Course Overview
Through the lenses of cultural, environmental and outdoor educational theories, it explores personal and social development, using lectures, seminars and outdoor experiences. Whether you're already involved in outdoor activities or new to the field, our course will extend your understanding and knowledge. The principles of outdoor and experiential learning have recently branched out into Health and Wellbeing and Bushcraft education. Therefore, to reflect this contemporary trend, there are 3 pathways to choose from in order to complete the MA/PGDip qualifications:
- Outdoor & Experiential Learning
- Outdoor & Experiential Learning (Bushcraft)
- Outdoor & Experiential Learning (Health & Wellbeing)
Graduate destinations
Many students who undertake the MA are already employed and are looking to extend their expertise in a particular area to enhance their experience, their employment prospects or are looking for a change of career. Graduates have successfully gained employment as educators, outdoor practitioners, environmental consultants, development trainers, outdoor mental health practitioners or armed services personnel, for example. Graduates may also use this academic experience to enhance existing roles by enriching their philosophical underpinnings or to revisit old concepts and practices to see them in a new light.
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Course summary
The MA and PGDip in Outdoor and Experiential Learning (Pathways) have been developed in order to explore and reflect a broad range of social, educational and environmental themes that underpin a contemporary, transdisciplinary and transcultural approach to outdoor and experiential learning.
The course considers the histories, contemporary application and growth of outdoor and experiential learning at the intersections of professional practice, pedagogy and philosophy via debate & discussion, creative reflection, critical analysis and critique of research and evidence. Teaching will predominantly take place through 5-day block modules located in and around the stunning Ambleside campus in the heart of the Lake District national park.
Modules
Year one
- Introduction to Outdoor and Experiential Learning
- This module aims to explore the processes and definitions of Outdoor and Experiential Learning.
- The Reflexive Practitioner
- The aims of this module are to examine the concept of ‘world views’ and explore their impact on professional practice.
- Independent Inquiry
- The aim of the module is to support students in the planning, conducting and writing up of an applied research or evaluation project within the field of outdoor and experiential learning.
- Dissertation
- To provide you with the opportunity to design and conduct a substantial piece of independent supervised research.
Pathway 1:
Know Your Place - Place Responsive Approaches to the Outdoors:
The module explores different ways in which we and others create a place which can help us consider how these different “lenses” shape our perception of place. We aim to diversify our ideas and develop critical and reflective interpreters who create innovative and effective ways of interpreting place for themselves and others.
Learning from Adventurous Journeys:
This residential module aims to widen your perception and perspectives of adventure, adventurous journeys and the range of client groups involved in using adventure as a context for learning.
Pathway 2:
Histories and Principles of Bushcraft:
The module considers the history and growth of Bushcraft as a practice and an ideology.
Cultures & Practices of Bushcraft:
This residential module explores the problematics and the potential of Bushcraft as a transformative concept in the modern world.
Pathway 3:
Querying Therapeutic Landscapes and Outdoor Psychotherapies:
This module will introduce and critique the theoretical underpinnings of outdoor psychotherapies and therapeutic landscapes research and applications.
Therapeutic Opportunities in the Outdoors:
This residential module offers a reflective exploration of the student’s own therapeutic relationship with the outdoors.
Programme Specification
Assessment, Feedback, and Teaching and Learning methods
Full details are available in the programme specification.
Timetables
The teaching timetable should be available from the end of August. Access to the timetable is through the Student Hub – you will be able to access the Student Hub after you have completed online registration. The teaching day is 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday; please keep your other commitments open until confirmation of your teaching timetable, and bear in mind that many courses will offer placements or fieldwork which sometimes extends into the evenings and weekends.
Entry requirements
Have a question about our entry requirements?
Entry Requirements
1st or 2nd class honours degree.
Students with other qualifications may be admitted to the course, please contact the Enquiry Centre for further details.
Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) may be considered for relevant prior learning at the same academic level.
More information about levels and credits.
Selection criteria
Degree and/or relevant professional work experience required.
Applications are welcome from people with a good first degree (normally U.K. 2:2 or above) and/or relevant work experience. It is hoped that the course will attract students from a variety of backgrounds and first degree subject areas from outdoor related areas through to youth work, social work, education and those with more philosophical backgrounds. International students are welcome to apply. The course can be studied full-time or part-time. Modules are taught in one week blocks. You are also welcome to apply to take modules individually.
Application information
Making your application
Applications should be made online directly to the university - visit our website or contact enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk for details and guidance. There is no official closing date but we would encourage you to apply as early as possible, as many courses are competitive.
What makes a good application?
