Postgraduate online course structures

There are three structures for online Masters courses: 

• Online Masters with 15 credit project: 11 taught modules that are 15 credits each with a 15 credit  project module 
• Online Masters with a 30 credit project: 10 taught modules that are 15 credits each with a 30 credit project module 
• Online Masters with a 45 credit project: nine taught modules that are 15 credits each with a 45 credit research project. 

Modules are delivered one at a time following our carousel schedule. The date you start your course determines the module you learn first. You can complete the carousel in any order.  

Find out more about your specific modules and learning outcomes on your course page. 

Your programme variant depends on how you pay your fees: 

Self-funded (48 months)  

• This variant offers flexibility in your study pattern to ensure you can fit your studies in around your other commitments.  
• You will have the option to take a study break (pause in study) for one module period if you wish with no impact on your student record.  
• You can complete the qualification in 24 months if you do not need any breaks, or up to 48 months if you take breaks.   
• There’s no flexibility in the intensity of each module when you are enrolled – you’ll be expected to fully commit to each module you enrol and pay for, but the option of a break allows you to plan your studies to fit into your life. 
• If you start your studies on the 48-month variant as a self-funded student, you will not be eligible for student loan funding later.  
• If you intend to seek government funding at any point in your studies, do not start the programme until this has been approved.  
• The flexible variant of the Masters is not eligible to be considered for funding, and Student Loans Company rules prohibit the transfer of credit from an ineligible programme to an eligible one. 

Sponsored or postgraduate loan variant (24 months) 

• If your tuition fees are being paid by a third-party sponsor, usually your employer, or you will be in receipt of a postgraduate loan you will be offered a place on the 24-month variant. 
• You will need to complete the course in the minimum time. 
• This variant doesn’t allow flexibility to take a break between modules as it is designed for you to complete the course as soon as possible.  
• If you require a study break, you will need to submit a formal University of Leeds Leavers’ Form and provide evidence to support your request for leave.   

Find out more about fees and funding for on your course page.

To achieve a Masters:  

• You must attempt 180 credits and pass 150 credits.
• You may carry up to two failed 15-credit modules if your overall average is above the pass mark of 50. 

Your overall degree classification will be calculated based upon the marks for 180 credits, and so any failed/forfeited resit marks will lower your overall average.   

If you do not meet these requirements, you may be eligible for another award: 

• Postgraduate Certificate if you have successfully achieved 60 credits. 
• Postgraduate Diploma if you have successfully achieved 120 credits. 

The classification average for a Postgraduate Certificate will be calculated using the highest four of your 15 credit module marks.  

The classification average for a Postgraduate Diploma will be calculated using the highest eight of your 15 credit module marks. 
 

Your programme variant depends on how you pay your fees: 

Self-funded (32 months) 

• If you are paying your tuition fees yourself, you will be offered a place on the 32-month variant of the PGDip.  
• This variant offers flexibility in your study pattern to ensure you can fit your studies in around your other commitments.  
• You will study eight 15 credit modules, but have the option to take a study break (pause in study) for one module period if you wish with no impact on your student record.  
• You can complete the qualification in eight months if you do not need any breaks, or take up to 32 months if you take breaks.  
• There’s no flexibility in the intensity of each module when you are enrolled. You’ll be expected to fully commit to each module you enrol and pay for, but the option of a break allows you to plan your studies to fit into your life.  

Sponsored (16 months) 

• If your tuition fees are being paid by a sponsor, usually your employer, you will be offered a place on the 16-month variat. 
• You will need to commit to completing all the course modules in 16 months.  
• This variant doesn’t offer any flexibility for you to take a break for one module period as it is designed for you to complete it as soon as possible.  
• If you require a study break, you will need to submit a formal University of Leeds Leavers’ Form and provide evidence to support your request for leave.   

Find out more about fees and funding for on your course page.

You can take one additional 15-credit module outside the PGDip which will appear on your transcript but will not contribute to your award classification.  

You must confirm that you wish to be enrolled onto the module as supernumerary at the point you pay and enrol for it. 

If you are on the 16-month programme as a sponsored student, you will need to pay the additional tuition fee for the supernumerary module via the Online Store. 

To achieve a Postgraduate Certificate: 

• You must attempt 120 credits and pass 90 credits 
• You may carry up to two failed 15-credit modules if your overall average is above the pass mark of 50. 
• Your overall degree classification will be calculated based upon the marks for 120 credits, and so any failed/forfeited resit marks will lower your overall average.   

If you do not meet these requirements, you may be eligible for another award: 

• Postgraduate Certificate if you have successfully achieved 60 credits 

The classification average for a Postgraduate Certificate will be calculated using the highest four of your 15 credit module marks.  

Your programme variant depends on how you pay your fees: 

Self-funded (16 months) 

• If you are paying your tuition fees yourself, you will be offered a place on the 16-month variant of the PGCert.  
• This variant offers flexibility in your study pattern to ensure you can fit your studies in around your other commitments.  
• You will study four 15 credit modules, but have the option to take a study break (pause in study) for one module period if you wish with no impact on your student record.  
• You can complete the qualification in eight months if you do not need any breaks, or take up to 16 months if you take breaks.  
• There’s no flexibility in the intensity of each module when you are enrolled. You’ll be expected to fully commit to each module you enrol and pay for, but the option of a break allows you to plan your studies to fit into your life.  

Sponsored (eight months) 

• If your tuition fees are being paid by a sponsor, usually your employer, you will be offered a place on the eight-month variant. 
• You will need to commit to completing all the course modules in eight months.  
• This variant doesn’t offer any flexibility for you to take a break for one module period as it is designed for you to complete it as soon as possible.  
• If you require a study break, you will need to submit a formal University of Leeds Leavers’ Form and provide evidence to support your request for leave.   

Find out more about fees and funding for on your course page.

You can take one additional 15-credit module outside the PGCert which will appear on your transcript but will not contribute to your award classification.  

You must confirm that you wish to be enrolled onto the module as supernumerary at the point you pay and enrol for it. 

If you are on the eight-month programme as sponsored student, you will need to pay the additional tuition fee for the supernumerary module via the Online Store. 

To achieve a Postgraduate Certificate: 

• You must pass 60 credits. This means that you must pass all of your modules – you cannot forfeit any resits or carry any failed modules.  
• If you fail a module and fail or forfeit the resit, you will fail the programme and can no longer continue your studies.  

Your overall classification will be calculated as an average of the four module marks.