PGCE Education (Secondary)

Entry requirements

Prior to admission to the programme, all students are required by the Department for Education (DfE) to have:

• at least GCSE or 'O' level at grade C or 4 (if taken after summer 2017) or an equivalent overseas qualification in English and Mathematics;
• a degree (with a 2:2 or above) or an equivalent qualification, in a subject relevant to the proposed main teaching subject.

Note: Equivalence tests for GCSEs will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Such applications will be assessed and reviewed by the subject tutor, programme director and PGCE administration manager.

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Months of entry

September

Course content

We have a long history of training teachers and our most recent Ofsted report praised our students for their level of subject expertise and strength in curriculum design. Our one-year programme is available in a range of secondary subjects and will lead to both a postgraduate qualification (PGCE) and qualified teacher status (QTS), enabling you to teach across the 11-19 age range. In addition, you will gain up to 60 master's-level credits that you can put towards an MSc in Education.

We work in partnership with more than 40 local schools, offering two routes into teaching – university-led and Lead Partner route – allowing you to choose the programme that best suits you. Our PGCE programmes are current, challenging and innovative, and are informed by both our own extensive research in the field of education as well as current practice.

You will spend two thirds of your time on placement in at least two contrasting schools. Notably, our programme includes a short placement in a primary school, as well as offering the opportunity to gain experience in a special school. The remaining time is spent at university where you will join our diverse student community.

At Bristol you will be given a personal tutor in your specialist subject, ensuring you receive the very highest levels of both pastoral and professional support. Our strong community and student support set us apart from other providers and are frequently commented on by both students and external inspectors.

In the most recent Ofsted report, inspectors praise the well-developed partnership at the University of Bristol, and the strong connections between university and schools, saying: ‘Great care is taken to match trainees to their placement schools. This helps ensure that trainees have the opportunities and expert support they need to be successful’. As a result, trainees’ experiences in schools are ‘consistently positive’ and they ‘learn how to teach engaging lessons and promote good behaviour’.

Information for international students

See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.

Fees and funding

The Department for Education offers bursaries for eligible students. For further information please refer to their funding page.

Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.