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PgDip | Postgraduate Taught

Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders

Entry year
Academic Year 2025/26
Entry requirements
2.2
Attendance
2 years (Part-time)
Places available
30 (Part Time)

This multi-disciplinary programme is designed to enable substance use professionals, mental health workers, social workers, nurses and workers from allied health and social care sectors to gain an understanding of substance use disorders, including definitions, UK and international contexts and the application of theory in practice.

The PG Dip in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders will build upon the knowledge gained in the PG Cert programme and will enable the candidates to enhance critical thinking skills, utilise methods of reflective analysis, and consider individual, multi-disciplinary and interdisciplinary team working within the sector. They will also be given a reflective period in which to analyse their learning from each of the teaching sessions and think about how the information may be best disseminated to colleagues in their respective teams. This reciprocal knowledge flow will be facilitated via an online discussion forum whereby participants will be afforded the opportunity to apply the information from teaching sessions to their work cases after sharing information with work-based colleagues.

The programme of study will develop practitioner confidence and skills in the complex areas of substance use and substance use disorders. Candidates will be afforded the opportunity to take each of the three modules of the programme of study as a stand-alone module (20 credits). Alternatively, students can complete six modules (three from the PG Certificate in SUDs and a further three credits from the PG Dip programme) and thereby obtain the PG Diploma in Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders.

Please note that this course is not eligible for a Student route visa.

Closing date for applications: Thursday 31st July 2025 at 4pm. Late applications may be considered.

The Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders programme responds to the needs of its students with updated, current and evidence-based information which will enhance their PG educational experience through vibrant and interactive learning pathways.

Substance Use and Substance Use Disorders highlights

Internationally Renowned Experts

Over 88% of research submitted by colleagues from Criminology, Social Policy, Sociology and Social Work to the Social Policy and Social Work Unit of Assessment was similarly judged to be World Leading or Internationally Excellent. An endorsement of the quality of our research and its impacts in areas such as the penal system, mental health and trauma; work once again achieved through work undertaken in partnership with the health, social care and criminal justice sectors.

Career Development

Professional Development

For all multi-disciplinary students, the programmes offer relevant CPD opportunities as well as recognised qualifications accredited by the University which will augment their professional development and enhance the development of further opportunities in their chosen field of practice.

For Social Work students only, the Diploma will meet a number of the professional requirements in the Leadership category in the Professional in Practice framework.

For all students, the programme provides the opportunity to enhance special dual diagnosis skills within a multi-disciplinary teaching environment.

Student Experience

The programme leader and lecturers have developed and nurtured subject proficiency via their own practice, teaching and research in relation to their specialist area. They impart this trilateral expertise to the students via teaching on the PG Diploma programme.

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