Specialist sensory training opportunities

Teachers of children who are multi-sensory impaired must normally gain a mandatory qualification (MQ) in the education of children who are multi-sensory impaired within three years of beginning to work in this field.

Two women signing The courses which lead to mandatory qualification also carry university awards (normally Certificate, Diploma or Masters degree). The courses are also open to other teachers and professionals who meet university entry requirements; these can gain the university award but not MQ status.

There are two course providers:

University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham provides courses at undergraduate and post-graduate level:

Certificate courses last one year and provide a thorough introduction to the education of learners who are multi-sensory-impaired
Diploma courses last two years
MEd courses normally last three years and include a dissertation

MQ status requires the completion of the Diploma course, an assessed teaching placement and some additional study.

All courses are taught by distance learning with regional tutorial meetings and attendance at the university for two weekends a year. Research degrees are also available.

For details contact the University of Birmingham:

Tel 0121 414 4873
Email e.m.hodges@bham.ac.uk
or visit the University of Birmingham website

Whitefield School and Centre and Kingston University

Whitefield School and Centre and Kingston University jointly provide courses at postgraduate level only:

Certificate courses last one year and provide a thorough introduction to the education of learners who are multi-sensory impaired
Diploma courses last two years
MA courses normally last three years and include a dissertation based on action research

MQ status requires the completion of the Diploma course, an assessed teaching placement and some additional study.

For details contact the course co-ordinator:

Tel 020 8531 3426
Fax 020 8527 3613
Email sen@whitefield.org.uk

Search form