MA/MSc/MBA Professional Development by Negotiated Studies at University of Chester

Programme overview

Our postgraduate work-based degree in Professional Development offers flexible study that recognises your expertise and allows you to be rewarded for prior experiential learning and will enable you to ‘learn while you earn’. Our Professional Development course is ideal for part-time learners who are happy to learn in and through their workplace, with support from tutors who can help them to develop their professional practice in a way that enables them to receive academic reward for this.

Faculty: Faculty of Science, Business and Enterprise | Department: Chester Business School | Duration: 2 years (Part-Time); 2 years (Part-Time) | Study mode: part-time | Intake: October 2026, May 2027, October 2027, May 2028 | Location: Chester, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

Areas of learning are negotiated, and this means you can negotiate a learning pathway and award title that meets your personal and professional development needs. Core modules include Self Review and Negotiation of Learning, Negotiated Experiential Learning – One, Negotiated Experiential Learning – Two, Designing Practitioner Research, Practitioner Research Project.

Career pathways

Students on the programme are all professionals in the workplace and many report significant career enhancement from study on the Professional Development programme. Employers have reported significant business benefits from staff participants, often supporting a number of groups over a period of time to engage with the programme .

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Honours Degree: Most applicants will already have a first degree; however, applicants who are operating at a high, strategic level in the workplace but do not possess a first degree will, on agreement with staff, be allowed to take a diagnostic module to assess their suitability for Master’s study.; Prior Work/ Voluntary Experience: Applicants are expected to be working at a strategic level and to possess several years of relevant managerial experience.

Domestic applicants: GBP 9,090 a year (2026/27). £9,090 for a full-time course (2026/27) Source

International applicants: GBP 15,500 a year (2026/27). £15,500 (2026/27) Source

Intake: October 2026, May 2027, October 2027, May 2028

Duration: 2 years (Part-Time); 2 years (Part-Time)

Apply through the official page: https://www.chester.ac.uk/study/how-to-apply/postgraduate/

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