Postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE)

A PGCE course mainly focuses on developing your teaching skills, and not on the subject you intend to teach. For this reason, you are expected to have a good understanding of your chosen subject(s) – usually to degree level – before you start training.

How long does a PGCE take?

Courses generally last for one year full-time or up to two years part-time.

Where can you do a PGCE?

PGCE courses are available at universities and colleges throughout the UK. It may also be possible to study for a PGCE via flexible distance learning, or in a school by completing a programme of school centred initial teacher training (SCITT).

What qualifications do you need?

You must have a UK undergraduate degree or a recognised equivalent qualification. Find out if your qualifications are equivalent to UK qualifications through UK NARIC. If your degree subject does not link closely to the subject you intend to teach, you may improve your ability to gain a place on an ITT programme by following a pre-training course to boost your subject knowledge.

You also need a standard equivalent to at least a grade C in GCSE English language and mathematics. If you want to teach primary or key stage 2/3 (ages 7-14), you must also have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade C in a GCSE science subject.

Is there any additional funding available?

Eligible trainees completing PGCE courses in England are entitled to receive a tax-free training bursary of £6,000-9,000. The precise amount depends on the subject and course start date. Similar training bursaries are available in Wales, where eligible trainees receive £4,200 - £7,200, depending on their subject, and can still receive a tuition fee grant of £1,800 meaning that the overall level of support in Wales is the same as in England. Visit the Student Finance Wales website to find out more.

Trainees who undertake secondary ITT through the medium of Welsh may be eligible for the £1,500 Welsh Medium Incentive Supplement (£1,800 for trainees undertaking science and mathematics courses). This is aimed at trainees who need extra support to raise confidence in their ability to teach effectively through the medium of Welsh.

In addition to funding such as this, you may be eligible to receive taxable 'golden hello' payments (or teaching grants in Wales) worth between £2,500 and £5,000, depending on the subject, after successfully completing your induction period as a newly qualified teacher (NQT).

You can find full details of funding for postgraduate teacher training and full details of additional incentive payments for new teachers on this website.

Funding arrangements from 1 August 2008

For trainees starting primary postgraduate ITT courses after 1 August 2008, the bursary will be reduced from £6,000 to £4,000.

For trainees starting secondary postgraduate English, dance and drama ITT courses after 1 August 2008, the bursary will be reduced from £9,000 to £6,000. Trainees on these courses will not be eligible to receive a golden hello.

PGCEs in maths and science

From 2007 there will be funding available for extended postgraduate mathematics and science courses.

These courses are aimed at people who want to teach mathematics or science but need some additional subject knowledge training.

Courses will begin during the 2007/08 academic year and will last between 18 months and 2 years.

Eligible trainees undertaking these courses will receive a supplementary bursary of £7,000 taking their total bursary over the whole period of the course to £16,000. Bursaries are tax free. Read more about bursaries and for more information about the eligibility criteria.

To qualify trainees must meet the normal conditions for initial teacher training (ITT) and be taking a course which will lead to them being qualified to teach mathematics, physics or chemistry to key stage 4 and key stage 3 or post-16.

For the latest information on course providers please call the Teaching Information Line on 0845 6000 991.

Some universities offer distance learning and online elements of these PGCE courses. The Open University and Canterbury Christ Church University both offer this kind of postgraduate ITT.

How do you apply for a PGCE?

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

For secondary courses, you are able to apply to up to four different providers. For primary courses you may apply to two providers, in order of preference. If you are unsuccessful with your first choice, your application will be passed on to your second, and so on.

Visit the GTTR website for full details of available courses and how to apply.

When should you apply?

Generally speaking, the GTTR accepts applications from mid-September to June for courses starting the following September or October.

However, be aware that courses in primary teaching, PE and history are very popular and there is considerable competition for places. To guarantee that your first choice of course provider will consider you, you need to apply before the end of November in the year before you wish to train.