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Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE)

The Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) offers a phased transition into professional life. During this 1-year course, you spend 12 weeks at a university or other higher education institution and 24 weeks on teaching placements in 2 different schools. You work with other trainees and, if successful, are awarded an academic Postgraduate Certificate in Education along with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), enabling you to teach in state maintained schools in England and Wales. The PGCE contains some credits at master's degree level (M level credits) and H level credits (equivalent of final year honours degree). The number of M level credits in postgraduate awards varies significantly from one provider to another. Many providers will give you the opportunity to study for the additional M level credits required to obtain a full master's level qualification after you have completed your PGCE course.

Variations on the PGCE Course

A small number of higher education institutions offer these qualifications.

PGCE + Master (French or Spanish)
This programme leads to PGCE plus a Master’s degree in teaching French or Spanish as a foreign language. Two-thirds of your PGCE time is school-based and one third is college-based with study time split between England and France or Spain.

PGCE + Lehramt (German)
This programme leads to PGCE plus an Austrian Teaching Certificate for Upper Primary and Lower Secondary schools. Two-thirds of your PGCE time is school-based and one third is college-based with study time split between England and Austria.

School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)

If you’re a graduate and want to complete your training in a school environment, consider School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT). SCITT programmes are designed and delivered by groups of neighbouring schools and colleges. All SCITT courses lead to QTS. Many, though not all, will also award you the postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) validated by a higher education institution.

How to apply

The majority of PGCE and SCITT applications are made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). However, some ITT providers require that you approach them directly.