Career Development and Employability Postgraduate Diploma

Start date

22 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

About the course

Reasons to study

You could gain a professional qualification in Career Guidance, alongside your diploma.
Work placement opportunities: build the practical skills needed to successfully work with adults and young people.
Academic expertise: we have been teaching Career Guidance courses for over 40 years.

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.

This course is for those seeking a professional qualification in Career Guidance. You'll have the opportunity to take the Qualification in Career Development (QCD) - the nationally recognised professional qualification awarded by the Career Development Institute (CDI) - alongside the Master's qualification. You'll learn about policy, practice and theories underpinning career guidance, equality and diversity, partnership working and research-based practice.

Why Career Development and Employability?

The course can lead to a wide variety of interesting and rewarding career prospects in the career guidance and development sector including higher and further education careers and employability services, secondary education and third sector organisations. You can find out more via the CDI.
This course is available on a one year full-time or two years part-time basis. Successful completion of the course can result in the Career Development Institute approved career guidance professional qualification (the Qualification in Career Development or QCD).
Students who do not wish to commit to the full MA may choose to study the Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) which also leads to the award of the QCD.
Huddersfield has been teaching career guidance courses for over 40 years and has established a strong national reputation in the sector. You'll also have access to our extensive professional and academic network which feeds directly into course design and delivery and to excellent facilities and specialist equipment.

Course detail

Core Modules

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.

Option Modules

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.

Teaching and Assessment

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.

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.

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 is available after the publication of results.

On average 20%* of the study time on this course is spent with your tutors (either face to face or online) in lectures, seminars, workshops etc. Study and assessments will be based on your choice of modules. Your module specification/course handbook will provide full details of the assessment criteria applying to your course.

*based on 22/23 programme specifications

Teaching excellence

Triple proof of teaching excellence: our staff rank in the top three in England for the proportion who hold doctorates, who have higher degrees, and hold teaching qualifications (HESA 2024). So, you’ll learn from some of the best, helping you to be the best.
We are joint first in the country for National Teaching Fellowships, which mark the UK’s best lecturers in Higher Education, winning a total of 23 since 2008 (2024 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).

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.

On-demand Webinar

Join Jodie Boyd, Course Leader for the MA/PGDip Career Development at the University of Huddersfield to discover more about our postgraduate courses and how you can develop skills for a successful career in Career Guidance.

View webinar

Placements

A significant amount of your learning also takes place whilst on placement where you’ll gain the practical skills to successfully work with adults and young people in the wide range of settings in which careers guidance is practiced. These include workplaces, the voluntary sector, higher and further education careers services, secondary education and the National Careers Service.

For those students undertaking the Qualification on Career Development the course involves a compulsory work placement consisting of a minimum of 30 days. Typically, students are able to experience a placement involving a guidance agency and also within an education organisation e.g. a school/academy, or within Further/Higher Education. The aim of the placement is that students should have a wide-ranging experience of information, advice and guidance provision and should be strongly involved in developing practical skills within the guidance sector.

Facilities

Study from the comfort of home

Study anywhere

Access course content on any device

Student Work

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.

Your career

Guidance skills can be used in a variety of settings and graduates can expect to find employment in dedicated guidance or careers guidance agencies such as the National Careers Service or Higher and Further Education Careers and Employability Services. Graduates in recent years have also found employment in related areas such as voluntary and charitable agencies (e.g. mental health provision), secondary education and training providers.

*98.4% of our postgraduate students go on to work and/or further study within fifteen months of graduating.

98.4% Graduates employed*

Professional links and accreditations

Successful completion of the course may allow you to gain the Qualification in Career Development (QCD) - the nationally recognised professional qualification awarded by the Career Development Institute (CDI) This accreditation is reviewed on a regular basis. In order to gain this qualification, you must complete the following module: Working with Individuals and Groups.

Career support

The skills developed on this course can be used in a variety of settings and graduates can expect to find employment in schools, colleges, universities and dedicated careers guidance agencies. Graduates in recent years have also found employment in related areas such as voluntary and charitable agencies (e.g. mental health provision), training providers and the NHS.

Further study

Upon successful completion of your postgraduate studies, progression onto the following programmes may be of interest:

00007906 - Education (Mentoring and Coaching) MA - 2025-26

Education (Mentoring and Coaching) MA

If you’re interested in using coaching and mentoring techniques to help develop people at all levels in an organisation, then this might be the course for you.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate

Inspiring Graduate

Our graduates go on to succeed in a whole range of exciting careers. Here is just one example.

As a graduate of the University of Huddersfield you will also become a member of our alumni community, allowing you to stay in touch and continue to access university services.

The blended learning approach has been invaluable. As a mature student with a family, my available time to study is limited. The course allowed me to work around my family. The course has been a really positive experience for me. Networking with other students has been good, even online! Teams is a great way to keep in touch. I would encourage students to keep in touch with their fellow students as they can be a great support.

Sarah Clifford, Graduate, MA Career Guidance and Development graduate 2021

Career support

Upon successful completion of your postgraduate studies, progression onto the following programmes may be of interest:

Education (Mentoring and Coaching) MA

If you’re interested in using coaching and mentoring techniques to help develop people at all levels in an organisation, then this might be the course for you.

Find out more How to apply

Full-time

Postgraduate

Our graduates go on to succeed in a whole range of exciting careers. Here is just one example.

As a graduate of the University of Huddersfield you will also become a member of our alumni community, allowing you to stay in touch and continue to access university services.

The blended learning approach has been invaluable. As a mature student with a family, my available time to study is limited. The course allowed me to work around my family. The course has been a really positive experience for me. Networking with other students has been good, even online! Teams is a great way to keep in touch. I would encourage students to keep in touch with their fellow students as they can be a great support.

Sarah Clifford, Graduate, MA Career Guidance and Development graduate 2021

Student support

At the University of Huddersfield, you'll find support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life. Whether you study at undergraduate or postgraduate level, you'll soon discover that you're never far away from our dedicated staff and resources to help you to navigate through your personal student journey. Find out more about all our support services.

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).

In 2024/25 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £4,600.

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.

The part-time tuition fee for this course for 2024/25 entry will be £2,300 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 2024/25 the full-time tuition fee for UK postgraduate students on this course will be £4,600.

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 2024/25 entry will be £2,300 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

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

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 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 leaving the University or being unable to teach, where they have a particular specialism that can’t be adequately covered by other members of staff; or due to damage or interruption to buildings, facilities or equipment, or pandemics.

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 carry out suitable consultation. 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 contact us in writing before the change takes effect you can cancel your registration and withdraw from the University without liability to the University for future tuition fees. We will provide reasonable support to assist you with transferring to another university if you wish to do so.

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.