Expand+You must hold an honours degree to study for this qualification. Although your degree need not be in humanities, you must have the basic skills expected of a graduate in that area. The first module brings you up to date with the latest ideas and appr...

Hide-You must hold an honours degree to study for this qualification. Although your degree need not be in humanities, you must have the basic skills expected of a graduate in that area. The first module brings you up to date with the latest ideas and approaches in humanities but does not offer remedial undergraduate training if your qualifications and/or experience are inadequate.

Before you enter the certificate you must be able to:
• write clear, concise, accurate prose
• read large quantities of text quickly, accurately and critically
• classify evidence precisely and assess its value and reliability
• argue logically, consistently and skeptically
• marshal various sorts of evidence to support a logical argument.

If you would like help to assess your preparedness you can contact us for advice.

Expand+On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you can be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities entitling you to use the letters PG Cert (Hum) (Open) after your name.

You can progress from this Postgraduate Certificate ...

Hide-On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you can be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities entitling you to use the letters PG Cert (Hum) (Open) after your name.

You can progress from this Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities to our MA in Art History (F33), MA in Classical Studies [F27], #MA in Creative Writing (F71), MA in Music (F32) or MA in Philosophy (F30).

Learning outcomes, teaching and assessment
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
• Knowledge and understanding
• Cognitive skills
• Practical and professional skills
• Key skills

Credit transfer
For this qualification, we do not allow you to count credit for study you have already done elsewhere.

Expand+Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities
If you have a passion for the arts and are looking for an intellectual challenge, this certificate course provides you with an excellent opportunity to upgrade your qualifications. You will deepen your understa...

Hide-Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities
If you have a passion for the arts and are looking for an intellectual challenge, this certificate course provides you with an excellent opportunity to upgrade your qualifications. You will deepen your understanding of art history, classical studies, music or philosophy, while developing advanced research and analytical skills that will give you the edge in today’s competitive jobs market and prepare you for further academic study.

Key features of the course
• Extends knowledge and skills acquired at undergraduate level
• A choice of pathways enables you to focus your particular subject interest
• Develops critical thinking skills that are highly prized by employers
• Gives you 60 credits towards a masters degree if you wish to study further.

Expand+Modules
If you plan to study humanities beyond this certificate, we recommend that you read the relevant qualification descriptions from the following options before choosing your module:

MA in Art History (F33), MA in Classical Studies (F27), MA...

Hide-Modules
If you plan to study humanities beyond this certificate, we recommend that you read the relevant qualification descriptions from the following options before choosing your module:

MA in Art History (F33), MA in Classical Studies (F27), MA in Creative Writing (F71), MA in Music (F32) or MA in Philosophy (F30)

To gain this qualification, you'll study one of the following:
Optional modules
• MA Art History part 1 (A843) 60
Next start: 01 Oct 2022
• MA Classical Studies part 1 (A863) 60
Next start: 01 Oct 2022
• MA Creative Writing part 1 (A802) 60
Next start: 01 Oct 2022
• MA Music part 1 (A873) 60
Next start: 01 Oct 2022
• MA Philosophy part 1 (A853) 60
Next start: 01 Oct 2022

Or, subject to the rules about excluded combinations, the discontinued modules A840, A850, A860, A870, A873, AA810, AA820, AA830 or 60 credits of specified modules from the MA in Humanities programme including at least one of the discontinued 30-credit modules A810, A820 or A830.

Expand+Career relevance
Studying the Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities will provide you with an opportunity to build on skills acquired at undergraduate level. It will further develop your capability to read and analyse large amounts of written materi...

Hide-Career relevance
Studying the Postgraduate Certificate in Humanities will provide you with an opportunity to build on skills acquired at undergraduate level. It will further develop your capability to read and analyse large amounts of written material and improve on your ability to convert knowledge acquired during your studies into lucid written responses. These transferable skills are in demand in many areas of the public and private sector, such as advertising, marketing and public relations; educational, charity and development; or government and public administration.

Completing the certificate will give you a worthwhile qualification in its own right, and you can also count the credits towards one of our MAs providing you take account of the unique study rule.

Careers and Employability Services have more information on how OU study can improve your employability.