What we do at IDEC
The Leicester Distance Learning
Supported Study
Archaeology BA, DipHE, CertHE, by distance learning
1-6 years
Our distance learning courses allow you to study ancient history and classical archaeology no matter where in the world you live. The courses are designed to allow you to either study full time or to fit your studies in alongside work and family commitments in a way that works for you. When it comes to understanding the past, two disciplines are often better than one. In this degree, you’ll study the ancient and classical worlds through both textual and material remains, with the added flexibility of working from home.
Course description
Our BA in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology uniquely brings the two disciplines together and is based on our extensive experience in developing and teaching both archaeology and ancient history courses and our world-leading research.
This course will introduce you to key issues in the study of the past through textual and material remains, encouraging you to reflect on the contrasting and complementary images that these approaches create. You will be learn to decipher short texts in the Greek and Latin alphabets, allowing you to work directly with ancient written evidence.
We have been successfully teaching distance learning courses to students around the world since 1996. This course is based on our extensive experience in developing and teaching archaeology and our world-leading research. Our modules are designed to inspire you and enable you to gain a wider knowledge of your chosen topic.
We will provide you with an intellectually challenging and stimulating curriculum that draws on the expertise of staff from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History members. We have a proven track record of successfully delivering distance learning courses that will help you gain the transferable skills necessary for successful career development or further academic study. As a result, our courses are highly valued by employers, who recognise the key transferable and subject-specific skills gained.
1st in the UK for Classics and Ancient History (The Times UK University Rankings 2026)
Ranked 2nd in the UK for subjects aligned to Classics for ‘overall positivity’ in the NSS 2025. (Based on University of Leicester analysis using the Times Higher Education NSS 2024 methodology applied to the NSS 2025 data of aligned subjects)
Ranked 4th in the UK for subjects aligned to Archaeology for ‘overall positivity’ in the NSS 2025. (Based on University of Leicester analysis using the Times Higher Education NSS 2024 methodology applied to the NSS 2025 data of aligned subjects)
Entry requirements
Our distance learning undergraduate courses are all completely open access – anyone can join the course as long as they meet English language requirements. This means that we are able to offer qualifications to a far wider range of students than on a traditional campus-based degree.
You need three key things to study with us: first, you need to be passionate and self-motivated. Second, you need to have access to a computer with a good internet connection. You need to be able to use that computer and have some basic IT skills including the ability to access websites, use email, and create a typed document. Third, you need to be able to spend between 12-15 hours a week studying part time, or 24-30 hours a week for full time. It is important to remember that students work at different speeds and have different strengths so these figures are just a guide but making sure you have the time to commit to studying is key.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in February 2026
- BA: £21,390
- Diploma: £14,350
- Certificate: £7,275
- Taster module: £1,250
Find out more about how to pay and scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in February 2026
- BA: £21,390
- Diploma: £14,350
- Certificate: £7,275
- Taster module: £1,250
Find out more about how to pay and scholarships and funding.
Careers and employability
Our courses are designed to enable you to develop your skills and knowledge, whether to enhance your career prospects, proceed to further study, or for general interest.
Our modules cross the traditional academic boundaries of archaeology and ancient history, enabling you to gain a wider knowledge in your chosen area.
Employability skills are embedded throughout our curriculum. You will develop research and IT skills as well as critical thinking.
In addition, we offer our Distance Learning students a chance to take part in our Internships program gaining real-life valuable experience working with heritage bodies while they are still studying.
Course structure
- Level 1
- Level 2
- Level 3
Level 1
Full-time Year 1; Part-time Years 1 and 2
The BA in Ancient History and Classical Archaeology is made up of three levels, with each level taking two years for part-time students to complete, or one year for full-time students.
Each level consists of four modules, lasting 14 weeks each, with breaks in between. Part-time students study each module in turn, whereas full-time students study two modules at a time.
At level 1 all modules are compulsory core modules:
- Aims and Methods in Archaeology (also available as a stand-alone taster module)
- Introduction to Classical Archaeology
- Approaching the Roman World
- Approaching the Greek World
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Teaching and learning
Each module consists of specially prepared self-study materials, which are made available online through Blackboard, our virtual learning environment, and supplemented by our Library’s online materials and book-loans-by-post service.
