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Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) - CPS / DPS

Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry. Switch to 2025/26 Entry

The Certificate in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) course is based on the belief that all people living with deafblindness have a right to be supported by professionals who have the requisite knowledge and skills to provide high quality service....

  • Level Undergraduate
  • Study mode Part Time

This course is:

Open to International Students

Overview

The Certificate in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) course is based on the belief that all people living with deafblindness have a right to be supported by professionals who have the requisite knowledge and skills to provide high quality service. It has been designed and developed by some of the most experienced practitioners and academics in the field of deafblindness, and is enhanced by the inclusion of teaching materials created by those with lived experience of deafblindness.

The course aims to meet the requirements relating to the care and support of deafblind people under the Care Act 2014 (England) and the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014 (Wales).

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

The course will cultivate your knowledge and skills to be able to develop, challenge and question contemporary practice in the context of supporting deafblind children and adults. You will develop an in-depth yet foundational knowledge of both congenital and acquired deafblindness. You will cover the definitions of the condition, its causes and the impact of the impairment, paying particular attention to the substantial diversity of the deafblind population. You will explore the impact of deafblindness on communication, movement, mobility and orientation, and consider how an understanding of this impact informs care and support provision. The course also covers relevant law and public policy, as it applies to deafblind people, their rights and their needs.

Helen Keller, author, disability rights advocate, political activist and perhaps one of the world’s most well-known deafblind people described life as either a daring adventure or nothing at all. The Certificate and Diploma in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) play an important role in equipping the workforce with the knowledge and skills to support deafblind people to enjoy this daring adventure.

Dr Peter Simcock, Course Lead

Why Choose Us?

  • The most experienced practitioners and academics in the field of deafblindness have pooled knowledge and resources to produce the best materials and teaching the field can offer, enhanced by the inclusion of material from those with lived experience of deafblindness.
  • You will gain the knowledge and skills required to meet statutory requirements and duties in England and Wales in relation to those with deafblindness.
  • The course draws on research material from across the world, especially the Nordic countries, USA and Canada, recognising the contributions these particular countries have made to the knowledge and evidence base in the field.
  • You will consider the particular needs of diverse groups of deafblind people, a population known to be highly heterogeneous.

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2024/25.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

Certificate

Applicants need evidence of GCSE English Language or English Literature at grade C/4 or above. If you do not have this or are not undertaking it, we accept other level 2 equivalents, or we may ask you to pass BCU's GCSE equivalency tests.

Plus one of the following:

  • QCF or OCN Level 3 Specialist deafblind assessor course
  • Level 3 NVQ or Diploma or equivalent (full award)
  • Two or more A-Levels (DD/48 UCAS tariff points) or a BTEC ordinary National Diploma
  • Any undergraduate or postgraduate qualification

Alternatively, for applicants with relevant and significant work experience in the deafblind sector: students can be admitted to a particular undergraduate or postgraduate course through the formal recognition of prior certificated learning (RPCL) or prior experiential learning (RPEL).

Diploma

For the Diploma in Professional Studies, it is also a requirement to have passed the Certificate in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies).

See 'Additional information', below, for further requirements.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: CPS

Starting: Mar 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 38 weeks
  • £820 per 20 credit module

Award: DPS

Starting: Mar 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £820 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: CPS

Starting: Mar 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Part Time
  • 38 weeks
  • £820 per 20 credit module

Award: DPS

Starting: Mar 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • £820 per 20 credits
  • Year 1 - 60 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

The University reserves the right to increase fees in line with inflation based on the Retail Prices Index or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament up to a maximum of five per cent.
 

Guidance for International students

There are three ways to apply:

1) Direct to the University

You will need to complete our International Application Form and Equal Opportunities Form, and submit them together with scan copies of your original academic transcripts and certificates.

2) Through a country representative

Our in-country representatives can help you make your application and apply for a visa. They can also offer advice on travel, living in the UK and studying abroad.

3) Through UCAS

If you are applying for an undergraduate degree or a Higher National Diploma (HND), you can apply through the UK’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).

You can request a printed form from your school or nearest British Council office. You will be charged for applying through UCAS. Birmingham City University’s UCAS code is B25 BCITY.

 

Course in Depth

Diploma

Certificate

How you learn

The Certificate and Diploma in Professional Studies (Deafblind Studies) are delivered online, though you can of course visit the campus in person to make use of the library or meet for tutorials with your personal tutor. The platforms used for online delivery are:

Moodle (Virtual Learning Environment): course information and documents, module information and documents, module learning materials, module online course activities, module summative assessment submission links, feedback on summative assessments.

