Short courses

Develop your personal, leadership, and professional skills. Learn from qualified and experienced coaches in the industry who have worked at various levels and with those in various business roles. 

Given the continuing economic challenges organisations face, and the deficit of key skills for transformation improvement, this 12-week short course will target a cross-section of employees to identify organisational, departmental, and behavioural challenges and propose viable solutions.

This short course empowers middle and senior-level enterprise leaders with the advanced tools and strategies needed to excel in today's business environment. The course gives participants a chance to confidently navigate complex business challenges, drive innovation, and ensure long-term organisational resilience.   

Explore the essentials of dramatic storytelling. Gain hands-on experience with recording and editing technology. Learn how to write, direct, and edit audio drama.

Master the building blocks of storytelling through podcasts. Learn to sculpt using music, audio branding, and sound effects. Understand your audience and build your own brand.

Understand what makes effective leadership in the workplace. Develop confidence and satisfaction in your role. Realise your potential as a leader to further benefit your business.

Explore coaching in the context of business leadership. Understand the coaching process and the importance of setting goals. Develop your existing abilities and qualities that will make you a successful coach.

This masterclass is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to create safe, affirming, and empowering spaces for the LGBTQ+ community.

Develop effective digital marketing skills. Understand your objective and create a focused plan for content creation. Implement your knowledge to help your organisation and progress your career.

This short course is ideal for teachers, SENCOs, or other educational and care professionals who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of gender and diversity within educational contexts.

Understand 3D scanning technologies and the fundamental skills required. Engage in theoretical discussions and hands-on exercises. Explore the potential applications of this transformative technology in your career.

This masterclass in business strategy asks you to reflect on your business environment and explore options for creating and implementing suitable strategies for future business success. It's designed to introduce you to principles and theories relating to strategy and relate these to your workplace and role.

Understand the fundamentals of condition monitoring technologies. Take part in theoretical discussions, practical demonstrations, and hands-on exercises. Learn the key skills you'll need to progress in your career.

Explore the fundamentals of design for 3D printing. Take part in hands-on activities to learn key concepts and best practices. Acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to design objects optimised for additive manufacturing.

Explore your strengths in the context of informal and formal leadership in the workplace. Incorporate your personal values and social awareness into your work. Understand what makes you effective as a leader and use what you learn to benefit you and your organisation.

Develop your knowledge and understanding of project management. Understand the roles of good communication skills and timing. Learn to apply project management techniques to build and enhance effectiveness in your workplace.

Learn how to develop an effective marketing strategy. Understand how to research and plan what you need to implement your strategy. Deliver a return on investment for your organisation and achieve your goals.

This Level 7 course is ideal for teachers or other educational professionals who want to develop their careers with a Mentoring and Coaching qualification. You will gain knowledge, understanding and intellectual skills that you can apply to your own teaching position to enhance your career.

Develop your knowledge as a strategic leader in your organisation. Identify your development objectives and how to achieve those. Understand how you can contribute to your organisation’s success and growth.

Master the building blocks of audio storytelling. Learn scripting, interviewing, and editing skills while understanding your audience. Plan and create your podcast pilot episode.

This short course is ideal for teachers, SENCOs, or other educational and care professionals who want to develop their knowledge of how to support children and families in maintaining good mental health.

The aim of this short course is to recognise, give academic credit for and promote Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The course will enable any healthcare professional to utilise their own clinical experience, to gain academic credit and development at Level 6. It is suitable for all registered healthcare professionals to apply.

Develop the ability to critically analyse, synthesise and review care decisions in relation to chronic disease management. Discuss, debate and review alternative approaches to care delivery. Meet the medico-legal requirements for advanced practice with teaching of ethical and moral principles embedded.

Work at an advanced level of clinical practice. Develop the ability to critically analyse, synthesise and review care decisions by discussing, debating and reviewing alternative approaches to care delivery. Meet the medico-legal requirements for advanced practice and have ethical and moral principles embedded throughout your learning. 

This module is a core module embedded in clinical practice in preparation for a Paediatric Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) role and will offer students the opportunity to develop their advanced communication, clinical assessment, examination and clinical decision making and management skills in their field of practice.

This comprehensive 16-week course is designed for Nurses and Allied Healthcare Professionals at Level 6 or Level 7. It provides training in the assessment, management, and care of minor injuries and illnesses. 

This short course will enable qualified healthcare practitioners to gain the knowledge and skills required to care for patients with common respiratory conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Take your career to the next level by building on your health profession knowledge and skills in our state-of-the-art clinical and simulation facilities.

This is a clinically and strategically relevant course for those who work in delivering contraceptive services. This course mirrors our Contraceptive Health course, but the credits gained are at level 7, the same as our postgraduate degrees.

This course is delivered 100% online and can be accessed from anywhere in the UK and around the world. Designed with military personnel, their families and veterans in mind, the Certificate in Higher Education programme develops further skills to enable this body of people to undertake a course which will prepare them for studying a degree programme.

