Outdoor Education
Starting dates and places
Description
We're holding online Q&A sessions with Outdoor lecturers on Facebook throughout the summer. Check the schedule for the next session.
Why study with us?This course produces good quality outdoor educators who in the past have secured quality jobs in the outdoor sector.
We are one of the biggest schools of outdoor education/studies in the world (largest in Europe) we have a highly regarded, world class course and staff team.
We have the Cumbrian mountain environment literally on our doorstep with a wealth of climbing, mountaineering, white water and educational venues to choose from. Our experienced staff help our students to develop high quality outdoor education skills and knowledge. We als…
Frequently asked questions
There are no frequently asked questions yet. If you have any more questions or need help, contact our customer service.
We're holding online Q&A sessions with Outdoor lecturers on Facebook throughout the summer. Check the schedule for the next session.
Why study with us?This course produces good quality outdoor educators who in the past have secured quality jobs in the outdoor sector.
We are one of the biggest schools of outdoor education/studies in the world (largest in Europe) we have a highly regarded, world class course and staff team.
We have the Cumbrian mountain environment literally on our doorstep with a wealth of climbing, mountaineering, white water and educational venues to choose from. Our experienced staff help our students to develop high quality outdoor education skills and knowledge. We also travel further afield to Scotland for winter trips and mainland Europe for some fieldwork.
Where will this course take place?From September 2013, all Outdoor Education students will be based in Ambleside. Our campus offers easy access to the English Lake District with its unique geography. This exceptional location in effect become your classroom.
What can this course lead to? Successful graduates from the foundation degree can study on a ‘Top Up’ course, such as the University of Cumbria BA in Outdoor Education.Our graduates often go on to work in the outdoor education field, in centres or youth organisations. Some of our graduates work in activity specific careers such as mountain bike instruction, mountaineering and water sports instruction.
Being a foundation degree we have clear goals of employment at the end of the course. Therefore a compulsory work experience placement in the summer of year 1 ensures graduates have experience which employers are very keen for. Resources and facilities
The Penrith campus is an ideal location to study outdoor
leadership. It offers easy access to several mountain areas (Lake
District, Pennines, Howgills, Galloway Hills) and associated crags,
lakes, caves and rivers. It also has good motorway access to
mountainous areas further afield in Scotland, Snowdonia and the
Peak District. The university offers a wealth of resources in
equipment and staffing expertise.
We have excellent resources to help students learn and develop in
outdoor education; from fleets of canoes and kayaks to climbing
walls and High Ropes courses.
The Penrith campus has many specialised resources such as an indoor
climbing centre, a high ropes course and a yurt camp. It houses the
Centre for Outdoor Management Education and Training (COMET), which
is used by outdoor activity businesses and professional
organisations, allowing you to network, attend specialised seminars
and gain additional experience.
The campus also has a good level of research activity and in summer
2006 hosted an international outdoor research conference.
Academic skills and knowledge development are well supported
through excellent learning resources on the campus and online.
Students are allocated a PAT in the first few weeks of the course.
Students will be asked to attend one group and one individual
tutorials per semester i.e. four tutorials per year. Group
tutorials support your work towards assignments and are often spent
analysing assignment questions or reviewing referencing protocols.
Individual tutorials support your academic progress from a personal
viewpoint. Come to these sessions with questions, draft assignments
or assignment briefs so that staff can support your personal needs
as best as possible. Tutorials are a compulsory part of your
course. It is essential that you attend these so that staff can
help you monitor your progress.
Have a look at our learning resources for Outdoor Studies.
Entry requirements 100 UCAS pointsFind out more about equivalent qualifications on the UCAS tariff table.
Please check any additional selection criteria below .
Credit and UCAS requirements UCAS code: X900 UCAS points: 100 Selection criteriaNo previous outdoor experience is needed but it is important to have a passion for being and working out of doors.
Due to our excellent reputation in the field of Outdoor Studies, we receive a high volume of applications for this course. Consequently, all applicants should expect to be interviewed by one of our tutors as part of the admissions process.
All places are offered subject to successful CRB clearance.
Applications are particularly welcome from mature students returning to education.
CostsClick to view information on your study type and home location.
Full-time studentsHome
The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount).
As a full-time UK student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 (if you're from England) or £15,795 (if you're from Scotland). You may also be eligible for a maintenance loan (up to £5,500) and a maintenance grant (up to £3,354). For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.
Additional fundingNational Scholarship Programme
The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Full-time students may be eligible for one of 110 NSP awards for full-time students worth up to £6,000.
