Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No

Professional Diploma (30 ECTS credits) in University Teaching and Learning is an in-service programme for those who are currently teaching in higher education (i.e NQF level 7 or above). This Programme is not open for online application but rather offered to faculty who have completed the Professional Certificate in University Teaching and Learning who may wish to undertake two further modules for the award of a Professional Diploma. For further information contact teachingandlearning@ucd.ie or phone (01)716 8732.

The Professional Diploma offers academics opportunities to review and improve their teaching skills and their understanding of approaches and theories in effective higher education. Academics at the start of their career will develop skills to work effectively in the classroom and learn to draw on pedagogical theory and research in informing their teaching. More experienced academics will be offered opportunities to revitalise their teaching and to try out new approaches to curriculum design and assessment.  

The Professional Diploma in University Teaching and Learning offers academic staff a professional qualification in university teaching and learning. It will equip participants with the knowledge and skills to provide effective high quality educational experiences for their students. It values academic rigour and practice relevance. It therefore uses research-led and evidence - based approaches to address contemporary issues and challenges in higher education. The emphasis is on critically reflecting on one’s own practice to plan, implement and review new teaching and learning initiatives in disciplinary contexts. 

It aims to provide a learning environment where participants will engage in active, discursive and collaborative learning approaches. A key feature of the programme is learning from peers in collegial interdisciplinary groups.

By the end of the Professional Diploma in University Teaching and Learning you will be able to;

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of teaching and learning issues in higher education as informed by current research


• Critically differentiate between a range of teaching and learning approaches


• Creatively adapt teaching and learning strategies to specific disciplinary requirements


• Take a leadership role in designing and organising curriculum initiatives at school/programme level


• Integrate a range of teaching and learning technologies to enhance teaching and learning approaches


• Analyse teaching evaluations to devise, implement and reflect on future actions


• Disseminate new teaching and learning case studies


• Develop scholarship and research in the area of teaching and learning

View All Modules Here

ProfDip University Teaching & Learning (U004) Part Time
EU/NONEU    fee per credit - € 105

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. For UCD faculty and staff enrolling to UTL programmes, the programme fee will be waived

Entry to the Professional Certificate and the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development is open to faculty and academic related staff who are;

1) currently teaching in higher education (i.e. within a university or at NFQ level 7 or above).

2) in an active teaching role including design, delivery and assessment of modules

3) undertaking a significant teaching commitment, defined as a minimum of 2 hours teaching per week per semester or 48 hours over the course of the academic year.

Professional staff who teach as part of their brief and meet criteria 1, 2 and 3 above may apply for the programme and will be considered on a case by case basis.

Please note that the Professional Certificate and the Certificate of Continuing Professional Development are not suitable for tutors or postdoctoral and research fellows. UCD Teaching and Learning offers the module University Teaching and Learning for Tutors, Demonstrators and TAs (UTL40230) and the University Teaching & Learning Practice seminar series. In the exceptional circumstances where a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (level 2) is approved as module coordinator by Academic Council (or its relevant subcommittee) and has completed the Seminar Series for Post Doctoral Researcher Fellows they are eligible to apply to the programmes. It will be a requirement on the part of the applicant to present evidence to support these criteria.

The final decision on eligibility of all candidates will be made by the Board of Studies on the recommendation of the Programme Director

Hear what UCD Faculty participants who have completed the programmes have to say on our webpage http://www.ucd.ie/teaching/professionaldevelopment/universityteachingqualification/

Entry to the Professional Diploma is permissable on successful completion of the Professional Certificate University Teaching and Learning. Please contact teachingandlearning@ucd.ie for further information.

What is the duration of the Diploma programme and how many modules do I have to take?

The minimum duration fo the Professional Diploma programme is 2 years and the maximum is 4 years.This programme is a 30 credit programme, so 4 modules must be completed. Each module is 7.5 credits. 

The Professional Diploma is only accessible to those who have already completed the Professional Certificate programme. The Professional Certificate programme is a 15 credit programme so requires the completion of 2 modules. 

Upon transferring from the Certificate to the Diploma programme one has already completed 2 modules so completion of a further 2 modules are required for the Diploma award.