---

---

Introduction

Voluntary Sector Studies Network has (from April 2008) a Courses section giving some details of those provided by its members. This may be updated quicker than our information below.

Foundation degrees

Foundation degrees are employment related higher education qualifications. As experience can be as important as traditional educational qualifications, usually there are no, or flexible, set entry requirements. While not on the same level as honours degrees, they can lead on to these. See Professional Development page for such courses in specific topics.

Online / national

• Open University Business School Runs a Management Certificate programme tailored to the voluntary sector, which can become part of Diploma or MBA. Various courses can be done online. Winning Resources and Support meets criteria for Institute of Fundraising's Certificate. VolResource was (maybe still is) one of their Top 10 reference sites. Course Enquiry Services, Freepost, PO Box 625, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, phone 01908 858585.

• Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Enhancement (Online) awarded through the University of Bradford, and meets criteria for full corporate membership of the Institute of Leadership and Management. Modules on supervision, managing change and others. Contact Norman Borrett, phone 01274 753425, email: N.Borrett@bilk.ac.uk

• University of Derby Certificate in Volunteering and the Voluntary Sector. Online, with any start date. Email: volunteering@derby.ac.uk

• University of Wales, Lampeter Department of Voluntary Sector Studies, Virtual University for Voluntary Sector Studies focuses on the care sector. Certificate in Interpersonal Skills for Volunteers material is available online, can be studied as individual modules and can be done at little cost. Could lead on to a BA (or MA) in Voluntary Sector Studies. Lampeter, Ceredigion, SA48 7ED, phone 01570 424785, email: enquiries@volstudy.ac.uk

• West Suffolk College School of Business Administration Certificate in Charity Administration by distance learning.

• Masters in Public Policy and Management or postgrad diploma/certificate from University of York.

• Others. Some of those listed by location below now also provide open, distance or e-learning options which don't require regular physical attendance. It is worth checking websites for updates. Definites include:

  • University of Leicester.

By location

• University of Wales, Bangor HE Certificate in Volunteer Management.

• Aston Business School (Birmingham) Public Services Management MSc and MBA, for people working in the public and voluntary sectors. There is one half module on 'working with the voluntary sector' which is specifically focused on the voluntary sector and partnerships between the public and voluntary sectors. Voluntary sector students would normally have their dissertations supervised by one of the staff with specialist voluntary sector expertise. Also doctoral research opportunities, research seminar programme. Public Services Management Group, Aston Business School, phone 0121 359 3011.

• University of Birmingham School of Public Policy Public Service MBA, with specific voluntary sector management option. Full or part-time options, and MSc/postgrad certificate programmes too. MBA Programme Administrator, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, phone 0121 414 5006, email: m.furamera@bham.ac.uk

• Newman College of Higher Education (Birmingham) Public and Voluntary Sector Management BA; also Foundation Degree in Voluntary & Community Organisation Development, 4 year part time course.

• Bradford College Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/MA in Managing Change in the Community. Phone 01274 433004.

• University of Bristol School for Policy Studies. "The MSc in Management Development and Social Responsibility fully integrates concern with social values in its content and learning processes, and is intended to equip students with the knowledge, skills and awareness necessary for them to operate as reflective, competent and socially informed managers in a changing environment." 2 year, part-time. Phone 0117 954 6755, email: sps-enquiries@bristol.ac.uk

• Cambridge MBA - Judge Business School Have a Bursary Scheme for "UK professionals in the not for profit sectors". Phone 01223 337051, email: mba-enquiries@jims.cam.ac.uk

• Anglia Ruskin University Chelmsford. At Jan 06 (after name change), we can't find information on previous full time or part time degree course, BA Hons, Voluntary Sector Management.

• Centre for Charity Effectiveness, Cass Business School (City University, London). Part-time postgraduate MSc or Diploma in Voluntary Sector Management; PgDip/ MSc Charity Accounting & Financial Management, PgDip/ MSc Charity Marketing and Fundraising and PgDip/ MSc Grantmaking Management. New 2006: ICAEW Diploma in Charity Accounting. Also occasional short courses. Contact Cass Business School, 106 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8TZ, phone 020 7040 8667, email: k.hickox@city.ac.uk

• City University with City and Islington College. Foundation degree in Public Sector Management - wide entrance requirements. Contact Ian Sterling, City & Islington College, phone 020 7700 8693, email: isterling@candi.ac.uk

• University of Derby Foundation Degree in Voluntary Sector Management, 2 year full time course. Email: admissions@derby.ac.uk

• Dublin City University Certificate/Diploma in Information Media and Internet (for Voluntary Sector). The Business School did have a Certificate in Voluntary Sector Management, but seems to have gone.

• New College Durham has worked closely with the One Voice Network Voluntary Sector Academy to develop a Voluntary and Community Sector Foundation Degree, available from September 2006. Open to anyone in the voluntary sector in the north east.

