Career Development and Employability Postgraduate Diploma

Overview

This practical course will allow you the opportunity to get the Qualification in Career Development (QCD) - the nationally recognised professional qualification awarded by the Career Development Institute (CDI) - alongside your Master's qualification.

You'll learn about policy, practice and theories underpinning career guidance, equality and diversity, partnership working and research-based practice. You will also learn how to employ independent learning strategies that will enable you deepen your knowledge and understanding of educational research while also developing your professional practice.

Why Career Development and Employability?

Proven Expertise: With over 40 years of experience, we’ve built a strong national reputation in career guidance.
Professional Networks: Access our extensive academic and professional network that directly shapes course content and provides cutting-edge facilities and specialist resources.
Flexible Study Options: This course is available on a one-year full-time or two-year part-time route. Completion of the course earns the prestigious Qualification in Career Development (QCD), accredited by the Career Development Institute.
Diverse Career Opportunities: Unlock rewarding careers in higher and further education, employability services, secondary education, and third-sector organisations.

Key Information

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

A degree or an equivalent professional qualification. Suitably experienced applicants without a degree will be considered.

In addition you must also have:

Relevant experience in a paid or voluntary basis.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and health clearances.
Complete a satisfactory interview.
International applicants must be available for interview in person or via Skype.

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.5 overall with no element lower than 6.5, or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our International Entry Requirements page.

Start dates

21 September 2026

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Course Detail

Whether you’re on the full-time or part-time course, you will study the following core modules:

Effective Careers Conversations

This module examines the professional role of a career development practitioner in order to enable you to develop as reflective practitioner who draws on developmental supervision. It considers the theory, principles and practice of working with individuals within a Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) setting. The module explores techniques, approaches and a range of models appropriate for use by careers guidance practitioners, and it provides the opportunity for you to critically assess and evaluate your own skills, knowledge and values as a reflective careers guidance practitioner. You will consider ethical practice and professional boundaries and analyse your own professional practice.

Theories of Career Decision Making

This module critically evaluates a range of theories relating to occupational choice and examines the relationship between theory and professional practice. Students are encouraged to understand the value of theory in their own professional practice across a range of settings. Principles of curriculum design and planning in relation to Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance in a variety of settings are also examined. The module promotes critical understanding of models of guidance, planning action and client assessment methods.

Facilitating Careers Work in Groups

This module will support you to develop the knowledge and ability to design and deliver career and employability group work whether that sits within the curriculum or not. The module also considers principles of career development learning and curriculum or programme design. It considers the theory, principles and practice of working with groups within a Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance (CEIAG) setting. The module explores techniques, approaches and a range of models appropriate for use by careers guidance practitioners, and it provides the opportunity for you to critically assess and evaluate your own skills, knowledge and values as a reflective career development practitioner. You will consider ethical practice and professional boundaries and analyse your own professional practice.

Organisational Culture

This module examines approaches to professional practice in a range of contexts. It considers the nature of the organisation within which professional practice related to carer development and employability is located. You will develop practical skills and knowledge, using theoretical justification for a range of practices. Subjects such as, safeguarding, equality, government policy and working within formal educational settings will be considered. Learning in the workplace will focus on your own learning contract and your progress against it.

Understanding the Labour Market

This module will critically evaluate the major labour market sources used in careers and employability work across a range of relevant sectors and will explore how guidance professionals use this in their professional practice.

You will also choose one option module from a list which may include:

Higher Education in Context

This module focuses on the policy and institutional strategy contexts in which careers and employability work is carried out in the higher education sector. The module addresses underpinning theories and policies related to career development, careers education and curriculum design, graduate employability and the graduate labour market. The use of data within the context of the higher education careers and employability sector will be considered and evaluated. You will be encouraged to examine relevant theories and policies and will relate these to your critical understanding of strategy and operations, resourcing choices, student, academic and employer engagement and the evidence base for determining and evaluating programmes and interventions.

Leadership and Management in Careers Education

This module will develop your understanding of theories of leadership, management and the organisation of professional practice within the career education and development sector. You will explore relevant theory and practical factors such as: the impact of organisational structures, policy and culture on practice; the management of change in professional practice, programme evaluation practices, networking and inter-agency working. You will be provided with opportunities to reflect on your leadership and management capabilities in order to develop your skills in these areas.

Employer Engagement and Business Support

This module focuses on the key policy, strategic and operational issues relating to employer engagement, business support and Knowledge Exchange in the context of the Careers and Employability effort and offer in and around Higher Education. The module explores opportunities and challenges for Careers and Employability professionals at the interface between the Educational and Knowledge Exchange missions of Higher Education institutions and the range of external relationships and partnerships which are essential to the endeavour. These are all considered in the light of relevant theories and models.