We recommend that you set aside 12-15 hours study time per module per week. Each module has a module co-ordinator who will be in regular contact with you. They will be available via email or online call to provide advice on academic and study matters.
Wherever you are in the world, you will have access to University services, including the University’s David Wilson Library and its extensive range of electronic journals and e-books.
We provide excellent learning support, delivered by the same expert archaeology academics and professionals as our on-campus courses.
Because we understand that many of our students are combining study with demanding careers and family lives, we provide a range of entry and exit points onto our courses, along with the opportunity to move between full-time and part-time study if circumstances change.
Assessment
Modules are assessed by a variety of types of coursework. This includes written coursework, usually in the form of essays or reports as well as posters, site studies, and exercises. There are no examinations and no requirements for you to attend the University campus for assessments.
Key dates
Start date: 2 February 2026
Application deadline for February 2026 start: 12 January 2026
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient History and Classical Archaeology | BA | 3 years full-time | February and September each year | Apply Now |
| Ancient History and Classical Archaeology | BA | 6 years part-time | February and September each year | Apply Now |
| Ancient History and Classical Archaeology | DipHE | 2 years full-time | February and September each year | Apply Now |
| Ancient History and Classical Archaeology | DipHE | 4 years part-time | February and September each year | Apply Now |
| Ancient History and Classical Archaeology | CertHE | 1 year full-time | February and September each year | Apply Now |
| Ancient History and Classical Archaeology | CertHE | 2 years part-time | February and September each year | Apply Now |
| Aims and Methods in Archaeology | Taster module | 4-8 months part-time | February and September each year | Apply Now |
Employment Law LLM, PGDip, by distance learning
2 years
This is for you if… you want to develop your professional knowledge and skills in the practice of employment law and the management of employment relationships.
Course information
Taught byLeicester Law School
Admissions and course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
Submit a course enquiry
- Course description
- Entry requirements
- Fees and funding
- Careers and employability
- Related courses
Course description
What you’ll study
The programme is structured around four core areas:
- Individual Employment Relations: Explore employment contracts, wages, working time, and access to employment rights.
- Equality Law: Understand anti-discrimination laws covering race, sex, disability, religion, and family-friendly rights like flexible working.
- Termination of Employment: Examine unfair dismissal, redundancy, and TUPE transfers.
- International Labour Law and Collective Rights: Discover how global labour standards, human rights, and trade union law operate in the field of employment.
You’ll also complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice, guided by an expert supervisor, allowing you to develop original research and critical analysis skills.
Your career, your future
Graduates of this programme gain not only in-depth knowledge but also the ability to critically evaluate and apply employment law in practical scenarios. Whether you’re looking to advance your legal career, specialise in employment law, or simply explore this fascinating field, this course is for you.
PGDip option
Prefer a shorter route? Our Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) follows the same structure and materials as the LLM but without the dissertation. You can still upgrade to the LLM at a later date by registering for the dissertation (and paying the fee difference).
Course structure
- LLM
- PGDip
LLM
Core modules
- Individual Employment Relations (double module)
- Equality at Work (double module)
- Termination of Employment and Individual Dispute Resolution (double module)
- International Labour Law, Human Rights and Trade Union Law (double module)
- Employment Law Dissertation
Employment Law Dissertation
Module code: LW7803 (double module)
You will complete your 12,000-15,000-word dissertation in the field of employment law over the summer. Your dissertation is an extended piece of academic writing on a subject of your choosing. You will be supervised by an academic who specialises in your chosen topic.
The dissertation is designed to further enhance your independent research skills and investigate legal issues in an area of employment law. It will give you the chance to demonstrate sophisticated research skills in accessing and assessing a range of primary and secondary sources in the area of your dissertation topic. By building on skills and knowledge from your research project and previous modules your dissertation will support you in presenting your independent research, with continuous guided supervision throughout.