• Centre for Institutional Studies, University of East London. MA/Postgrad Diploma/Cert, Voluntary Sector Studies; MSc/Postgrad Cert/Diploma, Public and Community Service; MBA Capacity Building for Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations. 'Flexible programmes for people working in the public or voluntary and community sectors.' Also now MA/PgDip/Certificate in Social Enterprise, plus various short courses. Contact Mike Locke, phone 020 8223 4230, email: m.locke@uel.ac.uk. Maryland House, Manbey Park Road, London, E15 1EY.

• Edinburgh's Telford College HNC Communication and Organisation for the Voluntary Sector. Over 2 years by 'open learning', starting Sept, Dec or March (but haven't located on website).

• Exeter College Foundation Degree in Management (Voluntary pathway) was from Exeter Business School - can't find at Jan 07.

• Glasgow Caledonian University Certificate in Management, Voluntary Sector - part-time post grad (but can't find on website at Nov 07). Can integrate into their DMS/MBA programme. In partnership with SCVO. Phone 0141 331 3872, email: R.Beattie@Gcal.ac.uk

• Leeds Metropolitan University Run part-time Professional Diploma, Managing in the Community and BA in Managing in Health & Social Care Organisations. Course Administrator, School of Applied Social Sciences, LMU, Calverley St, Leeds, LS1 3HE, phone 0113 283 6756, email: v.ward@lmu.ac.uk

• University of Leeds Postgraduate Certificate in Management in the Public and Voluntary Sector has been discontinued.

• University of Leicester Institute of Lifelong Learning Part-time Foundation Degree in Managing Voluntary & Community Organisations, also available by distance learning.

• Charity Law Unit, Liverpool Law School, University of Liverpool. Postgraduate research opportunities. They also run regular seminars on various issues. Contact Joan Boardman, Charity Law, Law Faculty, University of Liverpool, L69 3BX, phone 0151 794 3086, email: boardman@liverpool.ac.uk

• Centre for Civil Society, London School of Economics. Postgraduate course MSc in Voluntary Sector Organisation has been withdrawn (2006). MSc in Management of NGOs (in Developing Countries). LSE, Houghton Street, London, WC2A 2AE, phone 020 7955 7375, email: ccs@lse.ac.uk

• London South Bank University Business Computing and Information Management Faculty, Centre for Government and Charity Management. Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or Masters in Charity Accounting and Financial Management, ICSA Certificate in Charity Management; Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/MSc in Charity Marketing & Fundraising; Masters in Voluntary Administration (MVA). Some courses may be available for off-site delivery. CGCM course index, or details from Professor Alex Murdock , London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, phone 020 7815 7886, email: alex.murdock@lsbu.ac.uk

• Loughborough University Management Development Centre no longer offers ICSA Certificate in Charity Management.

• University of Northampton's Social Welfare BA includes an opportunity to study for the Certificate in Fundraising from the Institute of Fundraising.

• Norwich City College Edexcel/BTEC Professional Development Certificate in Voluntary Sector Management, 1 day a week for 30 weeks.

• University of Nottingham Business School Public Services MBA Programme - Voluntary Sector. Not sure that this exists still as a specific option - there is a Public Services Policy module to the MBA.

• Robert Gordon University Part-time postgraduate Certificate/Diploma or MSc courses on Scottish Public Sector Management - not sure how much voluntary sector content. Course Leader is Kirsteen Davidson at the School of Public Administration and Law, phone 01224 263400.

• Roehampton University, Centre for the Study of Voluntary and Community Activity. Voluntary Action Management, MSc/Postgraduate Diploma no longer offered at March 09? - combines practical work experience in a voluntary agency with academic management theory, full or part time - contact the programme convener, email: vam@roehampton.ac.uk, phone 020 8392 3862.

• Charity and Voluntary Sector Unit, Sheffield Hallam University. Modules relating to charity management in MSc Management and BA (Hons) Business Studies. Also PhD in Charity Studies possibilities, and new 2005: MSc/Postgraduate Diploma/Postgraduate Certificate in Charity Resource Management.

• University of Southampton was offering Postgrad Certificate/Diploma/MSc in the Management of Voluntary Organisations (Cert available by distance learning) from Division of Social Work Studies. Not found on website, March 08. Phone 023 8059 5780.

• University of Sussex Centre for Continuing Education Certificate in Managing Voluntary and Community Organisations (probably still running - specific info page disappeared spring 07).

• St Mary's College, Twickenham School of Management and Social Sciences MA, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate in Charity Management.

• Warwick University Business School Master in Public Administration post-graduate degree. "Participants mix study with work over a three-year period. Study is based on three two-week residential blocks of teaching each year."

• National College of Ireland, Dublin, School of Business and Humanities. Certificate in Managing Organisations in the Voluntary and Community Sector, one year evening course.