This course has modules making up 120 credits over the 1* year, with each credit being 10 hours of study (1200 hours in total).

An average of approximately** 32% (320 hours) of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors face to face in lectures, seminars, tutorials, practicals and workshops.

The remainder of the time will be spent on independent study. Assessments take place through a variety of exams, coursework, etc.*

*Subject to mode of study.

**Based on current core modules.

Calculated using data from the academic year 2024/25, as of November 2024.

On this course, you'll have the opportunity to develop an understanding of critical reflection and how to employ independent learning strategies to enable you to evaluate and inform your professional practice. You'll also develop and deepen your knowledge and understanding of educational research.

Our full-time PgDip course takes 12 months and the part-time takes 24 months to complete. Full-time students are required to attend two days per week and part-time students to attend one day per week, as well as attendance at a work placement.

All start dates can be found on each course page and term dates are also available. Students on a full-time course may have to attend every day of the week. Timetables are normally available one month before registration.

Our course offers a combination of teaching styles: lectures, tutorials, independent study and work-based learning. Assessment is continuous and varied and includes written assignments, presentations and reports.

The course is assessed through course work; there are no timed tests or exams. The assessment on the course allows you to demonstrate your practical knowledge and skills alongside developing your critical and theoretical understanding of the subject. The assessment builds on your particular interests and context and is likely to have outcomes that will be of benefit to your professional life and to your employer. You'll be provided with guidance to help you develop your assignment work by module tutors and specialist learning support staff. For international students, we provide a weekly academic study skills support workshop to help you get the most from the main modules.

Our courses are taught at our University campus and you can expect that your lectures and seminars will be held face to face, except in cases of emergency or if specifically stated otherwise in the module description.

Students who choose to study a full-time course on a part-time basis will generally attend modules at the same time as our full-time students.

Feedback (usually written) is normally provided on all coursework submissions within three term time weeks – unless the submission was made towards the end of the session in which case feedback would be available on request after the formal publication of results. Feedback on exam performance/final coursework is available on request after the publication of results.

You may progress to the next stage of your course or research degree, subject to meeting University assessment criteria and professional, statutory or regulatory body guidelines.

Our teaching staff rank first in England for the proportion with higher degrees and teaching qualifications, as well as being top five for those holding doctorates (HESA 2025). So you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
We are second in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 24 since 2008 (2025 data).
We won the first Global Teaching Excellence Award, recognising the University’s commitment to world-class teaching and its success in developing students as independent learners and critical thinkers (Higher Education Academy, 2017).

Visit ‘Our experts’ page where you’ll find in-depth profiles of all our academic staff

Placements

For learners undertaking the qualification on Career Development, you will be required to complete a minimum of 30 days of compulsory placement in an institution where career guidance is practised.

You will gain hands-on experience, allowing you to develop practical skills in delivering career guidance to both adults and young people.

Previous trainees have been placed in a range of settings including, the voluntary sector, higher and further education careers services, secondary education, workplaces and the National Careers Service.

Watch our webinar

Discover the Value of a Postgraduate Qualification in Career Development:

With insights from our Course Leader, Sue Edwards, plus our alumni and current students.

Watch webinar

Postgraduate Open Days

Learn more about Postgraduate Study at one of our upcoming Open Days

Come along to an on-campus Postgraduate Open Day and discover all there is to know about our wide range of postgraduate taught courses, research degrees and professional development options at the University of Huddersfield.

Book now

Research excellence

Research plays an important role in informing all our teaching and learning activities. Through research our staff remain up to date with the latest developments in their field, which means they can help you to develop knowledge and skills that are current and highly relevant.

Find out more about our research staff and centres.

Student Work
Facilities

Jodie Boyd

Meet Jodie Boyd, Course Leader for Career Development and Employability. In this video she discusses her experience of working in careers roles across schools, colleges and universities, and how she draws on this experience to ensure that students on the course can learn from real life examples of working within the profession.

Sue Edwards

Meet Sue Edwards, Senior Lecturer in Careers Guidance. In this video, she discusses how she supports students in gaining professional accreditation from the Career Development Institute through the course, and how she draws on her experience of working in careers to ensure that the course is grounded in the reality of the profession.

Dr Bob Gilworth

Meet Bob Gilworth, Senior Lecturer in Careers Guidance. In this video, he discusses his long and varied experience of working in careers, his research interests and how his network of contacts enables him to bring high calibre guest speakers to the course.

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Study anywhere

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Discover more about the course

Your Career

Discover the job roles our graduates are working in now.

Professional links and accreditation

Recognised connections to give you an extra edge when you graduate.

Inspiring Graduate

Get inspired by real students and their careers.

Careers advice

Check out the personalised guidance we offer you.

Student Support

Discover all the support available so you can thrive.

