Job Description

Online Module Tutor - Psychology

Reference number: JR258855

Location: Remote

Contract Type: Freelance

Salary: Competitive

We are seeking freelance contractors with expertise in Psychology and experience in Higher Education to deliver undergraduate and postgraduate online modules for students studying with the University of Essex Online.

In this role, you will support and guide students in a fully online learning environment, helping to deliver an engaging and high-quality academic experience.

There may also be opportunities to contribute to:

• Dissertation supervision
• Module content development

Find out more about our programmes: https://online.essex.ac.uk/.

Subject Areas

We welcome applications from individuals with expertise in general programme areas but particularly in one or more of the following areas:

• Social Psychologists
• Biological Psychologists
• Health Psychology
• Reasoning and Decision-Making
• Investigative Psychology
• Occupational Psychology
• Psychology and the Media
• Educational Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Quantitative Psychology
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Psychobiology and Neuroscience
• Psychology of Sport and Exercise

What we do

At Kaplan Higher Education UK, we are experts in online Higher Education (HE). Working closely with our partner universities, our vision is to become a world leader in online learning, making higher education accessible to anyone with the potential and drive to succeed.

We develop, deliver, support and market, sector-leading online higher education programmes to a global student audience. Our innovative and unique online pedagogy utilises the latest digital learning technologies to provide teaching excellence and a world-class student experience.

We work in collaboration with our university partners to develop engaging, interactive learning materials using the latest digital learning technologies. This approach blends our unique online pedagogy with the research-led subject expertise of our partners.

Role Responsibilities:

Module Tutor

As a freelance tutor, you will:

• Deliver online teaching sessions.
• Facilitate discussion forums and student engagement.
• Hold virtual office hours.
• Respond to academic queries and student communications.
• Mark and moderate formative and summative assessments.
• Provide constructive, high-quality feedback.
• Support students in achieving their learning outcomes.

Dissertation Supervision (where applicable)

As a freelance dissertation supervisor, you will:

• Support students through their final project / dissertation.
• Mark and second-mark dissertations

Content Development (where applicable)

As a freelance content developer, you will:

• Create or review lecture materials (e.g. lecturecasts).
• Design or review assessments and learning activities.
• Develop or review formative tasks (e.g. multiple choice questions).

Requirements:

Module Tutor

Education - Essential Criteria

• Experience of personal tuition.
• Educated to PhD level (or equivalent) or have relevant industry experience (for postgraduate activities).
• Hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.
• Hold a HE teaching qualification and/or Advance HE Fellowship (FHEA/SFHEA/PFHEA) and/or PGCE (or equivalent) with substantial teaching in higher education.

Experience - Essential Criteria

• Teaching in Higher Education (including seminars/tutorials).
• Online teaching (or leading other activities) using platforms such as Zoom or Teams.
• Use of virtual learning environments (VLEs) or similar.
• Assessment marking and moderation in HE.

Skills - Essential Criteria

• Ability to deliver engaging online teaching.
• Ability to answer questions clearly.
• Ability to support students.
• Ability to mark appropriately and provide clear, constructive feedback.
• Confidence in managing online delivery challenges.
• Ability to encourage student participation and interaction.

Desirable Criteria

• A record of research, scholarly activity, or industry experience.

Dissertation Supervision - additional essential criteria

• Experience of dissertation supervision, including ethics processes.
• Ability to appropriately assess ethics forms.

Content development - additional essential criteria

• Experience of developing HE content and assessment materials.
• Ability to develop content that enhances learning and employability.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Applicants must be UK residents (typically residing in the UK for at least 183 days per tax year).
• We cannot accept applications from candidates on a student visa.

You must have:

• A reliable internet connection.
• A personal laptop/PC (compatible with MS Edge).
• A smartphone/device for authentication (MS Authenticator).

Application Process

To apply, please submit:

• An up-to-date CV
• Responses to the application questions.
• Deadline - 11pm on 14th October 2026.

In your CV please ensure you include the following:

• Academic qualifications
• Teaching qualifications / Advance HE status
• Higher Education experience
• Research/scholarly activity
• Industry experience

Selection Process

The recruitment process consists of three stages:

1. Application review - Assessment of qualifications and experience
2. Activity stage - Marking exercise and video task.
3. Interview - Focus on the ability to answer questions, the challenges of online delivery and support for students.

Interview date: Tuesday 3rd November 2026

Shortlisted candidates to interview stage will receive an invitation to the interview by Friday 30th October 2026.

Contractor Onboarding

Successful candidates will complete a one-week onboarding period starting on Tuesday 17th November 2026.

This can be completed flexibly within the week and must be finished before starting any teaching or related activity.

For those with the appropriate experience (determined in the application review), there may be the opportunity to be considered for dissertation supervision and/or content development work and/or additional roles. There will be dissertation and content development tasks to complete during the Contractor Onboarding to determine your suitability.

Additional Information

Please note following an unsuccessful application, we kindly ask that you do not reapply for this role within a 12-month period.

Application Support

If you require support completing your application please email the Recruitment Team kaplanstaff.recruitment@kaplan.com.

Disability Confident Scheme and Reasonable Adjustments

At Kaplan International, we are committed to working in a diverse organisation and strive to provide equality of opportunity for all. We encourage and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or identity, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnership.

Following the submission of an application, applicants will receive details of how to request their application be considered under our Disability Confident Scheme. Applicants will also be given information on how to request reasonable adjustments if selected for interview.