Professional Practice - top-up award

The BA (Honours) Professional Practice top-up award is designed for those wanting to influence and improve their professional practice in the workplace through the pursuit of the concept of the professional as a learner, achieved through reflective practice. Central to this is being not only responsive to change but being proactive in facilitating the change process. In particular, the programme is designed to enhance professional practice through:

• The adoption of a reflective practice approach to personal and professional development;
• The ability to relate theory to practice;
• The critical exploration of values-based knowledge as a means to greater understanding of work related issues;
• The encouragement of effective decision-making based on a critical review of evidence;
• An ability to structure and engage with professional research;
• The ability to critically evaluate professional issues through a research-informed approach;
• The ability to facilitate change in a professional setting;
• The adoption of a personal philosophy to underpin professional practice.

The aim is achieved by providing a theoretical underpinning and appropriate tools of analysis to enable students to critically examine their work, or the work of others, in the professional setting. The work is based on the premise that practical decisions must be informed by the best theoretical insight available and their outcomes must be objectively evaluated against recognised criteria.

The aim is achieved by providing a theoretical underpinning and appropriate tools of analysis to enable students to critically examine their work, or the work of others, in the professional setting. The work is based on the premise that practical decisions must be informed by the best theoretical insight available and their outcomes must be objectively evaluated against recognised criteria.

Fees 2021/22*

Full-time Home students: £9,250*
For students who have completed a Foundation Degree at Newman: £6,840*
Part-time Home £ 9,250 (total course fee)*

* Fees shown are for 2021/22 academic year. The University will review tuition fees and increase fees in line with any inflationary uplift as determined by the UK Government, if permitted by law or government policy, on enrolment and in subsequent years of your course. It is anticipated that such increases would be linked to RPI (the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments).

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements are flexible and recognise a range of academic qualifications, as well as relevant work experience. E.g. an HND or Foundation degree with 120 credits at levle 4 and 120 credits at level 5.

Course Content

The Top-up will maintain a core set of four 20 credit modules that relate to professional practice, plus the 40 credit dissertation. Students will be able to choose the focus of their dissertation to reflect their individual interests and support their professional practice. Each of the modules and the dissertation will enable students to explore subjects in greater depth in relation to their own professional practice.

Selection of modules

• Professional Reflection and Intellectual enquiry
• Professional Leadership and Change
• Applied Psychological Perspectives
• Specialist Study