Remote but present: Developing and implementing a distance learning Masters course that cultivates a staff and student community

September 2021 saw the launch of the University’s first fully online master’s programme – MSc Psychology – an accredited postgraduate degree programme that had run as an on-campus course since 2010. Switching our mode of delivery enabled us to offer flexible, on-demand learning to our students, many of whom are busy, working professionals seeking a career change to Psychology. Whilst we saw benefits to online delivery, particularly in terms of curriculum innovation and accessibility, we were mindful of the challenges associated with online learning during the Pandemic (e.g., Cranfield et al., 2021; Turnbull et al., 2021). We knew we needed to plan our teaching and learning approach to create a high quality, student-centred learning experience that retained a sense of community amongst students, whilst studying remotely. In this talk, we describe how we did this - reviewing the course planning timeline and a design that combines asynchronous and synchronous teaching and learning activities, delivered through MS Teams and Blackboard. We then reflect on the first year of distance learning and consider the success of maintaining a virtual community of learners, along with some of the challenges this presents from the perspective of staff and students. In sharing our hints and tips, we hope to show that high quality distance learning is both possible and rewarding for everyone involved.