Secondary Art and Design - PGCE

Entry requirements

You must have a good degree (normally a 2:2 or above) in a relevant subject from a UK higher education institution or equivalent.

You must also have a GCSE grade 4 (C) or above (or equivalent) in both English language and mathematics prior to enrolment.

If you do not already have GCSEs in English language and mathematics, or their equivalent, and are not registered to take them, you should visit Equivalency Testing. We also offer our own in-house equivalency tests. If you are successful at interview and need to pass an equivalency test to meet the entry requirements, our Admissions team will refer you to the details of our test. It should be noted that applicants taking the equivalency tests need to have passed prior to enrolment.

At interview you will also need to present a portfolio of personal work which should include a selection of work completed before, during and after your degree. The selection interview will assess your subject knowledge and personal qualities such as the potential to relate well to secondary age students, enthusiasm, sensitivity, communication skills and robustness and resilience for teaching. You will also take a written test to assess your standard of English.

You will also take a written test to assess your standard of English.

Successful candidates must meet Department for Education requirements for Initial Teacher Training prior to enrolling on this course. This includes obtaining a satisfactory occupational health check and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, as well as prohibition and children’s barred list checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Are you looking for a career that will enable you to use your skills in art and design to encourage young people to explore, challenge and understand the world in which they live through learning in Art and Design at school? If so, our PGCE Secondary Art and Design is for you.

We see teaching as a form of socially engaged art and design practice, and will enable you to become a highly-skilled graduate practitioner in today's forward-looking education profession.

We believe that Art and Design is a crucial element in the education of all pupils, and will work with you to enable you to become the inspirational teacher required by today’s young people.

Our course provides you with the necessary knowledge and understanding for you to transfer your current creative skills to the classroom. It's an innovative, practice-based programme designed to fully support you to become a confident, dynamic and creative teacher committed to making Art and Design accessible for all.

Information for international students

A minimum IELTS score of 7.0 is required with no individual component less than 6.5. Candidates who have undertaken IELTS will also need to successfully pass our GCSE English equivalency test.

Prospective students from non-EU countries may enquire via the International Enquiry Form or call +44 (0)121 331 6714.

Fees and funding

Although this is a postgraduate course, current PGCE students are eligible for the finance support package available to full-time undergraduates.

The Department for Education also offers a bursary for Art and Design trainees, subject to the qualifications you hold. More information can be found on the Get into Teaching website.

Learn more about postgraduate fees and funding