Participatory Social Research (SCQF level 11) CPD Award
Course code L32PR
What is special about this course?
Do you want to create meaningful change with communities and organisations? Could you use participatory research to address real-world challenges and support more just and sustainable futures?
Build the practical skills and conceptual understanding needed to ethically and meaningfully carry out Participatory Social Research, on our 20-credit CPD at SCQF level 11.
Develop confidence in using a wide range of participatory tools and methods while deepening your understanding of the ideas that underpin community-engaged and participatory research. Place power dynamics and ethics at the centre of your practice and apply participatory approaches to issues of environmental, socio-cultural, economic, and political sustainability. Learn alongside peers in Action Learning Project Sets, where you collaborate, share experience, and strengthen your participatory research skills through hands-on learning.
Use this CPD as a platform to advance your practice or move into roles that require participatory, community-engaged research across public, third sector, and independent research contexts.
Special features
- Hands-on training in the Community Assessment and Action methodology
- Action Learning Sets involving collaborative learning with peers
- Practical training in research planning, facilitation, and engaging stakeholders and achieving impact
- Case studies including intergenerational and child and youth-centred approaches
- Skills and confidence in participatory action research, with relevance to a wide range of programme and policy roles
Entry requirements
- 2:2 Honours degree from a university in the United Kingdom, or an equivalent international qualification
- International students whose first language is not English must meet language competency standards
- Applicants with appropriate professional experience will be considered on an individual basis
CPD Award
You will study the following core module:
- Participatory social research and sustainability: concepts, methods and practice
How will I study my course?
- Part-time
- This course is mainly delivered in-person, on campus
- You will also study online with scheduled sessions and tutorials
- Online study will be done via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), with support from your tutors
- You will have the option to take part in an in-person induction at UHI Inverness at the beginning of your course
- International students: as this course only requires you to be in the UK for 15 weeks, you will need a Standard Visitor visa, not a Student Route Visa, to study this course
How long will my course last?
- Part-time: 15 weeks @ approx 10-15 hours per week
The number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, which includes time spent on online material as well as individual study and research.
Where can I study my course?
- Inverness
Start date
- September
- January
Fees
For information on costs of this course please contact the campus where you wish to study.
Funding
External scholarships and financial support may be available. Contact the relevant UHI partner college for more information.
What can I do on completion of my course?
Once you have successfully completed this course, you might like to consider careers in:
- Social research
- Social policy
- Programme and policy management across a range of public, private, and third sector organisations
- Community work
Can I progress into further study?
You may wish to progress from CPD Participatory Social Research (SCQF level 11) to the following courses:
Is there more information available online?
You can use the above QR code to connect directly to the course details.
Apply for Participatory Social Research (SCQF level 11) CPD Award
We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.