Key features
- Benefit from highly skilled and qualified tutors with many yearsñޙ experience in the further education and skills sector. Spend at least two days a week on placement in a further education and skills setting.
- Take advantage of opportunities to network with potential employers. Follow in the footsteps of many of our trainees and possibly go on to find employment within the organisations you work with during your placement.
- Demonstrate innovation, creativity and enterprise throughout your time on the programme and benefit from the way education for sustainable development is embedded in the programme. Work closely with your fellow trainees, learning together and from one another, with peer-support is an important part of the programmeñޙs philosophy and organisation.
- This qualification is tailored for applicants who hold a bachelors or masters degree. The Certificate in Education is available to those who do not hold one of these qualifications.
- We work with the local General and Specialist Further Colleges and would invite applicants with a range of qualifications and relevant experience. On completion take your qualifications to the next level - after completing this course you'll have the option to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status with the Society for Education and Training (SET).
Course details
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Year 1
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You are expected to complete four 30-credit modules and ten teaching observations. As a full-time trainee you are committed to a Monday-to-Friday week of academic and professional study, consisting of two full days per week of on-campus study, a minimum of at least two days per week of professional practice placement (arranged by the University) and one day per week of independent study and research. You work closely with your colleagues on the programme, learning together and from one another, with peer support an important part of the programme organisation and learning. Your teaching observations are carried out by university tutors and subject-specialist mentors in an atmosphere of professional evaluation and support.
Core modules
PCET601
Learners, Learning and TeachingThis module, taken at the start of the course, addresses legal, policy-based and theoretical understandings of practices in Further Education and Skills Sector (FE&S). It prepares teachers for practice and helps them to reflect and respond to the needs of learners, utilising a range of approaches to teaching and assessment, while ensuring they understand the need for compliance with regulatory systems. It also inducts the teachers into the processes and approaches of the teacher training course that they will engage with throughout their studies.
PCET702
Subject Specialist Teaching and Managing the Learning EnvironmentThis module supports a trainee teacherñޙs investigation into and application of subject specialist pedagogy. Trainee teachers will analyse and critically evaluate theories and principles of inclusive/adaptive practice, identifying ways to improve practice, with reference to the Occupational Standards. Through ongoing experiential learning and reflective practice, trainee teachers will be evidencing their creativity, resilience and flexibility as practitioners. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities.
PCET703
Teaching and the CurriculumThis module explores the development of subject specialist curricula and associated pedagogies. Trainee teachers demonstrate the ability to make and justify choices made in curriculum design. Trainee teachers will show an holistic awareness of EMD, EDI, ESD and SEND in relation to inclusive curriculum design. Trainees will also critically analyse and evaluate the use of digital technologies and how they can and will shape educational practices. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities
PCET704
Professional PracticeThis module focuses upon notions of professionalism and wider professional practice roles and responsibilities associated with the learner journey. Concepts and systems of quality assurance and quality improvement will be critically analysed. Trainee teachers will demonstrate engagement and competence with all the Occupational Standards and consolidate their enactment of the range of teacher roles and responsibilities. The module will also look forward to future practices, CPD, and the gaining of Professional Status. Participants reflexively evaluate their professional and personal progress and plan future development to take them in to their first year of teaching post qualification.
Optional modules
PCET602
Subject Specialist Teaching and Managing the Learning EnvironmentThis module supports a trainee teacherñޙs investigation into and application of subject specialist pedagogy. Trainee teachers will analyse and critically evaluate theories and principles of inclusive/adaptive practice, identifying ways to improve practice, with reference to the Occupational Standards. Through ongoing experiential learning and reflective practice, trainee teachers will be evidencing their creativity, resilience and flexibility as practitioners. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities.
PCET603
Teaching and the CurriculumThis module explores the development of subject specialist curricula and associated pedagogies. Trainee teachers demonstrate the ability to make and justify choices made in curriculum design. Trainee teachers will show a holistic awareness of EMD, EDI, ESD and SEND in relation to inclusive curriculum design. Trainees will also critically analyse and evaluate the use of digital technologies and how they can and will shape educational practices. Trainees will work with their mentor to engage in the full range of teaching activities.
PCET604
Professional PracticeThis module focuses upon notions of professionalism and wider professional practice roles and responsibilities associated with the learner journey. Concepts and systems of quality assurance and quality improvement will be critically analysed. Trainee teachers will demonstrate engagement and competence with all the Occupational Standards and consolidate their enactment of the range of teacher roles and responsibilities. The module will also look forward to future practices, CPD, and the gaining of Professional Status. Participants reflexively evaluate their professional and personal progress and plan future development to take them in to their first year of teaching post qualification.
Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.
The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
If English is not your first language then weñޙll need evidence of your proficiency in English as follows:
Non-academic requirements
- An interview is a pre-requisite for entry onto this programme. The first stage interview is conducted by a member of the teaching team. If successful there will be a second interview with a subject specialist tutor from the placement college. This interview is to ascertain your level of subject knowledge in the areas that you might reasonably be expected to deliver whilst on your teaching placement. Find more information about interviews in the
Institute's interview pages. - Youñޙll be required to complete a satisfactory enhanced
DBS (formerly CRB) Enhanced Disclosure , register with the Independent Safeguarding Authority and complete a criminal convictions self-declaration form. Find all of theimportant documentation you'll need when applying for this programme - You must be deemed
fit to teach.
Fees, costs and funding
| 2025-2026 | 2026-2027 | |
|---|---|---|
| Home | £9,535 | £9,790 |
| International | £17,600 | £18,150 |
| Part time (Home) | £795 | £815 |
Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding.
PLEASE NOTE:
The UK Government has announced that a levy on tuition fee income in the region of 6% of an international studentñޙs tuition fees may be introduced. If implemented, the University reserves the right to increase your tuition fees accordingly. The Government has made it clear that it has not officially decided on its stance and it is possible that the eventual levy amount or arrangements may differ from the initial proposal. Therefore, the University reserves the right to adjust tuition fees in accordance with the Governmentñޙs final position on this levy.
We understand that clarity around tuition fees is important when planning your studies. Therefore, please note that the tuition fee shown on this page may change as a result of the introduction of a levy. We advise you to monitor this page regularly to stay informed of any updates to your tuition fees.
Additional costs
How to apply
There is a two-stage interview process for this course. The first is conducted by a member of the teaching team, which includes a short presentation that you prepare and deliver and follows the format described below. If successful there will be a second interview with a subject specialist tutor from the placement college. This interview is to ascertain your level of subject knowledge in the areas that you might reasonably be expected to teach whilst on your teaching placement. Find more information about interviews in the
* Additional funding opportunities
- computing £31,000
- engineering or manufacturing £31,000
- mathematics £31,000
- science, including biology, chemistry, or physics £31,000
- English (capped at 100 places) £10,000
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) £15,000
Graduate insight
James completed his PGCE in 2014. He is currently Interim Assistant Vice Principal and Head of Department at North Somerset Enterprise and Technology College.
Tom, now working as a Technical Trainer, tells us more about his path since graduation.
Lecturers
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![Dr Mark Delf Dr Mark Delf Lecturer in Education (PGCE/Cert inc DET) and Mentor/Placement Coordination]()
Dr Mark Delf
Lecturer in Education (PGCE/Cert inc DET) and Mentor/Placement Coordination
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![Dr James Tarling Dr James Tarling Lecturer in Education]()
Dr James Tarling
Lecturer in Education
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![Dr Louise Webber Dr Louise Webber Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies]()
Dr Louise Webber
Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies


