UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE
Programme Specification
This Programme Specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme
and the learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and
demonstrate if he/she takes full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided.
Sources of information on the programme can be found in Section 17
1. Awarding Institution / Body
University of Central Lancashire
2. Teaching Institution and Location
of Delivery
University of Central Lancashire
3. University Department/Centre
Graduate Research School under the auspices of the
School of Forensic and Investigative Science
4. External Accreditation
5. Title of Final Award
Certificate in Graduate Career Skills for Researchers
6. Modes of Attendance offered
PT (Blended Learning)
7. UCAS Code
NA
8. Relevant Subject Benchmarking
Group(s)
NA
9. Other external influences
The contents have to reflect the nationally accepted
Research Development Framework
10. Date of production/revision of this
form
June 2012
11. Aims of the Programme

To develop a range of skills, to enable the student to develop a career in a direction, which
recognises their own strengths and weaknesses, whether in the world of academia or in the world
of business and industry.
12. Learning Outcomes, Teaching, Learning and Assessment Methods
A. Knowledge and Understanding
A1. demonstrate the need for and show commitment to continued professional development;
Teaching and Learning Methods
Workshops, elearn material
Assessment methods
Reflective log of the development of their career plans, Role play.
B. Subject-specific skills
B1. present one's skills, personal attributes and experiences through effective CVs, applications and
interviews;
B2. write a business plan and cost and manage the finances of a project;
Teaching and Learning Methods
Workshops, elearn material
Assessment methods
Reflective log of the development of their career plans, CV, Mock grant bid with associated costings
and staff requirements.
C. Thinking Skills
C1 critically reflect on own impact on, and relationships to, teams and networks within the work
environment;
Teaching and Learning Methods
Workshops, elearn material
Assessment methods
Mock grant bid with associated costings and staff requirements.
D. Other skills relevant to employability and personal development
D1. take ownership for and manage one's career progression, set realistic and achievable career
goals, and identify and develop ways to improve employability;
D2. demonstrate an insight into the transferable nature of research skills to other work environments
and the range of career opportunities within and outside academia.
Teaching and Learning Methods
Workshops, elearn material
Assessment methods
Reflective log of the development of their career plans, CV, Role play.
13. Programme Structures*
Level
Module
Code
Module Title
Level 6
RA3002
Graduate Career Skills for
Researchers
14. Awards and Credits*
Credit
rating
20
Certificate in Graduate Career
Skills for Researchers
Requires 20 credits at level 6
15. Personal Development Planning
Extensive PDP is already included as part of a research degree through the student progress
file – see postgraduate research student handbook. The Progress File is a record of the
student’s activities and achievements throughout their postgraduate studies. It is their
responsibility to maintain this file so that progression through their programme can be
monitored effectively. As a student registered for a research degree they are normally
required to undertake further training to ensure they have the full complement of skills and
knowledge required both for their research degree and for a successful future career. The File
is reviewed and monitored on an on-going basis in discussion with their DoS and supervisory
team and ‘signed off’ by the RDT at the end of the academic year.
16. Admissions criteria
Programme Specifications include minimum entry requirements, including academic qualifications,
together with appropriate experience and skills required for entry to study. These criteria may be
expressed as a range rather than a specific grade. Amendments to entry requirements may have
been made after these documents were published and you should consult the University’s website for
the most up to date information.
Students will be informed of their personal minimum entry criteria in their offer letter.
Student must have been admitted on to a research degree (MSc, MA, LLM, MPhil, PhD or MD).
17. Key sources of information about the programme






Course Handbook
Research Student Handbook
Research Degrees Tutors
Research Administrator
Progress File
Graduate Research School Website
http://www.uclan.ac.uk/research/current_students/currrent_research_students.php
LEVEL
6
18. Curriculum Skills Map
Please tick in the relevant boxes where individual Programme Learning Outcomes are being assessed
Programme Learning Outcomes
Core (C),
Compulsory
Module
(COMP) or
Knowledge and
Level Code
Module Title
Option (O)
understanding
Subject-specific Skills
Thinking Skills
Note:
Graduate Career Skills for
RA3002 Researchers
Other skills relevant
to employability and
personal
development
A1
B1
B2
C1
D1
D2
X
X
X
X
X
X
C
Mapping to other external frameworks, e.g. professional/statutory bodies, will be included within Student Course Handbooks