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.
Course outline
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.
The following tuition fees are for UK students and students with Home Fee Status enrolling on a new course. Fees for subsequent academic years (Sept to Aug) may be subject to inflationary increases in subsequent years of study. Please see the continuing students page for more information.
Taught Degrees
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2020-21
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2021-22
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
Doctorates, including MRes
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Download the Research & Taught PhDs 2021-22 fees list (PDF)
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 (£) |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | £11,222 |
| 2021/22 | £11,570 |
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.
Students normally living outside of the UK should contact gov.uk for more information and eligibility criteria.
NHS Postgraduate Healthcare courses
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.
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.
Tuition Fees loans for NHS Post Graduate Healthcare Students
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.
Maintenance loan for NHS Post Graduate Healthcare Students
Postgraduate Healthcare students 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 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 |
| Living at Home | Up to £7,747 |
Up to £7,987 |
| Living away from home (outside of London) | Up to £9,203 |
Up to £9,488 |
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 (£) |
|---|---|
| 2020/21 | £26,445 |
| 2021/22 | £27,265 |
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 (20/21 rates. 21/22 rates tbc). 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.
Updates for EU, EEA & Swiss Students
The (Brexit) transition period ended on 31 December 2020; the UK has now left the European Union.
Fees for 2020/21
If you are a European student joining a programme between January and July 2021, you will still be eligible to pay home (UK) tuition fees. Please see the Home Students Tab for more information.
Fees for 2021/22
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National with Settled or Pre-Settled Status in the UK you will still be eligible to pay Home fees and have access to Student Finance England tuition loans.
If you are an EU/EEA or Swiss National living overseas you will be classified as "Overseas" for fees purposes from 1st September 2021.
The University of Cumbria wishes to support European students affected by this change in status through this transition period. We will award an (automatic) FEE REDUCTION SCHOLARSHIP to all eligible EU students starting their course with us in September 2021 or January 2022, which brings your fee into line with the fee paid by UK students. This will apply for the duration of your course.
To receive the EU fee reduction scholarship, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be classified as ‘overseas’ for fees purposes.
- Be an EU/EEA/Swiss national on 1 September (2021) before the start of the programme.
Fees for 2022/23
A decision on the level of fee for EU/EEA/Swiss students starting their course with us in September 2022 has not yet been made.
This information does not apply to apprenticeships. Please see our Apprenticeship pages for more information.
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 2020-21
Postgraduate Taught Fees 2021-22
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.
Fee Deposit Policy
Before you can get started with your course, you will be required to pay a deposit of 50% of the substantive programme fee plus the full amount of any pre-sessional fees. Until we receive this deposit, you will not be issued a 'Confirmation of Acceptance'. Your offer letter will provide more information on how to pay your deposit, but we recommend paying online. Please note that the deposit is non-refundable unless your visa is refused due to exceptional circumstances.
Alternatively you can provide a letter of sponsorship/financial guarantee. This must be on letter-headed paper and include the following information:
- name of the programme and academic year for which the sponsorship applies
- amount of sponsorship (for example, full fees or specified amount in pounds sterling)
- your full name (as stated on your passport)
- your student identification number
- address and named contact to which the University of Cumbria should send the invoice
- full name and address of the sponsoring institution
Pre-sessional courses
Those required to attend a pre-sessional course will need to pay the full fee, in addition to the deposit, which is part payment of the substantive programme fee. The university will not issue the unconditional offer or CAS until both the deposit and full pre-sessional fees are paid.
If a student on the 12-week pre-sessional fails to progress on academic grounds, the full deposit for the substantive programme will be repaid. If a student on either the 6-week or 12-week pre-sessional fails to progress as a result of non-attendance, poor attendance or lack of effort, the minimum payment of 50% of the fees for the substantive programme will not be repaid.
Deposit refunds
A refund of the 50% minimum payment will only be considered where a student has been refused a visa for non-fraudulent reasons. Students may apply for a refund by sending copies of the official visa refusal notification from the Home Office (UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)), together with passport details. The university reserves the right to verify details with UKVI.
Where the university decides to make a refund of the minimum payment, this will be refunded in pounds sterling to the person who originally made the payment. The university will transfer the deposit in the most cost-effective way but will not be liable for any bank charges involved in the money transfer. Please note refunds can take 3-4 weeks to arrive in your bank. Refunds will not be made if the visa application is refused, or a CAS is withdrawn, on the grounds of fraudulent activity by the student, or due to failure to disclose full details in the application.
Refunds will not be made if the student fails to attend at the start of the programme or withdraws after the start of the programme.
Paying your fees
After you have paid your deposit or provided your sponsorship letter, you can decide to pay the fee balance in full, or follow our instalment plan. It will be denoted in your offer letter how much you need to pay for the first year of the course.
An early payment discount is available if you choose to pay your full annual tuition fee before the CAS is issued (or in limited cases by registration). The early payment discount is only available to self-funded students in their first year, and excludes pre-sessional courses, partnerships and students receiving other benefits such as scholarships.
If your offer letter denotes you can pay via deposit and then in instalments you will be required to pay 75% of your total tuition fees prior to registration. The deposit you have already paid will be included. For example: If your tuition fees are £10,000, and you’ve paid a deposit of £5000, you’ll need to pay £2,500 prior to registration to complete the 75% requirement. The remaining 25% must be paid three weeks before the end of your first term.
If you are enrolling onto a one semester programme or short course, the tuition fee must be paid in full prior to the start of the programme or course. If your tuition is being sponsored, then you will not be able to pay with an instalment plan.
Tuition fee invoices are sent electronically to students’ university and personal email accounts a few weeks after registration.
Doctorates, including MRes
Download the 2020-21 fees list (PDF)
Download the Research & Taught PhDs 2021-22 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. Payment terms and conditions and deadlines will be included in your offer letter. They will include a payment in advance of Confirmation of Acceptance.
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 university accommodation you will be required to make a pre-payment of £250.
After you have made the pre-payment 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 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).