This short course, which can be studied at either level 6 or level 7, will help you develop the knowledge and skills required to care for patients with coronary heart disease and heart failure, promoting a holistic, patient-centred approach to management.

This level 7 short course will support you to develop your leadership knowledge, skills, and experience in quality improvement and patient safety, addressing the challenges of improving quality of care in clinical practice.

This short course enables you to develop skills and knowledge in applied education, evidence-based strategy, teaching and learning theories and methodologies, coaching, mentorship, supervision, and critical thinking in clinical practice. The course is aimed at those working at Advanced Clinical Practitioner level or as a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner, and those looking to self-credential with NHS England.

Prescribing is an essential component of specialist and advanced practice for health professionals. In this level 6 course, you'll work in practice with an assigned practice assessor who is also a registered healthcare professional and experienced prescriber.

This level 7 short course aims to help healthcare professionals develop and adopt core leadership capabilities and competencies to continuously improve quality of care and patient safety.

This masterclass is aimed at matrons, governance leads, managers, and those working in/leading a multidisciplinary team (NHS and independent) who are expected to facilitate systems-based learning responses. The day provides an opportunity to network across the Integrated Care Board (ICB), share experiences, ideas, and learning since the inception of The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework.

This short course is aimed at healthcare practitioners, helping develop skills in planning and implementing effective teaching, learning, and assessment within clinical practice.

This short course is designed for healthcare professionals who manage patients with diabetes mellitus, to develop their knowledge and skills in this area. The assessment for this module will reflect achievement at level 6.

Take your career to the next level by building on your health profession knowledge and skills in our state-of-the-art clinical and simulation facilities.

Study the only Independent Prescribing course in the North East that is accredited by the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Provide patients with improved access to medicines. Take on new challenges and opportunities that are unavailable to non-prescribers.

This short course enables you to understand, use, and apply leadership theories to a range of advanced clinical practice roles to inform, lead, manage, and develop healthcare services. The course is aimed at those working at Advanced Clinical Practitioner level or as a Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner, and those looking to self-credential with NHS England.

This workshop is aimed at Local Authorities, particularly for social work/education/community work/health but also open to any organisation that would find the workshop beneficial.

Gain knowledge and critical understanding of quality improvement methodology and methods and their use in the wider political contexts within the NHS. Explore leadership and management skills for roles in strategic, tactical and operational healthcare provision. Improve the experience of service users, clients and their families/carers.

This short course, developed and aligned to the National Infection Prevention and Control Manual, will support you in gaining knowledge and understanding of core infection prevention and control (IPC) areas.

This short course has been designed for healthcare professionals working with patients who have tissue viability needs. The course builds knowledge and skills in anatomy and pathophysiology and aligns them with enhanced clinical assessment and management skills, including the exploration of theoretical and contemporary issues in wound care.

This accredited short course aims to support registered nurses to critically analyse the role of the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA), helping you gain the skills and knowledge required to lead and deliver quality improvements and facilitate restorative clinical supervision.

This short course will help you develop the academic knowledge and skills required to progress to Level 6 study at the University of Sunderland. This may include qualified healthcare professionals who've achieved a diploma in higher education or an equivalent to a UK diploma level award.

Further your skills and develop your undergraduate knowledge on the Trainee Pharmacist Foundation Programme. We'll support you with specialist training and provide opportunities for you to network with fellow trainee pharmacists.

In this short course, you will learn about how we age and the issues we face, including some of the common conditions seen in older people and health promotion to support ‘wellness’. Cultural bias and personal values will also be explored.

This module aims to equip those whose work involves managing patients who may present with conditions involving the ear to develop their knowledge and skills in this area. The course is taught at level 6.

This programme has been developed to be innovative in approach and develop theoretical and practical skills relevant for practice whilst promoting a holistic, patient-centred approach to management.

This short course trains you to carry out an in-depth history and conduct systematic physical examinations of different areas of the body including the respiratory system, cardiovascular system and the central nervous system. You will also learn best practice in documenting and communicating your findings.

If you are an experienced graduate teacher and would like to complete a formal qualification to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is a requirement for those who wish to teach in state-maintained schools in England and Wales, this route is one of the fastest ways to gain QTS. 

This 12-week course is for anyone with an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 4.5 who wants to improve their English. Our experienced and supportive teachers will help you bring your skills up to the level needed to study your chosen university course. You'll learn skills such as note-taking, speaking in seminars, making presentations, writing essays and much more. Once you've completed the course, you'll get a Foundation Certificate Achievement in English for Academic Purposes and be able to study the University course you've chosen.

This ten-week course is for anyone with an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 5.0 who wants to improve their English. Our experienced and supportive teachers will help you bring your skills up to the level needed to study your chosen University course. You'll develop skills like note-taking, speaking in seminars, making presentations, writing essays and much more.

This eight-week online course is for anyone with an IELTS (or equivalent) score of 5.5 who wants to improve their English. Our experienced and supportive teachers will help you bring your skills up to the level needed to study your chosen University course. You'll develop skills like note-taking, speaking in seminars, making presentations, writing essays and much more.

