Distance Learning

Take more control over what you learn, and you learn through real workplace activity and projects, rather than sitting in a classroom. But you work with highly experienced academic specialists who guide and support you through your journey.

CPED’s highly acclaimed negotiated, work-based learning programme is called Work Based and Integrative Studies (WBIS), and gives you the ability to tailor your award title to reflect your area of expertise (excluding the MBA award). Working with your dedicated Personal Academic Tutor at the start of your studies, you will agree:

Your award aim (e.g. BA/BSc Hons or MA/MSc. The MBA award must be selected on application).
What to study and through which mode (e.g. work-based project or workshop modules).
Your unique award title, from areas such as business, leadership, project management, talent & HR management, marketing, hospitality, tourism, strategic information systems (excludes the MBA).

BA/BSc Hons degrees facilitated at a distance

We offer two main routes to study the work-based, BA/BSc Hons facilitated at a distance. For both, you continue working in your current job and home country. You access the extensive online learning materials through our WBIS Portal, and engage with our faculty specialists using online learning technology. Our faculty specialists are available during UK working hours (typically Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm UK time).

Route 1: The BA/BSc Hons Top Up

This route is for you if you already have 240 UK recognised credits. You will study the following modules typically across 1-2 years. In each module, you will select topics that are relevant to your current work situation (for example marketing, human resources, information systems):

Self Review & Negotiation of Learning
Skills & Approaches for Work Based Learning
Work Based Project (equivalent of 3 modules)
Exit Review & Forward Planning

Route 2: The BA/BSc Hons

This route is for you if you do not have recognised credits at the right level. Over 4-6 years, you will have the opportunity to study other online modules, as appropriate to your role and situation. The structure is:

Self Review & Negotiation of Learning	Or prior learning, up to the equivalent of 240 UK credits
Plus 5 optional* modules (at UK level 4)
Plus 6 optional* modules (at UK level 5)
Plus 6 optional* modules (at Level 6)

* And the optional modules may include a mix of:

Modules facilitated at a distance (see our catalogue).
Work-based project modules
Workshop modules (in the City of Chester, for those able and eligble to physically attend - see our schedule).

MA/MSc/MBA degrees facilitated at a distance

We offer two main routes to study the work-based, MA/MSc facilitated at a distance. For both, you continue working in your current job and home country. You access the extentive online learning materials through our WBIS Portal, and engage with our faculty specialists using online learning technology. Our faculty specialists are available during UK working hours (typically Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm UK time).

Route 1: The MA/MSc/MBA Top Up (dissertation only)

This route is for you if you already have 120 recognised credits (including an accredited research design module). You will complete a work-based project/investigation through a triple module ('the dissertation'), typically over 6-12 months.

(MBA students must cover the core MBA topic areas, for example: customers and markets; finance; management of operations, communication and information technology; and business policy and strategy.)

Route 2: The MA/MSc

This route is for you if you do not have recognised credits at Master's level. Here, you can study up to 9 modules over 1-3 years, with this structure:

Self Review & Negotiation of Learning	Or prior learning, up to the equivalent of 120 UK credits
Plus 4 optional modules (at UK level 7): Modules facilitated at a distance (see our catalogue) Work-based project modules Workshop modules (in the City of Chester, for those able and eligble to physically attend - see our schedule)
Designing Practitioner Research
Workplace project/investigation (equivalent of 3 modules)

Route 2: The MBA

This route is for you if you do not have recognised credits at Master's level. Here, you can study up to 9 modules over 1-3 years. Across their studies, MBA students must cover the core MBA topic areas, for example: customers and markets; finance; management of operations, communication and information technology; and business policy and strategy.

Skills & Approaches for Work-Based Learning	Or prior learning, up to the equivalent of 120 UK credits
Plus 4 optional modules (at UK level 7): Modules facilitated at a distance (see our catalogue). Work-based project modules Workshop modules (in the City of Chester, for those able and eligble to physically attend - see our schedule).
Designing Practitioner Research
Workplace project/investigation (equivalent of 3 modules)

How your learning will be assessed

You will negotiate the assessment method with your specialist module tutor at the start of each module. This can typically involve a portfolio of learning, an assignment, a presentation, a dialogue assessment, a storyboard or a combination of these. There are no examinations.

Your career prospects

All of our learners are professionals already in work, and so their motivation is often to boost their career progression, or change their career path to something more fulfilling. Ultimately, you are in the driving seat of your learning during your course, so your prospects afterwards are largely driven by what you want to achieve.

Fees, eligibility and applications

Please see our non-EU application information to check you meet the eligibility requirements.

Our fees information is also available.

You are here