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PG Cert Neurodiversity

Summary

Study level

Postgraduate

Award

PG Cert

Part time

10 months+

Location

Online

Apply today

Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology

What makes Arden University special?

Education for everyone, everywhere

Whether you're constrained by location, cost, time, or other life commitments, we're passionate about giving you access to higher education that fits into your busy, modern life.

You decide how and where to study

We offer a wide range of flexible undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in both our online and blended study modes.

Full support both online and on-site

We're also proud to offer non-standard entry, meaning your work experience and previous qualifications are taken into account when assessing your application.

Strong focus on employability

You will gain in-depth subject knowledge and transferable skills that employers from a huge range of industries will value. Many of our courses at Arden are also accredited by leading professional bodies in the UK.

Course Overview

Arden University’s Postgraduate Certificate in Neurodiversity is designed for anyone seeking to enhance their knowledge in this area. Neurodiversity refers to the different ways a person’s brain processes information and is an umbrella term used to describe variations such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. It is estimated that around 1 in 7 people in the UK have some kind of neuro difference.

This innovative course has been accredited by the National Autistic Society , reflecting the rigorous application of their framework to ensure it addresses not only autism but a range of neurodiverse conditions. The course has been designed in conjunction with neurodiverse individuals to ensure it is accessible and flexible, catering to the needs of a diverse range of learners.

The course focuses on current issues in the education sector, the workplace, and the criminal justice system. You will graduate with a broad foundation in neurodiversity and hands-on skills in understanding and supporting neurodiversity and inclusive practice in your personal and professional life.

It begins with an introduction to the field of neurodiversity, covering areas such as dyslexia, autism, ADHD, and mental health. You will then choose two modules tailored to your interests from the key sectors of education, work, or criminal justice. The course provides theoretical and practical awareness of neurodiversity as a whole and within these three distinct areas. You will explore neurodiversity across the lifespan, how it’s categorised, the various diagnostic assessments in place, enablers and barriers that neurodivergent individuals might face, inclusive research, and much more.

Current students and graduates have utilised the skills gained from this course to develop inclusive practices in their own workplaces, demonstrating its practical value.

Whether you are a professional seeking to enhance your understanding of neurodiversity or someone looking to champion inclusivity, this PG Cert in Neurodiversity offers you the tools and insights to make a meaningful impact.

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Career development resources

You'll have online access to a huge range of career development tools from the day you start studying.

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Course details and modules

On this postgraduate certificate, you’ll complete three modules totalling 60 credits. Your mandatory first module will introduce you to the topic of neurodiversity, including its key theoretical, historical, and cultural aspects. You’ll then choose two of three elective modules providing you with an in-depth look into their respective areas.

You’ll study each module over a total of 10 weeks. Weeks 1 -8 will cover your module content and weeks 9-10 will give you time to work on your module assessment.

Arden is for winners. Nobody will beg you to sit down and start working on your career, if you don’t do it yourself! At Arden, if you have an honest interest for what you learn and you want to reach out for more, you will be welcomed, helped, and advised. But to do that, you must be determined.

Bettina Finna

BSc (Hons) Psychology

Modules

Core module

Introduction to Neurodiversity (20 credits)

Elective modules (choose two)

Neurodiversity in Education (20 credits)
Neurodiversity and Work (20 credits)
Neurodiversity in the Criminal Justice System (20 credits)

How do we assess you?

Unlike on more traditional degree programmes, you won’t sit any exams on this postgraduate certificate. Instead, the course utilises real-world assessments that fit your individual needs. Each aims to provide you with transferable skills for your future and can include:

Essays
Consultancy Reports
Recorded Presentations
Case Studies
E-Portfolios
Visual Research

Study options

I chose online learning because I do not currently have the capacity to attend classes as my days are full with running my household, my elderly parents’ household and tending to the needs of my 3-year-old. Online studying has been extremely helpful because it provides the flexibility I need in order to study at random times during the day or night.

Cynthia Blow

BSc (Hons) Psychology

Part-time online learning

How does it work?

Studying this course online gives you the ultimate in convenience. You can enrol with Arden from anywhere in the world and study your degree from the comfort of home, without the requirement to attend classes in a physical location.

Our online students study their degree through ilearn, Arden’s university campus in the cloud. ilearn provides everything you need to study at university. It offers an integrated virtual learning experience, including your virtual classroom, lecture theatre, and access to our Library Portal. The portal includes an extensive digital library including thousands of journal titles, eBooks, and academic and industry databases which you can use to research your assignments and projects. All of these materials are provided to you free of charge, and contain all the research information you’ll need to complete your degree with us.

ilearn is also integrated with Zoom, making it easier to chat with your course tutor during your scheduled seminar sessions. You can even integrate our study materials into your Kindle, making it possible to study wherever you have your Kindle handy.

Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone. As well as receiving regular feedback and guidance from your course tutor, you’ll be studying with like-minded students who you can meet with through our Unitu community, and you’ll have access to community message boards to discuss your course and the topics being raised within it. We’ve even set up community boards embedded into each of the course modules so you can have discussions with your tutor and classmates on the topics you’re currently learning.

Online learning students resident in the UK can apply for a Maintenance Loan if they cannot attend their course in person because of a disability. Please find more information on our fees and funding page. If you're a student from Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland you can find information on Living Cost Loans from your student finance body.

Learn more about online learning

Introducing your Digital Backpack

Once you’ve enrolled on your course with Arden you’ll get access to your Digital Backpack, a toolkit of digital resources we’ve put together to help you succeed during your time studying with us.

Here are some of the digital resources you’ll have available from day one of your course:

Office 365 subscription
Integrated zoom video conferencing
Careers support available through Arden Futures, your careers platform, to help you throughout your career journey whether you are a Career Starter, Changer or Developer
Free online access to our Library Portal, which includes thousands of eBooks and journals, as well as industry databases which we’ve carefully hand-picked to support your studies – all yours for free while you study with us
Subscription to Togetherall for an abundance of mental health support

Entry requirements

At Arden University we consider applications on a case by case basis. If you have significant work experience, have qualifications you have gained elsewhere, or a degree or qualification that isn't a clear pathway to this degree - we are more than happy to discuss your application.

What you need to study with us

Our aim is to make learning as accessible as possible by ensuring that you can study in a flexible and convenient way. That's why we keep our requirements simple. All you need is a laptop or desktop PC (we recommend one running the latest version of Windows), and a good internet connection. Through ilearn, our online university campus in the cloud, you'll be able to access your course calendar, support services, learning materials, and our online library containing thousands of ebooks, as well as tools for creating assignments, keeping notes, and collaborating with other students on your course.

Find out more

Eligibility

To be eligible for our Postgraduate Certificate in Neurodiversity, you should normally have:

A UK Honours Degree at a minimum of second class (2:2) or equivalent.
If you don’t hold the above qualification, relevant professional work experience will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

English proficiency

IELTS 6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element); or TOEFL iBT 90; or equivalent
Alternatively, evidence you have previously studied in English, such as a letter to show that the Medium of Instruction was in English, can be accepted.

Course fees and funding

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Meet the faculty

The Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology is currently overseen by Professor Brian Smith, Deputy Provost. Bringing more than three decades of experience, Brian has been awarded the prestigious Higher Education Academy National Teaching Fellow for excellence in developing inspiring and innovative new learning and teaching models in global higher education. This work was core to his PhD to understand learner behaviour and ontological needs in the classroom, blended and online learning. He carries a wealth of experience and has touched a variety of disciplines – including healthcare, psychology, technology, law and engineering, to name a few. He also holds the title of Advance HE Principal Fellow, and Accreditor status for reviewing fellowships. Brian has contributed to several initiatives in his career, some of which has included authoring End point Assessments for Apprenticeships (Institute for Apprenticeships), Micro-credential characteristics (Quality Assurance Agency), TEF 2023 panel member (Office for Students), editor reviewer for journals, and authoring publications such as Creativity: An unsolved enigma.

Professor Brian Smith

Deputy Provost

Career prospects

The valuable and engaging course sets you up with the knowledge and skills to better understand and support neurodiversity and inclusive practice in your professional life. You’ll also have the chance to apply your learning to your areas of interest, helping you develop and refine your professional practice.

related courses

What will the Postgraduate Certificate in Neurodiversity do for me?

This degree has been designed to provide you with an in-depth awareness of neurodiversity and how this awareness can be used to improve your work with neurodivergent individuals. While studying, you will:

Gain an in-depth understanding of the topic of neurodiversity
Learn how to support neurodiversity and implement inclusive practice in your professional life
Improve your sensitivity in working with neurodivergent individuals
Apply your knowledge and experience to real-life scenarios

What can I do after Arden University?

This course is perfect for anyone interested in improving their neurodiversity knowledge and practice, particularly in the areas of education, the workplace, and criminal justice. You’ll graduate with the skills for further study or work in the field, including implementing your learning towards the betterment of your profession in support of:

Neurodiverse children and/or adults
Neurodiverse individuals in education, work, or the criminal justice system

Industry skills

Campaign for Social Science

Arden University is a member of the Campaign for Social Science.

The Campaign demonstrates how social science improves public policy, society, and all our lives. It highlights the value of applied social science research and advocates for its greater use in decision-making and in government. It is supported by a coalition of universities, social science societies, and publishers.

As a member, Arden receives access to case studies, research into the value provided by social sciences, and insights into the employability of social science graduates. Through this, you will gain a better understanding of the skills you are learning and their value to employers.