We consider all aspects of your application, not simply your qualifications and grades. We look at your academic background and performance, relevant experience (particularly for professional courses where some voluntary or paid experience is required) and your reference. Above all, we look for motivation, commitment and potential - evidence that you can benefit from study at higher education level.
Make sure you include:
- Relevant qualifications/evidence of ability: check our website for the specific entry requirements required for each course. Tell us your previous academic results and your projected grades.
- A supportive reference, from an employer or your school or college.
- A good personal statement.
Explain clearly what attracts you to the course and tell us about your wider interests and experience. If you are applying for a course that incorporates professional training and placements, you should include any relevant experience or visits you have made in the workplace. Highlight your individual strengths and qualities, personal skills, capacity for teamwork, contribution to the community and your enterprise, originality and determination. Select some activities which bring out these qualities.
What next?
When we receive your application, we will send you an acknowledgement and if you are successful at this stage you will get either - an offer (with an invitation to visit the campus to which you have applied), or - an invitation to interview on a particular date. If we are not able to offer you a place on your chosen course we will usually try to offer you a place on a similar course and will contact you to discuss this. Alternatively, if we think you are suitable, but cannot offer you a place on your preferred campus because of the level of competition, we will offer you a place at another campus if one is available.
And if I accept?
The admissions team will contact you and send further information from February onwards about accommodation, and from May/June onwards about preparing to join the university. If you have any other queries, please telephone the admissions offices for information and advice on 0845 6061144.
Deferred entry
We welcome applications for deferred entry on some courses. If you have specific plans during your year out, indicate these on your personal statement as they may be relevant to your course and could enhance your application.
International students
Please see the international pages of our website for full details of our entry requirements (including English-language skills) as well as contacts for advice and support.
From 2009 the UK Border Agency introduced a Points-Based Immigration System (PBS) for students coming to the UK from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
Students entering higher education will need to obtain a Confirmation of Acceptance (CAS) plus finance confirmation to obtain a Tier 4 student visa.
UK education providers are licensed by the UK Border Agency. When students apply for their visa (or entry clearance) they will need a valid Certificate of Acceptance of Studies from the university. Please note that a CAS is not a guarantee that a visa will be issued.
See the following websites for further details:
Tuition fees for UK students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
Please note that fees for modules and programmes will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Research Degrees (PhD)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Alumni Discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students. International students will be entitled to the same absolute discount (not percentage) as home and EU students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate in the last 5 years and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Student Loans
Postgraduate master's loan
If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan to help with course fees and living costs. For Postgraduate Healthcare courses, there is a different package of support available. Please see the NHS Postgraduate Healthcare section below.
What you’ll get
| Academic year | Maximum Loan (£) |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | £10,906 |
| 2020/21 | £11,222 |
Funding for postgraduate loans is different if you normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.
NHS Postgraduate Healthcare courses
England domiciled students commencing study on designated pre-registration postgraduate healthcare courses will be entitled to apply for the standard package of support available to UG students, including tuition fee support, maintenance, long course loans and supplementary grants.
A tuition fee loan of up to £9,250 is available from the Student Loans Company. This can be used as part payment (e.g. MSc Physiotherapy) or full payment (e.g. MSc Occupational Therapy) of tuition fees.
Your student finance application is likely to take around 2 months to finalise so it is important to complete your application as soon as possible. We recommend completing your application by the end of May (new students) or June (continuing students) to avoid any delays in receiving your funding. Please note, you need to apply for the undergraduate student support package.
Maintenance loan
You can apply for a maintenance loan to assist with meeting living costs such as food, accommodation and travel expenses. These are normally paid in three instalments throughout the university year directly to your bank account.
Depending on household income, students may be able to apply for the following amounts:
| Living arrangements | 2019/20 | 2020/21 |
| Living at Home | Up to £7,529 |
Up to £7,747 |
| Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £8,944 |
Up to £9,203 |
You can work out how much of a loan you are entitled to apply for using the Student Finance Calculator.
NHS Learning Support Fund
Students starting and continuing their course from September 2020 can apply for the NHS Learning Support Fund (NHS LSF) if they’re on one of the eligible pre-registration undergraduate or postgraduate courses. The list of eligible course can be found here.
The Learning Support Fund offer support for:
- a Training Grant for all eligible students of £5,000 per academic year
- Parental Support of £2,000 for students with at least one dependent child under 15 years, or under 17 years if registered with special educational needs (this used to be called Child Dependants Allowance)
- reimbursement of excess costs incurred on practice placement for travel and temporary accommodation costs (Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses)
- students experiencing financial hardship (Exceptional Support Fund)
For further details and to apply, visit the NHSBSA web page here.
