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What makes the Person-Centred Dementia Studies PG Certificate at the ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ special?

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Dementia Studies has been designed specifically for current or potential future leaders or managers of dementia services in health and social care organisations, charities or businesses. Effective leadership in person-centred care is fundamental for the ability of an organisation to deliver services that work well for people living with dementia. This course will provide you with evidence-based practical interventions to expand your knowledge and skills in order to provide exemplary dementia care.

Additionally, the course provides a developmental route for professionals to improve the quality of their services. It aims to equip students with the knowledge, skills and resources to enable them to reach their full potential as skilled care givers, advocates, managers and leaders. The course content reflects the requirements of the and meets all of the Tier 3 leadership learning outcomes.

Overview

Overview

Key features

  • A flexible, multidisciplinary, student-centred route to postgraduate achievement, taught in a supportive online learning environment
  • An opportunity to critically reflect on your own practice and role in the field of dementia care
  • A chance to challenge your own values and attitudes and develop new ways of thinking in a supportive environment
  • A stimulating environment where you can gain the confidence to feel you can shape future dementia care by challenging and enhancing current practice and approaches
  • An opportunity to complete a series of modules which develop critical reflection, originality, critique and synthesis to inform evidence-based practice
  • A critical appreciation of the varying perspectives and values of health and social care professionals, service users, carers and cultures
  • A learning environment based on the values of academic freedom, ethical awareness and critical appraisal

An overview of the course with Dr Chris Russell (Course Leader)

About the Association for Dementia Studies

The Association for Dementia Studies is at the forefront of person-centred care research, which is used to ensure that our teaching includes real world practical approaches to help people live well with dementia. Our multi-disciplinary team are expert educators who have in-depth experiential and theoretical knowledge in dementia care plus the ability to inspire and enthuse others in this area.

As Alumni of this ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ PG Certificate, you will be joining a growing community of practice and will continue to find support via Association for Dementia Studies run events and an online forum. You will be eligible to be nominated for the Hennell Award, which recognises people who have made a significant contribution to promoting person-centred care.

Come and study with us beginning in September or January

Semesters begin in early September, and early January each year. You can apply at any time of the year (see the section below on ‘How to Apply’) but we strongly advise to apply at least six weeks before the start of each semester. You can join us to study for the full 60 credit Postgraduate Certificate or for any of our standalone modules. Fees can be found here and are revised annually.

Fees are revised annually and therefore if your course spans two academic years fees will vary.

Register your interest

Enter your details below and we will keep you up to date with useful information about studying at the ³ÉÈËBÕ¾.


Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Applicants will require current experience of working with or supporting people with dementia, either through employment, regular voluntary work or caring.

EITHER

  • An honours degree at 2:2 level or above

OR

  • Qualifications and experience are considered to be equivalent to the above. All students applying via this route will be assessed and where necessary interviewed by the Programme Lead

More information

Students whose first language is not English will be expected to have reached a sufficient standard on admission to the programme (e.g. IELTS 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element, or equivalent).

It is essential that applicants have access to a PC, laptop, tablet or mobile device with a reliable internet connection.

Students being sponsored by their employer must provide evidence of employer approval and payment agreement.

One module has additional requirements:

Expert Practice in Delivering Person-Centred Dementia Care (MDEM4003). Participants should have experience of delivering training, education and professional development to direct care staff and be in a position to deliver training and support to staff working in health and care organisations. Evidence of employer approval and other supporting paperwork will be required. Please note that if this module is successfully completed you could choose to leave with a Postgraduate Award in Professional Development or use the 30 credits towards achieving this 60 credit Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Dementia Studies.

Course content

Course content

You can choose to apply for the full Postgraduate Certificate, or you can apply for one module as a ‘taster’ and then enrol on the Postgraduate Certificate, or you can simply complete one module.

Applicants should consider their workload and must discuss this with the Programme Lead if they wish to complete more than one module within any semester.

2024/25 modules

Please see below for indicative detail about each of the modules on offer.

Person-Centred Leadership: the VIPS Approach

Module code: MDEM4001
Credits: 15

This mandatory module runs annually in semester one from September. It does not have to be the first module completed, but does have to be completed to achieve the award.

Watch a by Nicola Jacobson-Wright.

Expert Practice in Delivering Person Centred Dementia Care

Module code: MDEM4003
Credits: 30

This module runs annually across two semesters starting in semester two (January) and continuing in semester one (September) of the following academic year; that is, the module will be completed in a calendar year.

Watch a by Dr Isabelle Latham.

Enabling Environments for People Living with Dementia

Module code: MDEM4005
Credits: 15

This module also runs annually in semester one from September.

Watch a  by Teresa Atkinson.

Engagement and Empowerment in Dementia Studies

Module code: MDEM4006
Credits: 15

This module runs annually in semester two from January.

Watch a  by Dr Chris Russell.

Families and Care Partners in Dementia Studies

Module code: MDEM4007
Credits: 15

This module runs annually in semester two from January.

Watch a by Teresa Atkinson.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching and assessment

The course will be taught via a supportive online environment, including regular ‘live’ online contact with your tutors. You will learn alongside and from other students, enabling the development of professional networks, in addition to advancing your own practice. We aim to enhance your ability to critically reflect on and critique what you do within the settings you work/volunteer in. All teaching is based upon evidence-based approaches, and supports you to gain a critical appreciation of the varying perspectives and values of people affected by dementia, health and social care professionals, and those from allied contexts (for example housing, business and sports and leisure).

