Certificate

PGCert Founder Practice Research Methods

Fifteen credits of methods for founders who research customers across timezones—not an MBA and not a VC intro.

Online only

9 months48 creditsEnglish (ES/PT/HI support hubs do not change the language of assessment unless a bilingual pathway is stated)

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PGCert Founder Practice Research Methods

Overview

Founders collect anecdotes and call them research. This certificate makes the difference visible: sampling across meridians so your only users are not in your afternoon, interview ethics when the ‘customer’ is in a support queue in Spanish, and notes that would survive an identity-checked methods exam. FollowLap University will not introduce you to venture capital and will not stamp a UN SDG logo on your startup. You will leave with a practice of evidence that a distributed university also uses: timezone-fair contact, honest language of assessment, and no fake fieldwork on a campus you do not have. Nine months. Four modules. Fifteen credits. The assessed methods pack must show sampling that is not only the founder’s afternoon users, consent for WhatsApp and ticket traces, and limitations stated as skill rather than as apology. Spanish, Portuguese, or Hindi recruitment is allowed; ghostwritten analysis is not. Identity-checked habits apply to founders the same way they apply to master’s students. FollowLap University will not stage a demo day, will not introduce investors, and will not let SDG artwork stand in for evidence. Nine months is short on purpose: methods, not a miniature MBA.

Fifteen credits: asking, sampling across zones, analysing messy digital traces, and a methods capstone pack.

Who This Programme Is For

Early-stage founders in digital-first firms
Operator-founders doing customer work themselves
Accelerator alumni who never learned methods
Intrapreneurs researching new remote products

How you can study

Digital only

Study online

100% tuition-free online

Every programme can be completed fully online with zero tuition fees — study from anywhere in the world.

✦ Tuition: £0 / $0
✦ Course exams from $60 — 95% sponsorship rate
✦ Learn from anywhere · Live online seminars

Apply online →

What You Will Learn

Design a timezone-fair interview sample
Separate hub translation from your own analysis
Produce a methods pack that could be identity-checked
Refuse pitch-deck evidence standards in assessed work
State that the certificate is not an MBA or securities licence

Curriculum

Module 1: Asking

Code	Course	Credits
FollowLap5901	Interview Ethics across Timezones Students name the methods used in this subject and apply one of them to a short case. The module is Interview Ethics across Timezones. Interview Ethics across Timezones: the core problem A worked case in Interview Ethics across Timezones Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5902	WhatsApp, Tickets, and Consent Students compare two cases and explain why the outcomes differed. The module is WhatsApp, Tickets, and Consent. WhatsApp, Tickets, and Consent: the core problem A worked case in WhatsApp, Tickets, and Consent Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5903	English Assessment of Founder Research Students produce a professional artefact, with sources and a review of its weaknesses. The module is English Assessment of Founder Research. English Assessment of Founder Research: the core problem A worked case in English Assessment of Founder Research Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5904	Identity-Checked Methods Habits Students complete a supervised project and defend the method and the result. The module is Identity-Checked Methods Habits. Identity-Checked Methods Habits: the core problem A worked case in Identity-Checked Methods Habits Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3

Module 2: Sampling

Code	Course	Credits
FollowLap5905	Not Only Your Afternoon Users Students name the methods used in this subject and apply one of them to a short case. The module is Not Only Your Afternoon Users. Not Only Your Afternoon Users: the core problem A worked case in Not Only Your Afternoon Users Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5906	ES/PT/HI Recruitment without Ghostwriting Students compare two cases and explain why the outcomes differed. The module is ES/PT/HI Recruitment without Ghostwriting. ES/PT/HI Recruitment without Ghostwriting: the core problem A worked case in ES/PT/HI Recruitment without Ghostwriting Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5907	Bandwidth and Who Can Join a Call Students produce a professional artefact, with sources and a review of its weaknesses. The module is Bandwidth and Who Can Join a Call. Bandwidth and Who Can Join a Call: the core problem A worked case in Bandwidth and Who Can Join a Call Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5908	Contractor versus Customer Voices Students complete a supervised project and defend the method and the result. The module is Contractor versus Customer Voices. Contractor versus Customer Voices: the core problem A worked case in Contractor versus Customer Voices Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3

