This course is for those seeking a professional qualification in Career Guidance. You’ll take the Qualification in Career Development (QCD) - the nationally recognised professional qualification awarded by the Career Development Institute (CDI) - alongside the MA. You’ll learn about policy, practice and theories underpinning career guidance, equality and diversity, partnership working and research-based practice.

Why Career Guidance and Development?

• The course can lead to a wide variety of interesting and rewarding career prospects in career guidance companies, higher and further education careers and employability services, secondary education and third sector organisations. You can find out more via the CDI.
• This course is available on a one year full-time or two years part-time basis. Successful completion of the course results in the Career Development Institute approved career guidance professional qualification (the Qualification in Career Development or QCD).
• Students who do not wish to commit to the full MA may choose to study the Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) which also leads to the award of the QCD.
• Huddersfield has been teaching career guidance courses for over 40 years and has established a strong national reputation in the sector. You’ll also have access to our extensive professional and academic network which feeds directly into course design and delivery and to excellent facilities and specialist equipment.

Placements

A significant amount of your learning also takes place whilst on placement where you’ll gain the practical skills to successfully work with adults and young people in the wide range of settings in which careers guidance is practiced. These include workplaces, the voluntary sector, higher and further education careers services, secondary education and the National Careers Service.

The course involves a compulsory work placement consisting of a minimum of 30 days. Typically, students are able to experience a placement involving a guidance agency and also within an education organisation e.g. a school/academy, or within Further/Higher Education. The aim of the placement is that students should have a wide ranging experience of information, advice and guidance provision and should be strongly involved in developing practical skills within the guidance sector.