Teaching

Utilising a range of tools and features of the virtual learning environment (VLE), and evidence- based online pedagogical practices, the approach to teaching will involve:

  • Minimising the complexity of technology through the use of clear, concise guidance in navigating through the various facets of the course to develop a comfortable environment for students and instructors;
  • Clear communication channels through which students can engage with each other and with module tutors (e.g. messaging within Blackboard, discussion boards, Collaborate).
  • High quality explicitly framed online activities that underpin summative assessment and which includes opportunities for collaborative learning as well as receiving timely, constructive, formative feedback to support student learning;
  • A defined, regular social presence of module tutors to support continuous student/teacher communication and minimise potential feelings of studying in isolation.
  • Online learning is both asynchronous and synchronous with discussions via VLE to encourage critical reflection in students.
  • Active learning is facilitated through peer discussion formats and are intended to enable the application of learning through discussion and small group activities.
  • Analysis of case studies and policy from health and social care and other settings relevant to the student’s professional context.
  • Critical reflective analysis of dementia practice in a range of settings.

This will facilitate an experiential learning cycle that will maintain student engagement and activity, require students to take responsibility for their own learning, and afford opportunities to relate and apply their learnings within their professional practice context. 

³ÉÈËBÕ¾ time

Synchronous contact - Scheduled/planned

³ÉÈËBÕ¾ time with tutors will vary between modules. There will be synchronous (live) tutorials and teaching activities using the VLE. Scheduled online teaching may be held in the evening to accommodate your work schedule. For fully online modules, a normal pattern of synchronous contact time will be around 1 hour per fortnight over 12 weeks, thus 6 hours per 15 credit module, although additional sessions may be added if a tutor identifies a need. 

Asynchronous contact - Unscheduled

You are expected to participate fully in the programme of study, engage actively with learning opportunities including any scheduled sessions. If unable to engage with a scheduled session you would be expected to contact the module leader in advance where possible. At times engagement within modules will be monitored through the VLE. ³ÉÈËBÕ¾ time will be 2 hours per week asynchronous over 12 weeks, thus 24 hours per 15 credit module. 

Additional contact time will be through chat rooms and discussion boards which will be flexible. This will allow you to have access to a range of material and learning resources which they can access at a time convenient to them but remains a means of sustaining contact with tutors. 

Independent self-study

In addition to the synchronous sessions and asynchronous activities, you are expected to undertake a significant amount of self-directed study. Typically, this will involve 6 hours per week per 15 credit module across the course. Independent learning will be supported with a range of excellent learning facilities including library resources, the VLE and extensive electronic learning resources. 

Duration

Up to 2 years part time.

Timetables

Dates for scheduled seminars will be made available in advance of the course commencing. The online learning environment will be available for the duration of the semester and will be available one week before a module commences and access to the learning environment is available following registration.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course, the team includes senior lecturers. People living with dementia and their families are involved in curriculum development and delivery.

Teaching is informed by research and consultancy through a variety of academic teaching staff available to you, including a number of lecturers who have a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. As part of the  Association for Dementia Studies this will also include research fellows, PhD students and a Dementia Practice Development Coach. 

Assessment

The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments helping students to achieve the learning outcomes and provide scaffolding towards their summative assessments. Each module has one or more formal or ‘summative’ inclusive assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade and is an opportunity for students to apply learning into practice within their professional context.

The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the optional modules taken. The range of assessments within the modules represent a pedagogical approach of application of knowledge and self-directed study. 

Assessment methods include:

  • Practice based exercise
  • Reflective practice report
  • Reflective Case Study
  • Action Plan
  • Academic essay

Programme specification

For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment,

Careers

Careers

This course is suitable for practitioners, managers and for those aspiring to lead positive change from within any dementia related context. The focus is on equipping you to develop in your existing role and your area of practice, introducing more effective ways of working within your organisation and giving you the potential to innovate and to progress into strategic and leadership roles.   

As part of your development we encourage students to continue on their academic journey to a range of higher degrees including PhD, clinical doctorate and other taught doctorates. 

Hear from one of our students

Costs

Fees and funding

Part-time tuition fees

UK and EU students

The standard tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students registering on the Person-Centred Dementia Care PGCert in the academic year 2025/26 are £788 per 15 credits and £1,575 per 30 credits for UK and EU students.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

International students

The standard tuition fees for part-time international students registering on the Person-Centred Dementia Care PGCert in the academic year 2025/26 are £1,119 per 15 credits and £2,237 per 30 credits for international students.

For more details, please visit our course fees page.

How to apply

How to apply

Before you apply

First gather together the following supporting evidence:

  • personal statement, including details of how you meet the entry requirements and any other information relevant to your experience
  • copy of degree certificate (or your highest qualification if you do not have a degree)
  • If your employer is sponsoring you, evidence of this will be needed (please ask your employer to raise a purchase order).

You will need upload this as part of the application.

If you're interested in applying for our Postgraduate Certificate in Person-Centred Dementia Studies and have questions about the course, please do get in touch with us via the contact details below.

 

If you would like to apply for the Post Graduate Certificate in Person-Centred Dementia Studies, please click on the 'apply' button below   

If you would like to apply for a standalone module, the details are as follows  

Standalone module details

Get in touch

Postgraduate Admissions Office

Dr Chris Russell

Programme Lead, Post Graduate Certificate and Award in Dementia Studies