The Psychology of Dementia Care PGCert – online at University of St Andrews

Programme overview

A part-time online Postgraduate Certificate on the practical application of psychological theory in dementia care, for professional care staff and managers who provide services to people with dementia. Modules can be taken one, two or all three at a time, with all three needed for the PGCert.

Department: School of Psychology and Neuroscience | Duration: Two years part-time distance learning | Intake: September 2027; application deadline Wednesday 1 September 2027 | Study mode: online | Location: St Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom

What you will study

Three compulsory modules of about 200 hours of online learning each: The Psychosocial Impact of Dementia; The Care of Individuals with Dementia; and Implementing Effective Care. Delivery is on Moodle with articles, videos and a student forum, and assessment is 100 per cent coursework with no final exam.

Career pathways

Graduates work as clinical services development managers, community care officers, deputy nurse managers, occupational therapists, podiatrists, speech and language therapists and senior social workers; some progress to further taught postgraduate study or a PhD.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

A 2:1 Honours degree in a cognate discipline; or accredited prior learning such as a professional qualification in social work, nursing, occupational therapy or similar; or substantial relevant work experience in a related discipline with at least three years of practical experience. Application documents: CV, 500-word personal statement (only if applying for Scottish Funding Council funding), 2,000-word academic writing sample, one signed academic reference, and transcripts and degree certificates. English language (international applicants, IELTS Academic; equivalents accepted): overall 7.0 with at least 7.0 in writing and 6.0 in reading, listening and speaking (postgraduate taught profile 4-D). Also accepted: PTE Academic 76 overall (76 writing, 64 in each other skill), TOEFL iBT (pre-2026 scale) 91 overall (reading 16, writing 26, listening 16, speaking 19). Applicants from some countries and those with a degree taught in English at a qualifying institution may not need a test score. Test scores are normally valid for two years.

GBP 2,900 for the whole programme. Online-only fee for the PGCert; modules can be paid for one at a time. Source

Intake: September 2027; application deadline Wednesday 1 September 2027

Duration: Two years distance learning

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