Note: there are differences in the way students from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are funded for postgraduate courses. If you don’t live in England, information can be accessed here.
Postgraduate doctoral loan
If you’re studying a doctoral degree, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
| Start year | Maximum Loan (£) |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | £25,700 |
| 2020/21 | £26,445 |
Repaying your loan
The earliest you start repaying your Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral Loan is when your annual income is over £21,000 and it’s either:
- the first April after you leave your course
- April 4 years after the course started
Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change or you leave your course early. You’ll have to pay back any overpayment straight away even if your income is less than £21,000.
How much you’ll repay
You’ll pay back 6% of your income over the minimum amount (‘threshold’). This is £21,000 a year, £1,750 a month or £404 a week.
Example
You earn £2,500 a month before tax. This is £750 over the monthly threshold. You’ll repay £45 (6% of this amount) each month.
If you already have a Postgraduate Master’s Loan then you’ll make a combined repayment of 6% covering both postgraduate loans. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment until your loan is repaid in full or cancelled.
You must repay any undergraduate student loans you have at the same time.
Repayment terms are different if you normally live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Scholarships and bursaries
Social Work bursary
MA Social Work students may be eligible for a grant up to £3,362.50 and a means tested maintenance grant up to £2,721. Full details are available on the NHSBSA website.
The number of people who can get a bursary is limited (or capped). This means that there is no guarantee that if you take up an offer of a place on the MA Social Work course, you will receive a bursary. The university will provide a shortlist of students to the NHSBSA who will then assess bursary applications.
Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Ltd is offering 13 bursaries across a number of subject areas. The bursaries are worth £500 each and are open to students from anywhere in the world.
To apply for a Postgrad Solutions bursary, visit their website.
Alternative funding
For other courses not covered by either the Masters Loan or specialist funding, we advise you to do some research as early as possible into what funding is available to you.
Click on the links below for information on potentially available funding.
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces and wish to enhance your education, then you can receive help covering your funding through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme.
- Medical Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries - bursaries of £500 towards fees in various subjects.
- Family Action's Educational Grants Fund - £200 - £500 grants for families and individuals on low incomes.
- The Wellcome Trust - funding for biomedical research and medical humanities
- The Leverhulme Trust - scholarships for research and education
- Rotary Foundation Scholarships
- Fulbright Commission - US exchange programme
- IEFA - a searchable database of scholarship and bursary information
- Association of Commonwealth Universities - provides scholarships, grants, loans and assistantships open to commonwealth graduates who wish to undertake further study at a commonwealth university outside their own country
- American Association of University Women Educational Foundation - the largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women
- Scholarship search
Check out the websites below for more information about applying for postgraduate funding.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for EU students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
Please note that fees for modules and programmes will increase due to inflation.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Research Degrees (PhD)
Fees for 2018-19 academic year (PDF)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Make a payment - without an invoice
Make a payment - with an invoice
Alumni discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria, or any of its legacy institutions.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. For research degrees, this will apply to any alumni that have graduated in the last 5 years. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Financial support
There's a range of scholarships, bursaries, grants and other funding available to support you in getting your degree.
Student Loans
Postgraduate master's loan
If you’re starting a master’s degree, you could get a Postgraduate Master’s Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
| Start date | Maximum Loan (£) |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | £10,906 |
| 2020/21 | £11,222 |
Funding for postgraduate loans is different if you normally live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Moving somewhere to study does not count as normally living there.
Postgraduate doctoral loan
If you’re starting a doctoral degree on or after 1 August 2018, you could get a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan to help with course fees and living costs.
| Start year | Maximum Loan (£) |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | £25,700 |
| 2020/21 | £26,445 |
Some courses, for example Social Work and some Health Professions Masters degrees do attract some funding. Contact us for more information.
Repaying your loan
The earliest you start repaying your Postgraduate Master’s or Doctoral Loan is when your annual income is over £21,000 and it’s either:
- the first April after you leave your course
- April 4 years after the course started
Contact Student Finance England if your circumstances change or you leave your course early. You’ll have to pay back any overpayment straight away even if your income is less than £21,000.
How much you’ll repay
You’ll pay back 6% of your income over the minimum amount (‘threshold’). This is £21,000 a year, £1,750 a month or £404 a week.
Example
You earn £2,500 a month before tax. This is £750 over the monthly threshold. You’ll repay £45 (6% of this amount) each month.
If you already have a Postgraduate Master’s Loan then you’ll make a combined repayment of 6% covering both postgraduate loans. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment until your loan is repaid in full or cancelled.
