Professional Golf PGA DipHE

Course code C695

What is special about this course?

The DipHE Professional Golf PGA, unique in Scotland, is a result of a partnership between the university and The Professional Golfers’ Association (The PGA). The 3-year, structured part-time Diploma in Higher Education is aimed at those currently employed, or seeking employment, as PGA trainees working full-time at golf facilities across Scotland. The programme is recognised by The PGA and graduates gain membership of The PGA (subject to application).   

The DipHE will incorporate themes relevant to the varied demands of the golf industry and address issues faced by professional golfers and coaches. These themes will develop from year one and encompass individual and group coaching, equipment technology, sports science and business elements. The work-based component of the programme is key as it allows you to apply your learning to your own employment circumstances and also provides you with access to a PGA qualified employer who can support your learning.

Additional Coaching Qualifications

All students will undertake two additional coaching qualifications during the training programme. Successful completion of these qualifications is compulsory for PGA Membership. The first coaching qualification will introduce the core elements of coaching and provide you with the key knowledge, understanding, skills, and abilities to begin coaching golf.

The second qualification will build on the foundations laid by the first and seek to ensure that you are competent in planning, delivering, and reviewing coaching sessions, with the clear ability to review and improve your own coaching practice.

Both qualifications are a blend of online learning and face to face delivery, and successful completion of each one relies on passing a combination of theoretical and practical assessments of your coaching knowledge and skills. The cost of these courses is part of the Additional PGA elements fee, which you pay directly to the PGA each year.

Special features

  • Graduates can gain PGA membership (subject to application) and must also: hold a current Safeguarding and Protecting Children certificate; complete the 2 additional coaching qualifications; hold a current first aid certificate; pass the PGA Coaching Assessment; and play in a minimum of 7 PGA recognised tournaments during each year of study. Full details are provided on application and during open days
  • You will access dedicated specialist teaching facilities and equipment during annual residential components where you will integrate with PGA trainees from across the country
  • Benefit from PGA tutors, mentors, markers and examiners
  • Get the opportunity to improve and develop personal golf-related skills and performance
  • Work in industry and complete academic award during off-season with opportunities to meet and learn with peers and experts in residential teaching and assessment periods
  • Undertake NGB coaching qualifications as part of the programme and training

Entry requirements

  • 2 Scottish Highers at grade C or above 
  • Alternatively consideration will be given to applicants with four National 5 awards at Grade C or above or equivalent (including English and Maths)
  • Applicants must be working in the golf industry under a PGA Professional
  • Applicants must provide evidence of a current golf handicap of 6.4 or better for men and 8.4 or better for ladies. Details of playing requirements during the course will be provided on application
  • Applicants should be over the age of 18 at the course start date
  • Successful applicants will be required to complete a PVG Disclosure Check and become PVG Scheme Members in order to undertake this course
  • The application deadline for September starts is 31st August

Year 1 - DipHE

First year will introduce you to general concepts in the golf industry and professional sport. Core modules are:

  • PGA Introduction to sport and exercise science
  • PGA Introduction to sports coaching
  • PGA Introduction to equipment technology for golf
  • PGA Professional practice and personal development for the golf industry
     

Year 2 - DipHE

You will continue to build on and develop the concepts from year one and begin to evaluate their application in practice. New topics will also be introduced. Core modules are:

  • PGA Application of sports science
  • PGA Golf equipment and analysis
  • PGA Applied coaching
  • PGA Introduction to business

Year 3 - DipHE

In third year, academic skills will be further developed alongside the practical and industry-specific skill sets. Core modules are:

  • PGA Retailing
  • PGA On course and career development skills
  • PGA Applied coach development
  • PGA Using sports science in golf coaching

How will I study my course?

  • Part-time (structured)

You will study through a combination of face-to-face, video conference, online, workshop and practical approaches to support your work-based learning. This study method takes account of the demands and expectations of your job, online learning materials will be delivered through the university virtual learning environment (VLE). E-lessons, lectures, activities and assessments have been designed and developed in each subject area. These are interactive, visually stimulating and engage the learner.

You will be required to attend residential components, where students will engage in face-to-face lectures and workshops. The cost of the residential elements are funded by the student and are not part of the teaching fees or academic funding available. The additional fee will provide access to additional PGA resources and cover costs of supplementary PGA membership elements. Students must also pay the annual PGA Assistant Membership fee, currently £215. Students must play and fund a minimum of seven PGA recognised tournaments for each year of study.

How long will my course last?

  • Part-time (structured): 3 years

Where can I study my course?

  • North, West and Hebrides - Dornoch campus

Start date

  • 1st October - please use September apply links

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
  2022-232023-23
Part-time (80 credit modules) per year £1,250 £1,250
Additional fees:    
Additional PGA elements £812.50 paid directly to the PGA £812.50 paid directly to the PGA

You will also be required to pay annual PGA membership fees**.

If you do not have a term-time address in Scotland you will pay the fee detailed below for the rest of the UK students.

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) and with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

  2022-232023-24
Part-time (80 credit modules) per year £4,250 £4,250

The fee above includes the cost of additional PGA elements.

You will also be required to pay annual PGA membership fees (see below**).

International students

This course is not available to students domiciled outside of the UK or for international students (including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK) requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study here. For students living in the UK and assessed as international for fee status, the following fees will apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

  2022-232023-24
Part-time (80 credit modules) per year £5,500 £5,500

The fee above includes the cost of additional PGA elements.

You will also be required to pay annual PGA membership fees (see below**).

Fees are payable in advance each academic year unless otherwise agreed.

You should have maintained a handicap of 6.4(males) or 8.4 (females).

**PGA Trainees will be required to pay annual PGA membership fees of approximately £215 (VAT not applicable). Please note the Board of Directors annually reviews subscription fees and this figure is based on the current rate.

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying.

Part-time study is not open to international student requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study in the UK.

Funding

If you live in Scotland and you have an individual income of £25,000 per year or less, you may be eligible for a part-time fee grant. Further information on eligibility and how to apply is available from the Scottish Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

Additional costs

You will be required to attend residential components, where students will engage in face-to-face lectures and workshops. The cost of the residential elements are funded by the student and are not part of the teaching fees or academic funding available to students. The additional fee will provide access to additional PGA resources and cover costs of supplementary PGA membership elements. Students must also pay the annual PGA Assistant Membership fee, currently £215. Students must play and fund a minimum of seven PGA recognised tournaments for each year of study.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Once you have successfully completed this course, you might like to consider careers in the golf industry and beyond. Opportunities may include:

  • PGA Professional
  • Golf coaching and development
  • Golf facility operations
  • Golf education
  • Sports science
  • Sports retail
  • Events management and operations

Can I progress into further study?

Graduates from the DipHE can continue to honours degree level study on the university's full-time BA (Hons) Professional Golf. Advanced entry to this would be into year three of the programme.

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Professional Golf PGA DipHE

Thank you for your interest in studying Professional Golf PGA DipHE with us.

If you are ready to apply, please start your application below by

REGISTERING YOUR INTEREST WITH THE PGA

After registering your interest, you will be provided with details of all aspects of the PGA Training Programme and the entry requirements.

Once you have registered your interest you can start your application by selecting when you would like to start your course. This will take you to our online application system.

If you're not quite ready, please message us or call 01463 279190 if there is anything we can do to help you with your decision. We will handle your query in line with our Privacy Notice.

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.