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Overview
This flexible distance-learning course helps armed forces instructors develop confident, inclusive and effective teaching skills while continuing in their current roles. You’ll explore lesson planning, assessment, digital pedagogy and reflective practice, all tailored to the unique demands of military training. It’s ideal for serving trainers looking to enhance their expertise or prepare for future opportunities in civilian education.
On this course, you'll:
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Develop professional teaching skills tailored specifically to armed forces training environments
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Learn from education specialists through flexible distance learning
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Build core competencies in lesson planning, delivery, assessment and inclusive teaching strategies
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Strengthen your reflective practice and professional development as you apply new techniques directly in your military role
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Explore national education policy, curriculum design and digital pedagogy to enhance the quality of your training
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Be supported by expert tutors as you work towards a nationally recognised qualification valued by both military and civilian employers
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Prepare for future career opportunities in armed forces instruction, further education, vocational training and progression to qualifications such as a PGCE in Further Education and Skills
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsEntry requirements
Qualifications or experience
- A minimum of a second-class honours degree, or equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications. Applicants must be employed or volunteering in a teaching, training, or educational support capacity within the Armed Forces or related organisation.
Modules
Part-time (Distance Learning)
Core module
You'll explore how adults learn, use inclusive and research-based teaching methods, and apply theory to practical contexts. This will help you build confidence in your teaching delivery while recognising the practical demands of military life.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry.
Course costs and funding
UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students
- Part-time: £3,230
International and EU students
- Part-time: £3,230
If you're an EU student you may be eligible to receive our EU Scholarship.
How you'll spend your time
Course structure
This course is delivered by part-time distance learning.
The course follows the standard academic year and is delivered across one 24-week module. It is designed to fit around professional and operational commitments within the Armed Forces.
You can expect to spend around 2 hours per week in scheduled teaching, delivered through live online seminars. These sessions are usually held on weekday evenings to support working professionals, although timings may be agreed by the group where possible.
The rest of your study time will be spent on independent, self-directed learning. This includes guided reading, reflective journals, independent research, digital learning activities, and building an e-portfolio that demonstrates your workplace-based teaching and training practice.
As a distance learning course, there is no requirement to attend campus. Weekly online seminars are combined with flexible, asynchronous study so you can complete learning activities at times that suit your role and operational responsibilities.
Teaching staff
Mr David Mather
How you're assessed
Throughout the course, you'll be assessed through:
- Reflective journal
- Evidence of lesson planning and delivery
- Digital presentation
Career development
After you graduate from this course, you’ll be better prepared to deliver high-quality teaching and training within armed forces settings. The course is designed for those already working as military trainers or instructors and provides a nationally recognised teaching qualification that builds confidence in planning, delivering and assessing learning.
Graduates typically continue or progress in roles such as armed forces instructor, trainer or education officer, where employers seek staff with recognised teaching qualifications. With more than 7,000 personnel involved in training roles across the UK armed forces each year, demand for professionally trained educators is stable and long term.
The skills you’ll develop are also highly transferable. This means the qualification can support future careers in areas such as:
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further education colleges
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skills and vocational training providers
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civilian teaching and training environments
For those considering a move into civilian education, the course provides a strong foundation for teaching in the further education and skills sector.
Further study and professional development
This PGCert awards 60 postgraduate credits, which you can use towards further qualifications. Graduates could choose to progress to PGCE Further Education and Skills, or MSc Educational Leadership and Management.
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and from our Careers and Employability Centre, which you can access for 5 years after you graduate.
You'll benefit from:
- Networking events
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- Support starting your own business
Apply
Ready to apply?
Start this course in September 2026
1 year part-time (distance learning)
Start this course in January 2027
1 year part-time (distance learning)
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.