Undergraduate award: Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice

Course highlights

During this part-time online advanced diploma course, you will:

• progress your research with support from subject experts
• enhance your disciplinary understanding as well as your research and academic writing skills
• gain tailored advice about routes for further study 

As well as the skills and knowledge to progress your own project, this course will develop your understanding of your research within the context of a wider research community. You can work on a specialised project or simply focus on developing your skills for further postgraduate study. This is the first part of an optional 2-year programme.

We cover a wide range of subject specialisms, which are shown below. If your area of interest is not listed, please do still get in touch with us to discuss whether we can support it.

• Archaeology, Landscape History and Classics
• Biological Sciences
• Business and Entrepreneurship
• Creative Writing
• Creativity Theory
• Education Studies and Teaching
• Engineering and Technology
• English Literature
• Film
• History of Art and Visual Culture
• History
• International Relations and Global Studies
• Leadership and Coaching
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Natural Sciences
• Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
• Politics, International Relations and International Studies
• Social Sciences

As part of our learning community, you will:

• gain broad research skills training that encompasses your chosen research specialism and prepares you for further study
• develop a working knowledge of the most commonly used qualitative and quantitative research methods
• identify examples of ‘best practice’ in research in your chosen specialism
• benefit from expert guidance on how best to approach your research questions
• reflect on the development of your research and learn different methods for communicating your research ideas clearly and succinctly
• attend subject-specific workshops for advice and support with further study
• have the opportunity to apply for the second part of this optional 2-year programme: the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences.

Course breakdown

This course will run from 9 October 2026 to 9 June 2027.

Most of the teaching for each term will be done on one Monday and one Tuesday, between 1pm and 5pm (all times GMT/BST). Exact teaching dates and times will be confirmed in the course guide upon enrolment. 

Michaelmas term: Research Fundamentals: Thinking Like a Researcher

• Course (unit 1) start date: 9 October 2026
• Unit 1 end date: 6 January 2027 

Lent term: Research Design: Theory and Practice

• Unit 2 starts: week commencing 4 January 2027 
• Unit 2 end date: 24 March 2027

Easter term: Collaborative Research: Engaging with a research community

• Unit 3 starts: Week commencing 29 March 2027  
• Unit 3 end date: 9 June 2027

After the course

The Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences is the optional second part of the two-year Advanced Diploma programme. The Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences enables you to conduct your own independent research project in your chosen field thereby continuing with the research you have started in this course.

Others might wish to apply directly for a postgraduate course in their chosen field. We offer postgraduate courses in a range of disciplines. Find out more about our postgraduate certificate and diploma courses, and our part-time Master's courses.

Entry requirements

To be accepted onto an Advanced Diploma course, you will normally have passed at least a Diploma (level 5) qualification, or international equivalent, in a relevant subject.   

We are able to make exceptions, especially if you have evidence of relevant professional experience that demonstrates your suitability for the course.  

Please tell us about any previous study or relevant educational and professional experience when you apply. 

Your application will be reviewed by PACE Admissions along with the Course Director or Academic Director who will decide whether to make you an offer of a place.

If you are still unsure which academic level to study, would like an informal discussion on academic matters before making your application, or would like to know more about the admissions process, please use the 'Ask a question' button.

English language requirements

Our courses are taught in English and require a good level of fluency. If English is not your first language, you’ll need to meet the requirements of one of the language proficiency tests below. You’ll need to complete your test and submit the results to our admissions team by 15 September 2026. 

IELTS (Academic), IELTS for UKVI Academic, IELTS One Skill Retake

https://ielts.org/

Overall score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in any component. 

TOEFL iBT or TOEFL Home Edition

https://www.ets.org/toefl.html

Overall score of 92, with no element below 20.

(Please note that changes to TOEFL Internet Based Test and Home Edition mean that it will no longer be suitable for entry to Cambridge at Undergraduate level from 21 January 2026. Tests taken after this date will not be accepted.)

Cambridge English C2 Proficiency

https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/proficiency/

Overall score of 176, with no element lower than 169.

As part of our open and inclusive learning environment, you can enjoy the world-class resources and expertise of the University of Cambridge wherever you are on your academic journey.

Our video-based teaching platforms offer a flexible way to access lectures, while our Virtual Learning Environment makes it easy to study and learn online and interact with your tutor and fellow students.

Our teaching methods include lectures, presentations by guest speakers and facilitators, interactive and experiential learning activities. We will also give you reading and assignments to complete outside of classroom sessions.

You will be asked to submit an assignment at the end of each unit to demonstrate your learning. There are more details about how this course is assessed in the course guide we will send you once you have enrolled.

Qualifications

This course is equivalent to half of the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree. You will earn 60 CATS credits on successful completion. CATS credits are recognised by higher education institutions and employers.

This is the first part of an optional 2-year programme. Depending on previous academic qualifications, you may be eligible to complete year 2 (the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research in the Arts/Sciences) without having completed year 1.

Students who successfully complete both years of the programme will be awarded the Undergraduate Advanced Diploma in Research Theory and Practice in the Arts/Sciences, worth 120 CATS credits at level 6.

Hours of study

The award of academic credit is a means of quantifying and recognising learning and within the UK, one credit notionally represents 10 hours of learning. This course attracts 60 credits, so students should expect to need to study for approximately 600 hours in total to complete all units successfully. However, it is recognised that students study at different paces and use a variety of approaches, so this is a recommendation, rather than a hard-and-fast calculation.

SEEC Credit Level Descriptors for Higher Education (2021) here.

Fees

The total fee for this course is shown above in 'Course details'.

To help you manage your finances more comfortably, you can pay the fee in instalments. For more information on payment options, and how to secure your place, see how to pay.

Funding

We're dedicated to reducing and removing financial barriers to learning. Visit financial support before applying to find out what options may be available to help you in your studies. You can explore external funding and stay up to date on our concessions and bursaries.

We're committed to supporting you in your learning journey, and we offer a variety of support opportunities to meet individual needs. Visit student support to find out more about how we can help.