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Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties (ATS/APS) Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties (AMBDA)

Start date
September
Duration
PGCert - 12 months; PGCert AMBDA Enhanced 15 months
Course Type
Postgraduate, Continuing professional development, Distance learning, Taught
Fees

For 2024-2025
AMBDA - £5,040 (UK ), £10,360 (International)
ATS/APS - £3,780 (UK), £7,7700 (International)
More Fees and funding details.

This is an online programme in the field of literacy difficulties and dyslexia. It is designed to prepare practitioners to critically evaluate and develop evidence-based practice to support learners with dyslexia and other literacy difficulties.

The PG Certificate Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties (ATS/APS) and PGCertificate Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties (AMBDA) course leads to Accredited Teacher Status (ATS) or Accredited Practitioner Status (APS), and Associate Member of the BDA (AMBDA). These qualifications will allow you to work with and assess learners with literacy difficulties and/or dyslexia in schools and further/higher education. The course has been accredited by the BDA.

The course draws on a range of research literature and policy to explore the typical development of literacy skills and how our understanding of these can enable us to identify those with literacy difficulties. You will have an opportunity to explore the current debate on dyslexia and critically evaluate different theories of why difficulties with literacy may occur.

You will be supported to design, implement, and critically evaluate individual literacy programmes for learners with literacy difficulties in a variety of learning environments. Those who choose the AMBDA option will be further supported in the principles of psychometric testing and conducting assessments of learners with literacy difficulties.

This programme is distance learning only and so requires you to be able to access and work from a computer.

Former student Stephanie Wimmer-Davison shares her experience of the course


We also offer a number of other programmes across a range of SEN and Inclusion that may be relevant to your needs. 

Modules

Unless indicated otherwise the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2024.

You will study three modules each worth 20 credits.

  1. Understanding literacy difficulties
  2. Intervention and curriculum management for specific learning difficulties
  3. Discussing Dyslexia

For those who choose the AMBDA option, you will study an additional module worth 20 credits.

4. Identification and assessment of specific learning Difficulties (SpLD)/Dyslexia 

Please see the note about test access in the ‘Assessment’ section below.

Assessment

  • Modules 1 and 3 are assessed through an assignment.
  • Modules 2 is assessed through the submission of a practical portfolio. This includes recordings of teaching and associated plans, evaluations, and reflections.
  • Module 4 is assessed through the submission of practical portfolio. This includes quizzes, recordings of an assessment and the submission of assessment reports. 

Please note: If you choose the AMBDA option and continue to study module 4, you will need access to a range of tests used in the identification of dyslexia. You will be responsible for sourcing and purchasing these tests (or diagnostic assessments). The University is unable to provide these.

Previous students have:

  1. Been supported by their institution who have purchased/hold these tests.
  2. Purchased these tests for their own use at a cost of approximately £2000.

Fees

Fees 2024 - 2025

UK

  • Code 884E PGCert AMBDA £5,040
  • Code 883E PGCert ATS/APS £3,780

International

  • Code 884E PGCert AMBDA £10,360
  • Code 883E PGCert ATS/APS £7,770

Fees for all our distance learning programmes are based on students studying 60 credits per year. The fees shown above are the annual fees for students starting their courses September in 2024. 

Learn more about fees and funding  

For further information contact the Funding, Graduation & Awards Office via online enquiries.  

Scholarships

International students can often gain funding through overseas research scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships or their home government. More details may be found on the  international scholarships page.

For further information contact the School directly or visit the Funding, Graduation & Awards Office via  online enquiries. 

School-based students each year may apply for and be awarded government scholarships which will fund all or part of the programme. Please view the gov.uk website.

How To Apply

7 May 2024 is the application deadline for international students applying through the student route who wish to study in the United Kingdom. We are not able to consider applications for 2024 made after this date. The deadline for Home students is 30 August 2024.

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online. We have put together some helpful information on the taught programme application process and supporting documents on our how to apply page. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.

Apply now

Our Standard Requirements

You are required to have a ‘first’ degree (undergraduate degree) in a related field, preferably 2:1 or above, and professional access to learners with literacy difficulties.

Applicants are also required to have at least two years’ experience of working with learners with literacy difficulties in an education context. For those working with children, it is expected that the student has been subject to the necessary checks in their jurisdiction.

International Requirements



International Students

Speakers of English as a second language will be required to hold an IELTs 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in each band or equivalent qualification.

The course consists of a range of recorded lecturers, readings, and interactive activities. In addition, you will be supported in tutor groups with other students who work in the same phase, (where possible in the same region/country) and with a tutor with specialist qualifications in dyslexia and professional experience with learners with dyslexia in that education phase.

Studying at a distance means you can work from anywhere, such as in your home or workplace in the UK or overseas. All your studies will be in English.

The qualification will allow you to apply for a range of careers in supporting learners with literacy difficulties and dyslexia, including working in schools, colleges, and universities.

Successful completion of the AMBDA module will allow you to apply for an Assessment Practicing Certificate. This qualification allows the holder to assess for dyslexia in the UK and certain other jurisdictions. It also allows the holder to assess for and stipulate access arrangements in public examinations. For those who decide to continue their studies and complete an MEd in Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (ISEN), there are opportunities to work in a range of roles in higher education institutions such as Universities.