You must repay any undergraduate student loans you have at the same time.
Repayment terms are different if you normally live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries
Postgrad Solutions Ltd is offering 13 bursaries across a number of subject areas. The bursaries are worth £500 each and are open to students from anywhere in the world.
To apply for a Postgrad Solutions bursary, visit their website.
Alternative funding
For other courses not covered by either the Masters Loan or specialist funding, we advise you to do some research as early as possible into what funding is available to you.
Click on the links below for information on potentially available funding.
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
- Economic and Social Research Council
- Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELCAS) - If you currently serve (or have recently served) within the Armed Forces and wish to enhance your education, then you can receive help covering your funding through the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme.
- Medical Research Council
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Professional and career development loans
- Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries - bursaries of £500 towards fees in various subjects.
- Family Action's Educational Grants Fund - £200 - £500 grants for families and individuals on low incomes.
- The Wellcome Trust - funding for biomedical research and medical humanities
- The Leverhulme Trust - scholarships for research and education
- Rotary Foundation Scholarships
- Fulbright Commission - US exchange programme
- IEFA - a searchable database of scholarship and bursary information
- Association of Commonwealth Universities - provides scholarships, grants, loans and assistantships open to commonwealth graduates who wish to undertake further study at a commonwealth university outside their own country
- American Association of University Women Educational Foundation - the largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women
- Scholarship search
Check out the websites below for more information about applying for postgraduate funding.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Heating, lighting, water and internet costs are included in your rent and full-time students don't pay council tax.
Paying your accommodation fees
At the beginning of term, you will receive an email confirming your accommodation, your accommodation fees and a quick payment link. Please ensure that you have your student ID available prior to entering the online payments site.
Tuition fees for international students
Postgraduate tuition fees vary based on the intensity and length of the course. The links below provide details of the tuition fees the University charges for each programme.
If the programme you are interested in is not listed or you have further questions, please contact our Course Enquiry Centre.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2019-20
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
The tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year will be confirmed soon.
Please note that fees for modules and programmes may increase due to inflation.
For information about postgraduate programmes delivered in partnership with Robert Kennedy College, please visit their website.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Research Degrees (PhD)
Download the 2019-20 fees list (PDF)
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Please note that fees will increase due to inflation.
Tuition fees for the 2019/20 academic year will be confirmed soon.
Paying your fees
You can pay your tuition fees online, directly to the university. You can pay in full or spread out the cost through a maximum of three instalments. To discuss instalments, email us at accountsreceivableteam@cumbria.ac.uk.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students university and personal email accounts.
Alumni Discount
If you are interested in continuing your studies past graduation, then we’re here to help you get started. We offer a discount on postgraduate fees to eligible graduates of the University of Cumbria, or any of its legacy institutions.
For your first postgraduate award, you could receive as much as a 20% discount on taught courses, or 10% on research degrees. This is for awards of up to a maximum of 180 credits, and does not apply to PGCE students. International students will be entitled to the same absolute discount (not percentage) as home and EU students.
To receive this discount, you must have previously studied at the University of Cumbria as an undergraduate and achieved an award of 120 credits minimum, as well as meet the relevant entry requirements for postgraduate study. For research degrees, this will apply to any alumni that have graduated in the last 5 years. Accreditation of Prior Learning charges are not included in this discount.
We want to reward our students who choose to continue with academia, so for more information on this discount or anything about postgraduate study, please contact the Enquiry Centre.
Accommodation
From only £10 per night, we provide the lowest cost student accommodation in the North West. Check out our accommodation page for a full price list and more details about the residences.
Read more
Paying for your accommodation
If you choose to stay in univerisity accommodation you will be required to make a pre-payment of £250, and a pre-payment of £100 towards catering packages.
After you have made the pre-payment(s), and the contract has been returned, the balance of your contract will be due. Payment must be made by registration. Instalments are not available.
Please note that you do have the option to pay for the accommodation and catering in full with the contract.
Payment must be made in pounds sterling. You will be given the option online to convert your currency when making a payment.
If you’re having trouble paying online or have any questions, please contact your admissions officer who can give you advice about paying by bank transfer.
Additional costs
All students will need to purchase stationery, course books and personal equipment. Extra costs may also be applicable to cover field trips, membership fees etc.
Resources and facilities
We have access to the Outdoor Stores equipment, such as climbing gear, canoe and kayak equipment, caving equipment, etc. Also, we have access to the UoC's fleet of minibuses. Academic resources include photocopying equipment, computers (including Blackboard, online library and other intranet resources).