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
PGDip
Core modules
- Individual Employment Relations (double module)
- Equality at Work (double module)
- Termination of Employment and Individual Dispute Resolution (double module)
- International Labour Law, Human Rights and Trade Union Law (double module)
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Why Leicester?
Be assessed by coursework only and have maximum flexibility to study alongside your other commitments.
Learn from acknowledged national experts who are the leading thinkers within the field.
Be part of our strong and supportive distance learning community and receive individual guidance from your own Personal Tutor.
Teaching and learning
The course is taught by guided distance learning independent study.
Assessment
The course is assessed by means of module assignments and a dissertation (the dissertation requirement is applicable to those who are registered for the LLM degree).
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in October 2026
- LLM: £11,200
- PGDip: £7,460
There is a fee discount for companies and institutions where two or more colleagues from the same organisation apply for one of our two masters degrees. This is a 10% deduction each year from either the single yearly payment or the final instalment.
Find out more about tuition fees, scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in October 2026
- LLM: £11,200
- PGDip: £7,460
There is a fee discount for companies and institutions where two or more colleagues from the same organisation apply for one of our two masters degrees. This is a 10% deduction each year from either the single yearly payment or the final instalment.
Find out more about tuition fees, scholarships and funding.
Related courses
Information for your country or region
We welcome students from around the world. Please select your region from the list below to find out about entry requirements, national student societies and other regional-specific information.
If your country/region is not included in this list, please contact our Future Students Office who will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
Key dates
Start date: 6 October 2025
Application deadline for October 2025 start: 15 September 2025
Intelligence and Security MA, by distance learning
1-2 years, full- or part-time
From battling international terrorism to solving local crime, using intelligence has become crucial to security. But using it means understanding it – the debates and ethical concerns, how it’s collected and analysed. By exploring this topic in depth, you’ll learn what it takes to work in a number of important sectors.
Course information
Taught byPolitics and International Relations
Admissions and course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
Submit a course enquiry
Course description
This is the first course in Britain and only the second worldwide to be accredited by the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE), an international organisation dedicated to expanding research, knowledge and professional development in intelligence education. It will equip you with an understanding of key concepts and debates in intelligence and security and the current state of knowledge in the field. It will enable you to apply this new knowledge to your own field, whether as a practitioner or academic.
You will look in depth at four major themes:
- key concepts and debates in intelligence
- intelligence collection and analysis
- intelligence failure
- intelligence ethics
As well as a greater theoretical understanding of intelligence and security, this course looks at the subject from the perspective of civilian, military and police intelligence agencies as well as providing an insight into commercial intelligence activity, such as the provision of intelligence by private security companies and political risk analysis.
Combining world leading research by members of Politics and International Relations at Leicester, and their practical experience in the field of intelligence, this degree will give you an opportunity to conduct advanced study on intelligence theory and practice.
The MA in Intelligence and Security will be especially beneficial to you if you are seeking professional development and/or enhanced employability working with intelligence in central government, the military, the police, private security sector, non-governmental organisations, the UN or other international organisations.
By choosing to study by distance learning, you will have the flexibility to fit your study around existing commitments and enhance your career prospects without having to leave employment.
What’s the difference?
- For the MA you will complete four modules and a dissertation.
- For the PGDip you will complete four modules.
- For the PGCert you will complete two modules.
- The PGDip and PGCert are not available as full-time courses.
Course structure
- MA
- PGDip
- PGCert
MA
- Intelligence: Key Concepts and Debates
- Intelligence Techniques and Tradecraft
- Intelligence Failure
- Intelligence Ethics
Plus your Dissertation.
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
PGDip
- Intelligence: Key Concepts and Debates
- Intelligence Techniques and Tradecraft
- Intelligence Failure
- Intelligence Ethics
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
PGCert
The modules listed reflect those currently available to students. Every year, we review our modules and their content to ensure that our courses maintain the best academic and student experience possible. Whilst this does mean elements of your course may change in future academic years, it ensures your course is giving you a research-inspired education and preparing you for your future.
Entry requirements
2:1 degree or its equivalent in Politics, History, International Relations or other related subjects.