Module 3: Analysing

Code	Course	Credits
FollowLap5909	Notes that Survive Audit Students name the methods used in this subject and apply one of them to a short case. The module is Notes that Survive Audit. Notes that Survive Audit: the core problem A worked case in Notes that Survive Audit Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5910	Trace Data without Surveillance Theatre Students compare two cases and explain why the outcomes differed. The module is Trace Data without Surveillance Theatre. Trace Data without Surveillance Theatre: the core problem A worked case in Trace Data without Surveillance Theatre Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5911	Writing Findings without UN Logos Students produce a professional artefact, with sources and a review of its weaknesses. The module is Writing Findings without UN Logos. Writing Findings without UN Logos: the core problem A worked case in Writing Findings without UN Logos Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5912	Limitations as a Professional Skill Students complete a supervised project and defend the method and the result. The module is Limitations as a Professional Skill. Limitations as a Professional Skill: the core problem A worked case in Limitations as a Professional Skill Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3

Module 4: Capstone pack

Code	Course	Credits
FollowLap5913	Research Design Clinic Students name the methods used in this subject and apply one of them to a short case. The module is Research Design Clinic. Research Design Clinic: the core problem A worked case in Research Design Clinic Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5914	Anonymisation Workshop Students compare two cases and explain why the outcomes differed. The module is Anonymisation Workshop. Anonymisation Workshop: the core problem A worked case in Anonymisation Workshop Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5915	Briefing a Co-Founder in UTC Students produce a professional artefact, with sources and a review of its weaknesses. The module is Briefing a Co-Founder in UTC. Briefing a Co-Founder in UTC: the core problem A worked case in Briefing a Co-Founder in UTC Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3
FollowLap5916	Capstone: Founder Practice Methods Pack Students complete a supervised project and defend the method and the result. The module is Capstone: Founder Practice Methods Pack. Capstone: Founder Practice Methods Pack: the core problem A worked case in Capstone: Founder Practice Methods Pack Evidence, sources, and limits An assessed task a reviewer can mark	3

Career Paths

Founder-operator (methods-literate)
Customer research lead in a small remote firm
Product discovery specialist
Evidence lead in a digital NGO or social enterprise
Preparation for a later master’s methods sequence

Programme Highlights

15 credits / 9 months
No MBA costume
Timezone-fair sampling
Tuition-free online
Methods pack, not a pitch

Assessment

Modules are assessed through a published mix of coursework, applied projects, and examinations. Exam windows are announced in advance so students in other time zones are not forced into overnight sittings. Alternative arrangements are available where documented.

Admission requirements

Academic entry

Bachelor's degree or three years of relevant professional experience
Identity document for remote identity-checked assessment

English language

English proficiency: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL 46, or equivalent (waived for prior English-medium study). Spanish, Portuguese, or Hindi support hubs do not replace the language of assessment unless the programme explicitly offers a bilingual assessment pathway.

Documents

Brief statement of interest (250 words)
CV or résumé
Founder, operator, or product-discovery context should be visible in the statement of interest

Programme questions

How long is the PGCert Founder Practice Research Methods?

The published duration is 9 months. Teaching language: English (ES/PT/HI support hubs do not change the language of assessment unless a bilingual pathway is stated). Actual time-to-complete depends on mode and any recognised prior learning.

Can I study this from my country?

This is a fully online award. You study from your country. No student visa and no campus relocation are required.

What does it cost?

Degree tuition for this award is published as £0 / tuition-free on the online pathway. Examination or administrative fees may apply at checkout — never an annual tuition invoice. Check the Fees page for any extras.

What are the entry requirements?

Requirements are grouped on this page (academic, English, documents). Equivalent qualifications are considered. English may be waived after prior English-medium study.

How is the programme assessed?

Assessment is typically a mix of coursework, projects, and examinations. Doctoral awards include a thesis or dissertation and an oral examination. Details sit in the programme specification and module outlines.

Will this award be recognised where I live?

Recognition of the award for local employment, professional licence, or ministry attestation is decided by your employer or regulator. FollowLap University publishes verification pages for certificates. We do not claim automatic equivalence in every country.

How do I apply?

Start an application on this website. Progress is saved from the first step. Admissions: admissions@followlap.com.

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