Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
The Postgraduate Certificate in Data Protection Law and Information Governance is a distance learning course that has been specifically designed to meet the needs of professionals already working in data protection and/or information governance.
You will study three modules. The first of these, the legal research module, will develop your ability to undertake legal research and to present your research findings appropriately. In the second module you will develop your understanding of information governance and security principles that underpin the management of an organisation’s information assets. The third module will focus upon data protection law and practice.
The programme will not only provide you with valuable knowledge of current law and proposed developments to the law and to the principles of information governance, it will also enhance your ability to advise upon both information governance and data protection. The research, writing and presentation skills you will develop will also be of use to you in your working environment. Unlike typical CPD type learning this programme will challenge you to undertake critical evaluation of the law and to consider the application of information governance and security to your own/a chosen organisation.
Level of Study
Postgraduate
Mode of Study
1 year Distance Learning
Department
Northumbria Law School
Location
City Campus, Northumbria University
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
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Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Take a look at what Northumbria has to offer and discover what studying with us can do for you.
Applicants should normally have:
A minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in Law, or an honours degree with law modules. Relevant professional qualifications or suitable experience will also be considered.
International qualifications:
If you have studied a non UK qualification, you can see how your qualifications compare to the standard entry criteria, by selecting the country that you received the qualification in, from our country pages. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry
English language requirements:
International applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language section. Visit www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications
Full UK Fee: £3,233
Full International Fee: £3,233
Scholarships and Discounts
ADDITIONAL COSTS
Whilst books are made available via the University Library, students may wish to purchase key texts. One text per module is recommended for purchase throughout this course. There is one study day, held at Northumbria University, associated with each of the three modules on this course that would give rise to travel and accommodation costs. (The study days are not compulsory).
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
KC7046 -
Information Governance and Security (Core,20 Credits)
You will learn about the information governance and security principles that underpin the management of an organisation’s information assets. You will critically analyse the key concepts, theories, standards and frameworks of information governance and security, including risk management. This will enable you to evaluate an organisation’s current approach to information governance and security and to advise on the design and implementation of an appropriate strategy for managing an organisation’s information assets to meet legal, regulatory, organisational and/or societal needs for information governance and security. Topics include:
• Key concepts and principles of information governance and security
• Information governance, security, risk and business continuity frameworks and standards
• Legislative and regulatory frameworks
• Strategies, policy and procedures
• Risk management and business continuity
• Embedding information governance and security (incl. roles, responsibilities and culture)
LW7002 -
Data Protection (Core,20 Credits)
In this module you will develop a critical understanding of the laws relating to data protection in the UK. Whilst the UK is no longer a part of the European Union, some consideration will also be given to the European position, recognising that UK laws have been shaped in Europe and that guidance emanating from the Article 29 Working Party and the European Data Protection Board may be helpful in understanding the UK legislation. You will examine the development of data protection law in England and Europe, the provisions of the Data Protection Act 2018 (‘the DPA 2018’), the UK and the EUGeneral Data Protection Regulation(GDPR). The module will take a critical look at the legal framework that governs data protection and privacy. This module covers the following topics:
1. The history and development of UK data protection law.
2. Key definitions within the UK GDPR and DPA 2018 and how they have been interpreted and applied.
3. The key principles detailed within the UK GDPR which govern data processing.
4. The Rights detailed in the UK GDPR.
5. The obligations which are imposed on organisations over how they process personal data.
6. Notification and Enforcement.
LW7003 -
Legal Research (Core,20 Credits)
This module seeks to prepare you for the legal research you will be undertaking on your postgraduate programme. This will ensure that you have an appropriate understanding and awareness of appropriate research methods with a particular focus upon: seeking and obtaining legal research sources, recording that data to an appropriate academic standard including issues of referencing and plagiarism, along with effective communication of research methods for example in written essays and oral presentations. The module focuses on the development of skills in three keys areas: problem identification and analysis, information gathering and presentation of results.
Our Applicant Services team will be happy to help. They can be contacted on 0191 406 0901 or by using our Contact Form.
Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.
Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.
Northumbria University is committed to developing an inclusive, diverse and accessible campus and wider University community and are determined to ensure that opportunities we provide are open to all.
We are proud to work in partnership with AccessAble to provide Detailed Access Guides to our buildings and facilities across our City, Coach Lane and London Campuses. A Detailed Access Guide lets you know what access will be like when you visit somewhere. It looks at the route you will use getting in and what is available inside. All guides have Accessibility Symbols that give you a quick overview of what is available, and photographs to show you what to expect. The guides are produced by trained surveyors who visit our campuses annually to ensure you have trusted and accurate information.
You can use Northumbria’s AccessAble Guides anytime to check the accessibility of a building or facility and to plan your routes and journeys. Search by location, building or accessibility feature to find the information you need.
We are dedicated to helping students who may require additional support during their student journey and offer 1-1 advice and guidance appropriate to individual requirements. If you feel you may need additional support you can find out more about what we offer here where you can also contact us with any questions you may have:
Self funding PG students can now benefit from our flexible easy payment scheme
Graduates of the University are entitled to a 20% alumni discount on Masters study at Northumbria (T&C’s apply).
If you want to give your career an extra edge, change direction or simply want to love what you do, have a look at our full range of Masters Programmes
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