Our online programme prepares practitioners to critically evaluate and develop evidence-based practices to support learners with dyslexia and other literacy difficulties.
Successful completion of the PGCert Dyslexia and Language Difficulties course, will enable you to apply for Professional Membership and an Assessment Practicing Certificate (APC) with the following recognised professional bodies:
This course is accredited by the SpLD Assessment Standards Committee (SASC).
The PGCert runs in a part-time mode, online for 15 months whilst the MA Inclusion runs for 36 months. As this programme is distance learning only it requires you to be able to access and work from a computer.
Although the course is delivered through distance learning, you will be required to complete your own teaching and assessment practice face-to-face. Please note that teaching and assessing learners cannot be conducted online for the qualification.
The PGCert equips practitioners with a strong understanding of how language and literacy develop, how dyslexic learners may differ, and how to identify literacy difficulties through observation, informal assessment, and formal testing.
Completion leads to eligibility for an Assessment Practising Certificate from PATOSS, the BDA, or the Dyslexia Guild.
On the course, you will learn the principles of specialist teaching, including structured, sequential, cumulative, multi‑sensory approaches, and how to design, deliver, and monitor personalised evidence‑based programmes.
The course also develops practical psychometric skills, from selecting and administering appropriate educational assessments to interpreting standardised scores. Alongside this, you will explore social, emotional, and behavioural factors affecting learners, gain strategies to support motivation and study skills, and learn to create inclusive learning environments. You will also apply a consultation model to work collaboratively with colleagues in meeting the needs of learners with dyslexia and literacy difficulties.
In the Spring and Summer term of the second year, you will choose from a range of optional modules to gather 40 credits (see module section below). Assessments include coursework, professional reflection, presentations, and case studies, tailored to your own professional or personal context.
Your third year is dedicated to completing a 60-credit dissertation, enabling you to conduct independent research in an area of interest aligned with your programme and your context. You’ll collaborate with a tutor to refine your focus, and address methodology and analysis, culminating in a substantial research project.
When you apply for your Masters below, please begin your personal statement with this wording so that we can filter your application: ‘I wish to be considered for the MA Dyslexia & Literacy Difficulties’.
The course is accredited by SASC (SpLD Assessment Standards Committee).
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Our Department of Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN) blends global expertise with practical insights to drive inclusion and social justice through innovative research and tailored education. The Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties PGCert 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.
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and only provider in Europe delivering mandatory teaching qualifications in the 3 specialist areas
You'll be supported to design, implement, and critically evaluate individual literacy programmes for learners with literacy difficulties in a variety of learning environments. You will be further supported in the principles of psychometric testing and conducting assessments of learners with literacy difficulties.
You will also have the option to begin your studies on the full MA Inclusion (Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties) programme from the outset. This route includes all the components of the PGCert, along with additional second- and third-year modules and a dissertation. By choosing this pathway, students work towards a Master’s degree from the beginning and graduate with APC (Assessment Practicing Certificate) accreditation as well as an MA.
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.
Please note that the course will require approximately 200 hours of study per module (12-14 hours per week).
You must take four compulsory modules each worth 20 credits for the PGCert.
The modules listed below are an indication only and may be subject to change. Occasionally, it may be necessary to make changes to modules, for example, to ensure they remain current and relevant.
As a research-intensive University, our teaching is informed by the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff. For more information on the circumstances in which the University may need to make changes to modules, please refer to the Terms and Conditions for applicants.
You must take the following:
You will need to choose 40 credits from below:
The following must be taken:
| Module Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Dissertation (Distance Education) | 60 |
To gain a place at Birmingham you will need to meet our general entry requirements, as well as those specific to your course. Your application will be reviewed by the course’s Admissions Tutor, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer.
and professional access to learners with literacy difficulties
Applicants are also required to have at least two years of teaching experience in an educational environment. This requirement is because the course starts with one-on-one teaching, with the goal of helping you develop specialist teaching skills during your teaching practice. For those working with children, it is expected that the student will have an enhanced DBS certificate prior to starting the course.
Please note that to complete the Identification and assessment of Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)/dyslexia module you will need access to a range of specialist tests and assessments used in the diagnosis of dyslexia. The combined cost of these materials is approximately £3,000. These assessments must be purchased—and retained—by students. In some cases, workplaces may agree to purchase the materials on behalf of the student.
Note that prices vary from year to year, and the University is not liable for any increases or decreases in the cost of test materials, as pricing is set by external publishers.
Part-time
To apply for a postgraduate programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.
Application deadline for UK and non visa requiring applicants. We will close applications as soon as the programme is full. Early applications are encouraged.
We highly encourage you to upload a reference with your application submission. This should ideally be provided by a professional manager and submitted on official headed paper. Although not mandatory, providing a reference at this stage helps us review your application more efficiently and in line with our policies and procedures.
If you are applying for the MA (Dyslexia & Literacy Difficulties) then please begin your personal statement with the wording so that we can filter your application:
‘I wish to be considered for the MA (Dyslexia & Literacy Difficulties)’.
Find out how to apply to our postgraduate taught programmes. Please read this information carefully before completing your application.
If you have a question about our admissions process, including how to apply, your offer and how to track your application, please visit our admissions portal.
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 Modules 1-3 will allow you to apply for a Teaching Practice Certificate. This will allow you to teach individuals as a specialist accredited teacher.
Successful completion of the assessment module will allow you to apply for an Assessment Practicing Certificate from any of the three professional bodies: BDA, Dyslexia Guild and Patoss. 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 choose to continue their studies and complete an MA Inclusion (Dyslexia and Literacy Difficulties), there are opportunities to work in a range of roles in higher education institutions such as universities.
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