits
Learning and teaching
Each core module comprises a study day or a short residential in Leeds, followed by twelve online taught sessions, two online tutorials and a regional tutorial. Bespoke online meetings, phone, email and Skype support is also available from tutors.
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 essays, critical reports and a practical skill portfolio that includes assessed teaching.
Applying, fees and funding
Entry requirements
A bachelor degree (hons) with a 2:1 or non-UK equivalent.
You will also need ...
a teaching qualification (QTS, QTLS, Diploma in Education and Training)
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 Sign Language CACDP/ Signature/ iBSL Level 1 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.How to apply
Application deadlines
International – 30 June 2021
UK – 20 August 2021
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.
This link 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
Faculty of Social Sciences Taught Admissions Policy 2021
Fees
- UK: £7,750 (total)
- International: £7,750 (total)
Read more about paying fees and charges.
Brexit
Visit our Brexit page for the latest information on the effect of the UK's exit from the EU on current students and applicants to the University.
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 about additional costs
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. Thats 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 at the Careers website.