How our CPD courses work
CPD is learning applied to professional development. The term covers a broad range of areas – from informal training sessions to short courses.
You can choose from a wide range of CPD courses and events at the Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, including both credit bearing and non-credit bearing courses, and those conferring CPD points. Below is a guide to the differences between these various types of courses and who they are suitable for.
CPD course units
Many of our CPD offerings are course units that we run as part of a full degree course (such as an MSc or PGCert course) and are available to professionals as standalone CPD courses.
They are suitable if you want to learn about a particular area or topic without committing to a full degree.
Most of our CPD course units confer credits that can be used to progress towards a postgraduate or undergraduate award (see the 'Credit bearing CPD courses section' below). However, they may also be taken as a non-credit bearing course.
Short CPD courses
The other type of traditional CPD course we offer is sometimes referred to as a short course and generally means a course that has been specifically developed for professionals, rather than forming part of any degree course as described above.
Again, these courses are either credit bearing or non-credit bearing (see below).
CPD events
Our CPD events comprise workshops, conferences, presentations, seminars and other events that are aimed at professionals who want to improve their skills and knowledge in a specific area.
These events vary in length from one to five days, and sometimes confer a certificate of attendance on attendees.
Credit bearing CPD courses
Credit bearing CPD courses provide a participant with either postgraduate or undergraduate-level academic credits, on successful completion of the CPD activity.
This could be a CPD course unit that is either part of an existing postgraduate or undergraduate degree, or a standalone course unit run separately to a degree.
Participants who complete credit bearing CPD will receive a transcript that shows the number and academic level of credits awarded.
Credits can be built up or transferred to achieve an academic qualification, subject to the programme structure.
| Standalone CPD unit | PGCert | PGDip | MSc | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of units | 1 | 4 | 8 | 8 + dissertation |
| Number of credits | 15 | 60 | 120 | 180 |
Non-credit bearing CPD courses
Non-credit bearing CPD courses are normally used to enhance skills and knowledge in situations where it isn't necessary to obtain an award or academic credit. This may include CPD undertaken at summer schools, conferences and other short courses.
These courses do not award academic credit upon completion and have no formal assessment. Participants who take non-credit bearing CPD will not receive a transcript but will be issued with a certificate of completion. Non-credit bearing CPD course units do not constitute a university award.
Accredited CPD
Accredited CPD refers to CPD activity that has been reviewed by an independent external body and is deemed to have reached an accepted benchmark standard for that profession.
Accredited CPD would normally only apply to credit bearing CPD course units rather than non-credit bearing CPD course units.
Postgraduate degrees
Some of our postgraduate degrees are also aimed at professionals who wish to undertake CPD while gaining a postgraduate award. Please see our taught master's section to view a full list of postgraduate courses.