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Postgraduate Certificate Secondary Education (QTS)

Start date
September
Duration
36 weeks
Course Type
Postgraduate, Taught

The one year Postgraduate Certificate in Education leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Our specialist programmes, which offer high quality training and support, will prepare you to teach in the 11-18 age range and are run in close partnership with schools.

The one-year PGCE (QTS) course prepares you for life as a teacher of your subject in secondary schools. The subjects that we currently offer are:

The course develops your skills and abilities in understanding the complexities which surround the teaching and learning of your chosen subject. This will help you to develop into a reflective teacher who carefully considers the choices in how to teach your subject and make informed decisions about how you work best with pupils.

The Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) offered by the University of Birmingham combines theory and professional practice leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The PGCE also offers 80 credits that may be used to contribute to further study towards a Master’s degree, such as the MA in Teaching Studies offered by the University of Birmingham in the West Midlands.

School-based work is an important part of the programme, with students normally spending a total of 28 weeks working in schools. During the programme you benefit from both carefully supported introductory work in different schools and the experience of spending a significant length of time in two schools.

The final assessment of teaching is based on the spring/summer term school placement. Assessment is shared between University tutors, staff responsible for students in schools, and external examiners. All aspects of your contribution to the life of the school are taken into account, in particular the teaching of your main subject.

During the course supervised experience and practice are arranged in schools of various kinds across the 11–18 age range. We are fortunate in being able to work with a wide range of partnership schools, including mixed comprehensives, single-sex schools, sixth-form colleges, and our own University Training School. Many of the schools offer opportunities to work with pupils from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds. 

Equal Opportunities

The School of Education and University of Birmingham is committed to equal opportunities in the access to and provision of education. For more information please see the following documents:

Dubai Campus

Study for a PGCE with iQTS at the University of Birmingham Dubai campus

Our PGCE with iQTS which has been approved by the KHDA, follows teaching standards within the U.A.E

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR COURSES IN DUBAI

 

Fees

Fees for 2024-2025 are:

£9,250 (UK), £24,120 (International).

When you apply for this course, it is important that you also take into account living costs and should ensure that you will have sufficient funds to finance the full duration of your studies. Our PGCE programmes include a significant amount of time spent on placements in a variety of schools at different locations, and so when budgeting to study you should also allow for travel to and from placements, as well as textbooks, printing, photocopying and stationery that you may need.

Bursaries and Scholarships

Government training bursaries  and Scholarships may be available depending on your subject and degree classification.

Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan

With or without a bursary, you can also access a  Tuition Fee Loan to cover your tuition fees and a Maintenance Loan for your living costs. The available loans for 2023-2024 are:

  • a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,250 to cover your fees
  • a Maintenance Loan of up to £13,022 to support your living costs

Additional financial support

If you have children or a disability, extra funding is available. For instance, you could get:

Find out more information on the  extra financial support available

For further information contact the School directly or visit the Funding, Graduation & Awards Office via online enquiries. 

How To Apply

Apply online through DfE Apply

Please view the individual subject pages to find out the course code.

The Interview process 

Selection is rigorous and designed to identify candidates with the strongest aptitude. Candidates selected for interview will be invited to:

  • meet course tutors
  • find out more about the course
  • have a one to one interview
  • show GCSE and Degree certificates (where these are available).

We work closely with partner schools to select candidates and applicants will often have the opportunity to meet senior colleagues from partner schools when they join us for interview day.  

Our Standard Requirements

All applicants to Secondary PGCE (QTS) programmes must hold a degree from a UK HEI (or an equivalent qualification) in a relevant subject, as well as GCSE Maths and English (Grade 4/C or above) or equivalent qualifications which will be a condition of any offer, if not already achieved. Equivalency tests will be accepted but only from equivalency testing. 

Please see individual subject pages for further information.

If you have any questions about entry requirements, please contact us on ITEadmissions@contacts.bham.ac.uk

You must also:

  • complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before taking up a place.
  • complete relevant checks to ensure you have the health and physical capacity to teach.
  • agree to abide by the University of Birmingham Code of Professional Conduct and Fitness to Practise.

*Equivalent GCSE grades

International Requirements



International Students

English Language requirements

IELTS 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any band
PTE Academic 67 with no less than 64 in all four skills
TOEFL - 88 IBT overall with no less than 20 in Listening, 21 in Reading, 22 in Speaking and 21 in Writing
Cambridge English Advanced: 176 overall with 169 in each component

The PGCE programme runs from early September to late June. You will undertake two substantial placements in schools – one in term one and one in terms two and three. Approximately two thirds of the year will be spent in school and one third in the University.

The programme will include the study of subject-based teaching methods as well as the study of broader whole school issues.  A variety of teaching styles and approaches to learning will be used in the presentation of the themes. These include University-based lectures, small group seminars and workshops, school-based work with pupils and teachers, and work undertaken individually or with other groups of students.

You will benefit from a specialist programme, working with a subject tutor and peers, developing a professional network which will sustain you into your career. Our Professional Enquiry course provides breadth and depth of insight across key themes such as learning theories, assessment, equalities, inclusion and teacher health and wellbeing. An additional PSHE award is also available to all students.

You will have a personal academic tutor to guide and support you, as well as a dedicated subject mentor in both your placement schools.

You will complete six modules, five of which require a written assignment. For the final module, University tutors and school-based mentors will share the assessment against the Teachers’ Standards for the award of QTS.

There is currently high demand for secondary teachers in the region and beyond. Employment rates are consistently high and strong links with the partnership schools mean that many students go into employment in the region.