Qualifications Available

Successful completion of our part-time courses allows you to gain credits which can be used towards higher education qualifications.

The qualifications that you can study towards in Natural History Illustration are:

Certificate of Continuing Education

This is a departmental award that you achieve when you gain 120 credits in any combination of courses.

Certificate of Higher Education in Natural History Studies

A Certificate of Higher Education (CHE) is a part-time programme of short courses, totalling 120 credits, which leads to a university undergraduate qualification.

The courses are specifically tailored for people who cannot contemplate full time study due to other commitments. They are ideal for professional development and to broaden your knowledge and skills base.

Our CHE course is designed for learners at all levels and for both distance and local learners. The core modules are designed for self-paced, online learning that you can access at a time that suits you. Our online learning is packed with video demonstrations, activities, tasks and discussion opportunities, all supported by tutorials and trickle feedback. There are opportunities to broaden your knowledge and skills when selecting your optional modules. These can include a wide variety of identification modules from within the Ecology Programme. You could learn more about woodland bird calls, the diversity of invertebrates, how to identify plants, plus many more. These modules are available to study via online, blended or in-person learning. 

The CHE is made up of 120 credits and our courses range from 5, 10 and 20 credits each. Each CHE has its own Framework which has been agreed by the University and which outlines the courses available and any specific courses that have to be studied in order to gain the CHE.

Students have up to five years to complete the CHE and during this time can study courses at their own pace. Not all courses are on offer each year but we ensure a wide variety each term including at least one core course.

It is free to enrol onto the CHE and then you pay as you study each course. The cost of courses depend upon their level and credit value (a 10 credit course currently costs £130) so the maximum cost for the CHE is £1560 (based on 2024 - 2025 pricing). You can register on the CHE at any time during the year - some students prefer to study a few courses before joining the CHE programme. Any courses that have been successfully completed will still count towards the final qualification.

Find out more about the Certificate of Higher Education in Natural History Studies

Enrol now on the Certificate of Higher Education in Natural History Studies