Cumbria Bursary
The Cumbria Bursary is an annual cash award of £1,000 for up to three years of study. There are 300 Cumbria Bursaries available in 2013.
More financial supportAccess to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:
- Achievement scholarships
- Outstanding performance awards
- Utilities trust
EU
The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount).
As a full-time EU student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 a year (or the equivalent in your country). For more information about student loans, visit our student finance page.
Additional fundingNational Scholarship Programme
The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Full-time students may be eligible for one of 110 NSP awards for full-time students worth up to £6,000.
Cumbria Bursary
The Cumbria Bursary is an annual cash award of £1,000 for up to three years of study. There are 300 Cumbria Bursaries available in 2013.
More financial supportAccess to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:
- Achievement scholarships
- Outstanding performance awards
- Utilities trust
International
The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £9,960.
Fees are billed annually and may be paid by the student or a sponsor. 75 percent of the annual tuition fees must be paid before or at registration. For students requiring a Tier 4 Student Visa, a deposit of £3,500 is expected as a minimum before a CAS (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) will be issued. For more information, visit our international student finance page.
Early payment discount
If you are paying your own fees, you may be eligible for an early payment discount of £1,000. This discount is awarded to students who pay in full before registration.
International scholarshipIf you are studying a full-time bachelor's degree (excluding teacher training and NHS-funded courses) or a top-up degree, you may be eligible for an international scholarship. The university has nine scholarships available. Find out more on our scholarships page.
Additional financial supportOur money doctors will be on hand throughout the year to help you manage your money while you’re in the UK. However, if you do happen to run into financial difficulty during your time here, you may be able to access a small emergency support fund.
Part-time students
Home
The tuition fee for students starting study in the 2013/14 academic year is £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount). This fee is billed annually. For part-time students, the annual fee is calculated based on the number of years you take to complete your course. For example, a student studying part-time for six years may expect to pay £3,100 per year (where the full-time option takes three years).
As a part-time UK student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 (if you're from England) or £15,795 (if you're from Scotland). For more information about student loans and grants, visit our student finance page.
Additional fundingNational Scholarship Programme
The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Part-time students may be eligible for one of 40 NSP awards worth up to £3,000.
More financial supportAccess to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:
- Achievement scholarships
- Outstanding performance awards
- Access to Learning Fund
- Utilities trust
EU
The tuition fee for the 2013/14 academic year has been set at £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount). The tuition fee for students starting study in the 2013/14 academic year is £6,200 (including an automatic £800 fee discount). This fee is billed annually. For part-time students, the annual fee is calculated based on the number of years you take to complete your course. For example, a student studying part-time for six years may expect to pay £3,100 per year (where the full-time option takes three years).
As a part-time EU student, you are entitled to a tuition fee loan which doesn’t have to be repaid until you start earning £21,000 a year (or the equivalent in your country). For more information about student loans, visit our student finance page.
Additional fundingNational Scholarship Programme
The National Scholarship Programme is designed to support students with a household income of less than £25,000. Part-time students may be eligible for one of 40 NSP awards worth up to £3,000.
More financial supportAccess to financial support doesn’t end at registration. We have several awards and support funds available to our current students, including:
- Achievement scholarships
- Outstanding performance awards
- Utilities trust
Additional contact information
Mark Lawton, Course Leader, FdA Outdoor Education
Mark.Lawton@cumbria.ac.uk
Find out more at www.cumbria.ac.uk/outdoorstudies UCAS Link
Visit UCAS
ModulesFor detailed summary of all course content please read our programme specification for this course (PDF).
Course summary In the first year you take part in a variety of practical outdoor activities whilst in the second year you focus on the development of a specific activity. Practical activities are one strand throughout the first and second year; experiential learning and work experience mean that you get the opportunity for ‘real work’ experience through local outdoor activity providers. We also travel to Scotland for winter trips and for fieldwork.Additional practical experience can be gained through numerous extra-curricula activities that occur throughout the year. For example, climbing, paddling or skiing trips have been offered in the UK, Europe and the United States.
There is the opportunity for you to work towards and complete National Governing Body awards as a part of our comprehensive Professional Development Programme. Completion of the two year course allows direct entry into the third year of the BA (Hons) Outdoor Education.
Share your review
Do you have experience with this course? Submit your review and help other people make the right choice. As a thank you for your effort we will donate £1.- to Stichting Edukans.There are no frequently asked questions yet. If you have any more questions or need help, contact our customer service.