Do you want to improve your English? Do you have an IELTS or equivalent score of 4.5? This 15-week course could be for you. Our supportive and experienced tutors will help you reach the correct level of English to study your chosen university course. You’ll focus on academic skills such as note-taking, contributing to seminars, making presentations, and writing essays.

Do you want to improve your English? Do you have an IELTS score of 5.0? This 10-week course could be for you. You’ll have access to modern resources such as digital language laboratories and an open-access language laboratory for independent study. The course will allow you to improve your English language skills by the University of Sunderland’s equivalent of 1 band of IELTS. You’ll also visit local and national places of interest and put your English skills to the test.

Do you want to improve your English? Do you need to increase your current IELTS score? Then this 5-week course could be for you. Increase your current level of English from an IELTS score of 5.5 to the University of Sunderland IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. Develop academic skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English. Put your English skills to the test as you improve your knowledge and understanding of UK culture through visits to local and national places of interest, and receive a Foundation Certificate of Achievement in English for Academic Purposes on completion.

This short course is ideal for teachers, SENCOs, or other educational and care professionals who want to develop their knowledge and understanding of gender and diversity within educational contexts.

Improve your English with free classes for registered students whose first language is not English. Develop academic skills in reading and writing, speaking and listening, dissertation writing, discussion skills, and grammar. Choose courses in general Academic English or English for Business Studies. Get support with your main studies from our experienced and supportive tutors.

This Level 7 course is ideal for teachers or other educational professionals who want to develop their careers with a Mentoring and Coaching qualification. You will gain knowledge, understanding and intellectual skills that you can apply to your own teaching position to enhance your career.

This short course is ideal for teachers, SENCOs, or other educational and care professionals who want to develop their knowledge of how to support children and families in maintaining good mental health.

The course is designed for graduates from looking to pursue careers as digital marketers and business data analysts, managers who have already gained marketing and computing business experience and seek to further their careers as highly qualified digital marketers. They are tailored to those wanting more flexible learning pathways or wishing to pursue part-time study.

The Certificate and Diploma in Human Resources Management, level 7 course has been designed to develop relevant and essential knowledge and skills in people management and learning and development and are a route into professional membership of the CIPD. We'll prepare you for a future career in HR and support those currently in the early stages of an HRM career to attain a postgraduate qualification.

The Certificate and Diploma in Management Studies Level 7 short courses have been developed to provide you with a critical understanding of strategic management and provide a pathway to achievement of an MBA. The short courses enable you to develop key competencies in management through a varied programme of lectures and applied learning through seminars, workshops and corporate engagement. The PgCert/PgDip courses are particularly suited to those in the workplace, looking for more flexible learning pathways or wishing to study on a part-time basis.

Understand what makes effective leadership in the workplace. Develop confidence and satisfaction in your role. Realise your potential as a leader to further benefit your business.

Explore coaching in the context of business leadership. Understand the coaching process and the importance of setting goals. Develop your existing abilities and qualities that will make you a successful coach.

Explore your strengths in the context of informal and formal leadership in the workplace. Incorporate your personal values and social awareness into your work. Understand what makes you effective as a leader and use what you learn to benefit you and your organisation.

Develop your knowledge as a strategic leader in your organisation. Identify your development objectives and how to achieve those. Understand how you can contribute to your organisation’s success and growth.

This short course will help you to develop an advanced understanding of social work practice in the area of adult safeguarding. Successful completion of the module will help you to evidence development along the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF) for social work (BASW, 2018), from Newly Qualified Social Worker to Experienced Social Worker.

Aimed at current practitioners, this short course will help you to develop an advanced understanding of social work practice in the area of child safeguarding.

This short course has been designed to enable employees with our partner agencies who would like to become social workers to develop the required academic skills to progress to the full professional qualifying BA (Hons) Social Work (Integrated Degree Apprenticeship) course.

Practice Education for Social Work is an important area of career development for experienced social workers and demonstrates that social workers are practicing at the experienced social work level of the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF). This qualification will prepare registered social workers for a role as a Practice Educator for pre-qualifying Social Work students. It will enable registered social workers to demonstrate that they are working to the requirements of the Practice Educator Professional Standards for Social Work (PEPS).

Suitable for professionals working in a range of human service organisations, this short course will help you become a reflexive practitioner by promoting research mindedness in the workplace.

This module will focus on the development of an investigative mindset to improve the management of Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) investigations. Reflect on your own workplace practice and consider how to improve investigation outcomes.

This module focuses on the management and coordination of family liaison for serious and complex investigations or major incidents. You'll explore the roles and responsibilities of the family liaison coordinator and develop your existing skills and knowledge to enhance your own practice.

This module will focus on planning and conducting investigative interviews with vulnerable victims and witnesses. Reflect on experiences from your own workplace practice and gain the skills needed to facilitate access to justice.