Online PGCert in Design for Learning Environments
Now is the time. Activate your future.
Lead digital transformation in education
Study an executive-level programme that equips you with the fundamentals of organisational learning to lead digital transformation across education. Combining topics as diverse as design, technology and artificial intelligence, education, social science, data science and digital development, this advanced interdisciplinary certificate will allow you to break down traditional silos and bring about transformational change within learning and education.
In just 12 months, you will develop the ability to tackle new ways of working, engage with senior leaders, and align learning strategies with organisational goals. Build a portfolio of work that can be directly applied to your career and develop your skills as a knowledge broker, translating and connecting insights from a range of perspectives to drive innovation and enhanced productivity.
Make Birmingham yours
Complete the form below for detailed programme and pricing information and to be contacted by phone and email.
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Study an interdisciplinary curriculum
This specialised certificate offers you the opportunity to develop skills and perspectives that directly translate to practice. You’ll explore a comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum that will prepare you to build exceptional educational experiences for diverse groups of learners.
- 8 weeks
- 100% online
- 10 credits
Learn about the role and skills of the designer and examine the processes used to develop designs and designed artefacts that deliver user experiences in any learning environment.
- 8 weeks
- 100% online
- 10 credits
In this course, you’ll further enrich your understanding of the learning process by creating your own digital artefacts for use in a learning environment using a piece of contemporary technology.
- 8 weeks
- 100% online
- 10 credits
Learn to pitch an idea and present a design to a variety of different stakeholders while enhancing your own learning experience through group feedback and “flipped learning.”
- 8 weeks
- 100% online
- 10 credits
Understand the fundamentals of data analysis using appropriate tools and frameworks to evaluate teaching and learning and report findings to a variety of audiences to better understand the effectiveness of learning.
- 8 weeks
- 100% online
- 10 credits
Exploring different perspectives on how we learn and how to help others learn, you will cover the behavioural, cognitive, social and networked perspectives on learning and evaluate approaches for application in your own learning environment.
- 8 weeks
- 100% online
- 10 credits
Analyse learning environments from the perspective of connecting the social, physical and digital in networks of the human and non-human to challenge perspectives of online and offline learning.
Flexible pathways to entry
Multiple pathways to entry are available for the online PGCert Design for Learning Environments. Since this programme combines modules from multiple disciplines, expect to cover coding and maths. Additional entry criteria are detailed below.
Offer in principle for qualifying students
Students who have obtained an upper second-class degree or postgraduate diploma from a UK university are eligible for standard academic entry and must submit a completed application and a copy of their CV. Anyone who meets standard entry criteria will receive an offer in principle within 48 hours.
Requirements for academic entry:
| Certificate/transcripts | Students must have obtained (or be predicted to obtain) an upper second-class degree or postgraduate diploma from a UK university OR an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution. |
| Additional documentation |
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| Evidence of language (if applicable) | If English is not your first language, you will also need to supply an up-to-date English language certificate. Please see the detailed language criteria listed below. |
Alternative paths to entry
Students seeking non-standard academic entry may pursue the following routes.
- The degree or equivalent qualification must be from a UK university or recognised institution
- You must provide evidence of at least two years of relevant work experience in design, computing or education
- You must also submit a personal statement uploaded in PDF format
- Without a degree, the student must provide evidence of 5+ years of work experience in design, computing or education
- You must also submit a personal statement uploaded in PDF format
Earn an internationally recognised credential
At Birmingham University, we’re shaping the future of education through pioneering research and world-class degree programmes that prepare graduates to improve the learning outcomes of others. We pride ourselves in welcoming and supporting international students.
If English is not your first language, you will need to supply an up-to-date English language certificate. See the details below.
- Academic IELTS certificates with a score of 6.5, and no less than 6.0 in any band
- TOEFL with a score of 88, and no less than 21 in ‘Reading’, 20 in ‘Listening’, 22 in ‘Speaking’, and 21 in ‘Writing’
- Pearson PTE with a score of 67 and no less than 64 in all four skills
- Cambridge Advanced English with a minimum overall score of 176 and no less than 169 in any component
- Language Cert ESOL SELT B2 ‘Communicator’ test certificate with a minimum score of 33 in each skill
- Trinity ISE III with a ‘Pass’ in each skill
- HKDSE with a minimum score of 4 overall, to include three bands at grade 4 and one band at grade 3
- India Standard XII with a minimum pass of 80% in ISC, CBSE, Maharashtra or 75% in West Bengal, or 85% in other state boards
You may not need to provide evidence of your English language abilities if:
- You’re from a specified majority English-speaking country
- You’ve completed a degree in English in a specified country within two years of your intended start date
If nationals from the following countries have a degree or GCSE English grade 4/C equivalent taken, then they do not need to provide a test and there is no validity period for their degree or GCSE equivalent.
Nationals of other countries can be exempt if they hold a degree from one of the below countries within the last two academic years:
- Australia
- Belize
- Botswana
- British Overseas Territories
- Anguilla
- Bermuda
- British Antarctic Territory
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Falkland Islands (and Dependencies)
- South Georgia
- South Sandwich Islands
- Gibraltar
- Montserrat
- Pitcairn
- Henderson
- Ducie and Oeno Islands
- Saint Helena (and Dependencies)
- Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Brunei
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Guyana
- Republic of Ireland
- Kenya
- Malta
- Mauritius
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Sierra Leone
- Singapore
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- United Kingdom
- United States
- West Indies
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
An affordable online certificate
The estimated total cost of this learning experience design certificate is £4,860. You can pay in full or in instalments of £810 on a module-by-module basis. All costs are listed to help you make an informed decision.
Programme fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change each academic year. The fees listed above are for academic year 2025-26.
“The course represents the cutting edge of this industry and equips the student with the broad range of valuable skills required to play an integral part of any learning design team. The lecturers are highly qualified, experienced and extremely knowledgable, the materials are accessible and the assessment methods are valid. I cannot recommend the course highly enough.”
– Tyrone Bishop, Online PGcert Design for Learning environments graduate, United Kingdom
Expanding opportunities for your career
This programme offers a strong foundation for a growing number of careers that involve leadership, digital transformation, and the integration of technology into educational settings. The market for this type of career is growing, as employment of top executives is projected to grow by 6% between 2023 – 2033 (BLS 2025). Potential career paths could include:
- Chief Learning Officer (CLO)
Lead learning and development strategies within an organisation, ensuring that educational initiatives align with overall business goals. - Director of Digital Transformation
Oversee the integration of new technologies (like AI and data science) into educational systems to improve learning outcomes and operational efficiency. - Education Technology Consultant
Advise educational institutions or corporations on how to leverage new technologies to enhance learning experiences.
Earn a highly recognised credential
Gain global insights, develop big-picture thinking and emerge with an impressive credential for success in the workplace. Employers are keen to hire our graduates, trusting in their preparedness, advanced postgraduate knowledge, and the fact that we have eight Nobel Laureates and two prime ministers among our alumni.
Ranked 76th in the world (QS 2026)
Ranked 93rd in the world (THE 2025)
Ranked 14th in the UK (Complete University Guide 2024)
Ranked 35th most internationally diverse university in the world (THE 2024)
Russell Group member
Universitas 21 member