PG Cert Race, Education & Decolonial Thought
Course Overview
The PG Certificate Race, Education and Decolonial Thought is a critical postgraduate programme for educators and professionals who want to understand, challenge, and transform racialised inequalities in education and society.
The course is designed for teachers, education leaders, researchers, policy professionals, and practitioners who wish to develop a rigorous, research-informed understanding of race, racism, identity, and decolonial thinking. Grounded in intersectional analysis, the programme examines how historical and contemporary power structures continue to shape educational access, experience, and outcomes.
With a strong global perspective, the course moves beyond Eurocentric frameworks to explore racialised inequalities across the Global North and Global South, enabling learners to critically reflect on their own contexts and professional practice.
By the end of the programme, students gain the intellectual tools, research confidence, and critical insight needed to advocate for equity, inform policy and practice, and contribute meaningfully to social and educational change.
Academic Structure
The programme is delivered at Level 7 (postgraduate level) and carries 60 UK credits. It is offered fully online, with flexible study options to suit different professional needs.
Study Modes
- Full-time: 1 year (online)
- Part-time: 2 years (online)
Core Modules (All compulsory – 60 credits)
Full-time route
- •Decolonial Thought and Critical Race Theory (20 credits – Semester 1)
- •Race, Identity and Culture in the Black Atlantic (20 credits – Semester 1)
- •Critical Whiteness Studies (20 credits – Semester 2)
Part-time route
- •Decolonial Thought and Critical Race Theory (20 credits – Year 1)
- •Critical Whiteness Studies (20 credits – Year 1)
- •Race, Identity and Culture in the Black Atlantic (20 credits – Year 2)
Assessment Approach
- Assessment is predominantly coursework-based
- No exams
- Assignments encourage critical analysis, research skills, and application to professional or societal contexts
- Each 20-credit module represents approximately 200 hours of learning, combining guided online study, independent research, and assessment activities
Recognition & Accreditation
- Award: PG Certificate Race, Education and Decolonial Thought
- Level: Level 7 (UK postgraduate qualification)
- Credits: 60 UK credits
- Awarding Body: Leeds Beckett University
This internationally recognised qualification demonstrates advanced specialist knowledge in race, education, and decolonial studies. It supports career progression in areas such as:
- •Education leadership and inclusion roles
- •Research and policy development
- •Social justice, equity, and community advocacy
- •Progression to further postgraduate study, including Master's programmes (subject to university regulations)
The course also provides research training in qualitative and quantitative methods, strengthening students' credibility as reflective practitioners and emerging researchers.
Flexibility & Support
The programme is designed to support working professionals studying from anywhere in the world.
Flexible Online Delivery
- 100% online learning
- Choice of full-time or part-time study
- Structured modules with flexibility to manage study alongside work and personal commitments
Academic & Pastoral Support
- Each student is supported by a module leader throughout their studies
- Structured and responsive online tutorials and coaching
- Course materials developed in partnership with the University's Distance Learning Unit, ensuring consistency and clarity across modules
Peer Community & Learning Resources
- Strong emphasis on online communities of practice
- Interactive seminars, discussion forums, and collaborative learning activities
- Access to the Virtual Learning Environment (MyBeckett) for learning materials, discussion forums, feedback, and assessment submission
PGCE Webinar 2026
Watch our latest PGCE information webinar with Leeds Beckett University to learn more about the courses, entry requirements, and what to expect as a student.