Equivalent relevant professional experience will be considered.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in January 2026
- MA: £9,550
- PGDip: £6,360
- PGCert: £3,180
Find out more about tuition fees, scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in January 2026
- MA: £9,550
- PGDip: £6,360
- PGCert: £3,180
Careers and employability
Our postgraduate degrees are an excellent way to enhance your expertise and career prospects. A postgraduate course in politics and/or international relations provides a foundation for a wide range of career options. You may seek to use your knowledge to work in government service, international organisations or areas of political research and journalism. Or you may opt to look for employment in an unrelated field such as banking, business or teaching where your MA will be respected as a postgraduate qualification.
Our politics and international relations courses are offered via distance learning, enabling you to tailor your study around your other commitments. The wide range of option modules provide you with the flexibility to tailor your course around your interests and also provide you with the skills and knowledge to move into a variety of careers or postgraduate research.
The MA in Intelligence and Security will be of use to you if you are seeking professional development or enhanced employability working with intelligence in central government, the military, the police and cognate services (such as the National Crime Agency, Border Force and HM Prison Service), the private security sector (including political risk), NGOs, the UN or other international organisations.
The course will also appeal to those interested in pursuing advanced postgraduate studies in the field of intelligence with an academic background in (but not limited to) International Relations, Politics, Criminology, War Studies, Terrorism Studies, History, Human Rights, Philosophy or Law.Our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you – by email, phone or skype – with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience and more. From registration to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Why Leicester?
Distance learning lets you apply new knowledge and insights to your working life while you are still studying. Many students choose to tackle work-related topics in their dissertations.
Our staff play leading roles in cutting-edge global research networks, actively advising and engaging with global policy communities, civil society, the media and public.
You’ll have the opportunity to share ideas and debate with a diverse and interesting group of students, many of whom work in sectors related to security and conflict.
Teaching and learning
Distance Learning
This course is taught entirely online via our virtual learning environment, Blackboard, therefore it is essential that you have reliable, regular access to the internet (preferably with a broadband connection) in order to participate.
As a distance learning student, you will have access to the University Library’s electronic service, the Leicester Digital Library, which includes a large number of e-journals and e-books. You can also make use of the University’s Career Development Service as well as a broad range of other support services.
If you live close to Leicester you can, of course, visit the Library in person. For UK-based students who wish to use other libraries, we can issue you with a card which allows you to do so. This is a national scheme which allows distance learning students to borrow material from up to three other participating libraries.
You will be guided through your modules by a well-trained and
nced tutor who will be available online throughout your studies. You will have access to the library’s special service for distance learning students, access to the internet and database services, as well as the virtual learning support environment, Blackboard.
Teaching and Assessment
You will get a weekly reading list accompanied by questions or exercises to get you thinking and help you engage critically with that week’s literature. Each week you are invited to join our online forums to discuss your reading, ask questions, share ideas and debate arguments.
Alongside your weekly reading and discussions you are expected to complete module activities, designed to build a supportive online community of students as well as develop your key scholarly skills. E-tivities take the form of a combination of non-credit bearing and credit-bearing assessments designed to complement and support the learning objectives for your particular module. Credit-bearing assessments for each module include a reflective statement and an end of module essay.
Your modules are structured enough to keep your studies on track whilst remaining flexible to the unique needs of distance learners, many of whom we know combine studies with demanding jobs.
You will be supported by a dedicated team of tutors and support staff available through Blackboard and email. Administrative support is available by telephone, and you can contact your personal tutor via telephone or Skype. You will be encouraged to contact other students to share views, ideas and issues and to create a virtual student community.
For the MA you must complete a dissertation.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence and Security | MA | 12 months by distance learning (full-time) | October each year | Apply Now |
| Intelligence and Security | MA | 24 months by distance learning (part-time) | January and October each year | Apply Now |
| Intelligence and Security | PGDip | 22 months by distance learning (part-time) | January and October each year | Apply Now |
| Intelligence and Security | PGCert | 12 months by distance learning (part-time) | January and October each year | Apply Now |