Further Study

Learn about pursuing a Master’s or PhD at Huddersfield.

Research Excellence

See how our innovative research shapes what you'll learn.

Fees and Finance

The information provided below is for those applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2025/26. Please note that tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X) and/or Government policy. This webpage will be updated with 2026/27 tuition fees as information becomes available.

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £5,280.

Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration, tuition, supervision and examinations. For more information about funding, fees and finance for UK students, including what your tuition fee covers, please see Fees and finance.

If you are an EU or international student coming to study at the University of Huddersfield, please visit the International Fees and Finance pages for full details of tuition fees and support available.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

This information is for applicants applying to study at the University of Huddersfield in the academic year 2024/25. Please note that your tuition fees for subsequent years may rise in line with inflation (RPI-X).

The part-time tuition fee for this course for 2025/26 entry will be £2,640 per year.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Career Development Institute (CDI) In addition to the MA or PgDip you will also be working towards your professional qualification – The Qualification in Career Development (QCD).This is awarded by the CDI and is recognised nationally. There is an additional cost for this qualification which needs to be paid to the CDI directly.
Your placements could be in Huddersfield or surrounding areas, so please consider any travelling costs you may incur.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required to enable you to undertake placements in settings with children. We arrange this as part of the application process. Please note that there may be a charge for the DBS check.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - Full-time

In 2025/26 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £5,280.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Tuition Fees - Part-time

The part-time tuition fee for this course for 2025/26 entry will be £2,640 per year.

Please email the Student Finance Office or call 01484 472210 for more information about fees and finance.

Additional costs

Career Development Institute (CDI) In addition to the MA or PgDip you will also be working towards your professional qualification – The Qualification in Career Development (QCD).This is awarded by the CDI and is recognised nationally. There is an additional cost for this qualification which needs to be paid to the CDI directly.
Your placements could be in Huddersfield or surrounding areas, so please consider any travelling costs you may incur.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required to enable you to undertake placements in settings with children. We arrange this as part of the application process. Please note that there may be a charge for the DBS check.

Important information

When you enrol as a student of the University, your study and time with us will be governed by our terms and conditions, Handbook of Regulations and associated policies. It is important that you familiarise yourself with these as you will be asked to agree to them when you join us as a student. You will find a guide to the key terms here, along with the Student Protection Plan.

Although we always try and ensure we deliver our courses as described, sometimes we may have to make changes for the following reasons:

Changes to a course you have applied for but are not yet enrolled on

If we propose to make a major change to a course that you are holding an offer for, then we will tell you as soon as possible so that you can decide whether to withdraw your application prior to enrolment. We may occasionally have to withdraw a course you have applied for or combine your programme with another programme if we consider this reasonably necessary to ensure a good student experience, for example if there are not enough applicants. Where this is the case we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible and if you are unhappy with the change we will discuss with you other suitable courses we can transfer your application to. If you do not wish to transfer to another course with us, you may cancel your application and we will refund you any deposits or fees you have paid to us.

Changes to your course after you enrol as a student

Changes to option modules

Where your course allows you to choose modules from a range of options, we will review these each year and change them to reflect the expertise of our staff, current trends in research and as a result of student feedback or demand for certain modules. We will always ensure that you have an equivalent range of options to that advertised for the course. We will let you know in good time the options available for you to choose for the following year.

Major changes

We will only make major changes to non-optional modules on a course if it is necessary for us to do so and provided such changes are reasonable. A major change is a change that substantially changes the outcomes, or a significant part of your course, such as the nature of the award or a substantial change to module content, teaching days (part time provision), type of delivery or assessment of the core curriculum. For example, it may be necessary to make a major change to reflect changes in the law or the requirements of the University’s regulators or a commissioning or accrediting body. We may also make changes to improve the course in response to student, examiners’ or other course evaluators’ feedback or to ensure you are being taught current best practice. Major changes may also be necessary because of circumstances outside our reasonable control, such as a key member of staff being unable to teach due to illness, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to pandemics, other disasters (such as fire, flood or war) or changes made by the government.

Major changes would usually be made with effect from the next academic year, but may happen sooner in an emergency. We will notify you as soon as possible should we need to make a major change and will consult with affected groups of students and any changes would only be made in accordance with our regulations. If you reasonably believe that the proposed change will cause you detriment or hardship we will, if appropriate, work with you to try to reduce the adverse effect on you or find an appropriate solution. Where an appropriate solution cannot be found and you let us know before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for any additional tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so and you may be eligible for an exit award depending on how far through your course you are.

In exceptional circumstances, we may, for reasons outside of our control, be forced to discontinue or suspend your course. Where this is the case, a formal exit strategy will be followed in accordance with the student protection plan.

The Office for Students (OfS) is the principal regulator for the University.

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