Microsoft Teams: synchronous online sessions, assignment workshops, personal tutorials.

Both the Certificate and Diploma consist of three 20 credit modules, each of which is completed over a period of ten weeks. Each module commences with a live online synchronous Module Launch, in which the learning outcomes and summative assessment are explained and explored. The module content is aligned to both the learning outcomes and summative assessment. Each module also includes a live online synchronous assignment workshop, in which your progress can be reviewed and any questions about the assignment addressed. The tenth and final week of the module is reserved for private study as you complete your assignment ready for submission.

Certificate
42% of time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activities:
Scheduled Learning: 12 hours
Directed Learning: 240 hours
Private Study: 348 hours
Total: 600 hours

All three modules have a summative assessment allowing you to demonstrate that you have met all the learning outcomes for that module. All learning outcomes must be met in order to pass the module, and all three modules must be passed to gain the award.

In order to take into account that learners have different styles and also need to develop a range of capabilities you will undertake a variety of different types of assessment. This includes:

  • written assignments
  • open book examination
  • case study based assignments

Full details of the assessment task for each module, including how, where and when to submit will be provided to you during the launch of each module.

Diploma
42% of time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activities:
Scheduled Learning: 14 hours
Directed Learning: 238 hours
Private Study: 348 hours
Total: 600 hours

All three modules have a summative assessment allowing you to demonstrate that you have met all the learning outcomes for that module. All learning outcomes must be met in order to pass the module, and all three modules must be passed to gain the award.

In order to take into account that learners have different styles and also need to develop a range of capabilities you will undertake a variety of different types of assessment. This includes:

  • written assignments
  • evidence-informed project work
  • case study based assignments

Full details of the assessment task for each module, including how, where and when to submit will be provided to you during the launch of each module.

Employability

Enhancing employability skills

Generating knowledge and promoting excellence in the field of deafblindness are key features of the course. A further aim is to support the social work and social care workforce to meet the statutory requirements relating to the care and support of deafblind people under the Care Act 2014 (England) and the Social Services and Well-Being (Wales) Act 2014 (Wales).

The course provides CPD opportunities to those with existing qualifications in deafblindness at Level 2 and 3 enabling you to undertake more complex assessments and care and support planning. The course supports people currently in practice to develop a range of transferable skills enhancing employability within the sector: specialist assessment; professional reflection; professional and academic writing; ICT skills; independent research skills.

 

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Facilities & Staff

Library

Our Mary Seacole Library is a large library with a vast collection of books, journals, and teaching materials, as well as specialist subject support. This includes the specialist deafblind library, which was formerly held by Sense and then Deafblind UK. There are also numerous eBooks available online, which the library will help you access.

The library offers a range of support services for students completing online courses, including online resources, 24/7 virtual support, MS Teams tutorials, information on referencing and IT support. Further information can be found on the library services page.

Academic Development Department (ADD)

The Faculty has a designated team – Academic Development Department (ADD) – that can support your academic skills during your time at the University, enabling you to reach your full potential.

For students completing courses delivered online, ADD offers MS Teams tutorials and has a range of study support materials on its Moodle page which you will be able to access once you enrol.

Centre for Academic Success (CAS)

The Centre for Academic Success (CAS) is the University’s central learning development service, and can support you to improve your academic skills.  CAS offers workshops, one-to-one and group tutorials and provides a range of online resources. For students completing courses online, tutorials are available via email or MS Teams and can be booked using the online booking system.

IT Support

The IT HelpDesk can be contacted via telephone, email or an App (online self-service portal).  IT HelpDesk can offer remote support and cover a range of matters, including email, Office 365, Moodle, MS Teams, saving work and IT Security.  More information can be found on the iCity page.

Our staff

Dr Peter Simcock

Associate Professor of Social Work

Peter began working in social work education in 2010 and joined the Department of Social Work at BCU in January 2018. Prior to working in academia, Peter worked for Age Concern, Hull, before moving to the West Midlands and from 2001 to 2008 worked for Wolverhampton City Council in various social work roles including social worker within a...

More about Peter

Michael Greenhouse

Michael Greenhouse is Lecturer in Social Work. Prior to working in education, he has worked as a supervising social worker, fostering assessment social worker, and in child protection teams. He has expertise in direct work with children, relationship based practice and social work skills, and holds academic qualifications in psychology and social...

More about Michael