Mode of Study
Full-time, Part-timeDuration
1 year full-time, 2 years part-timeStart date
September 2023Accredited
Yes
Overview
Learn to teach at college level on this Further Education and Training PGCE – rated Outstanding by Ofsted after its latest inspection – and support and inspire students aged 16 and above as they prepare to take their first career steps.
You'll gain theoretical teaching expertise at University and real classroom experience on placements in real educational settings, developing the confidence and skills to become a reflective and resilient further education teacher. You'll also explore how to teach and design learning programmes in a range of specialist subjects alongside your course teachers and work-based subject mentors.
If you're not yet working in further education, you can study this course full-time at the University. If you already have a role in further education, you can study part-time at one of our partner colleges, alongside your job. Wherever you study, you’ll be a student of the University of Portsmouth, so you’ll have access to all of our facilities and support.
Once you graduate, you'll be ready to begin your teaching career in further education institutions, such as colleges, sixth-forms and private training providers.
Up to £29,000 for students who train to teach in further education in 2023
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
You can study this course full-time at the University or part-time at one of our partner colleges.
While studying at our partner colleges, you can access our student support services and community including study support, the Students' Union and our library's online resources.
Course highlights
- Gain the skills, confidence and knowledge to become a further education teacher, through a combination of real teaching experience and the study of theories and contemporary issues within further education
- Reflect on your own teaching practice and design a curriculum in a specialist subject area
- Share your experiences and learn from other PGCE students in lectures and seminars
- Get more than 100 hours of work experience on teaching placements arranged by the University (full-time only)
- Choose to study full-time at the University or part-time at one of our partner colleges: Chichester College, Eastleigh College, Havant and South Downs College, Isle of Wight College or St Vincent College
- Be eligible for membership of the Society for Education & Training (SET) when you graduate, which enables you to work towards Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status
Recognition
The PGCE and CertEd Further Education and Training Courses are professional teaching qualifications which are recognised by further education providers in the UK. PGCE and CertEd graduates can also apply to the Society for Education and Training (SET) to gain QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning & Skills) status.
The courses are also inspected by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) and received Outstanding across the board in all four key judgement areas in 2018.
Trainees make rapid progress and develop into independent, strongly reflective and resilient teachers who are well prepared for work in the further education sector and a range of professional and vocational training settings.
What you'll study on this PGCE Further Education and Training course
Full-time
All modules on this PGCE Further Education and Training are core.
What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Construct a research design which will critically examine an opportunity to enhance the learning process for a group or individual.
- Critically examine and communicate findings from a range of sources which contribute to an individual piece of research.
- Apply research findings to subject specific pedagogy.
- Design and deliver a set of lessons which align with external body expectations.
- Critically reflect on own teaching practice in order to support learner achievement and progression.
What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Evaluate active, student centred learning techniques including their effectiveness and appropriateness for teaching. learning and assessment.
- Critically reflect on the use of active learning methods within subject specialism.
- Design and deliver a set of lessons which align with external body expectations.
- Critically reflect on own and other's teaching practice in order to support learner achievement and progression.
What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically examine the implications and impact of current policies and changes within the further education sector to a variety of stakeholders and subject pedagogy.
- Positively contribute to a group research project and reflect on your individual and group's performance.
- Design and deliver a set of lessons which align with external body expectations.
- Critically reflect on own teaching practice in order to support learner achievement and progression.
What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically examine the application of learning theories and principles to classroom practice.
- Investigate and critically review strategies designed to develop wider skills within learners such as English, mathematics and broader skills relevant to learners' progression and career aims.
- Critically review strategies to improve learning such as effective behaviour management and blended learning.
- Design and deliver a set of lessons which align with external body expectations.
- Critically reflect on own teaching practice in order to support learner achievement and progression.
Part-time
All modules on this PGCE Further Education and Training are core.
What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Evaluate active, student centred learning techniques including their effectiveness and appropriateness for teaching. learning and assessment.
- Critically reflect on the use of active learning methods within subject specialism.
- Design and deliver a set of lessons which align with external body expectations.
- Critically reflect on own and other's teaching practice in order to support learner achievement and progression.
What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically examine the application of learning theories and principles to classroom practice.
- Investigate and critically review strategies designed to develop wider skills within learners such as English, mathematics and broader skills relevant to learners' progression and career aims.
- Critically review strategies to improve learning such as effective behaviour management and blended learning.
- Design and deliver a set of lessons which align with external body expectations.
- Critically reflect on own teaching practice in order to support learner achievement and progression.
What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Construct a research design which will critically examine an opportunity to enhance the learning process for a group or individual.
- Critically examine and communicate findings from a range of sources which contribute to an individual piece of research.
- Apply research findings to subject specific pedagogy.
- Design and deliver a set of lessons which align with external body expectations.
- Critically reflect on own teaching practice in order to support learner achievement and progression.
What you'll learn
The learning outcomes of this module are:
- Critically examine the implications and impact of current policies and changes within the further education sector to a variety of stakeholders and subject pedagogy.
- Positively contribute to a group research project and reflect on your individual and group's performance.
- Design and deliver a set of lessons which align with external body expectations.
- Critically reflect on own teaching practice in order to support learner achievement and progression.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Careers and opportunities
Careers this course prepares you for
On this Further Education and Training PGCE, you'll gain the formal teaching qualification you need to teach in further education settings such as colleges, sixth-forms and private training providers.
This PGCE is a professional teaching qualification recognised by further education providers in the UK. When you graduate, you'll also be eligible to apply to the Society for Education & Training (SET) to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, which is recognised as comparable to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
As a new teacher in 2022, you could expect a starting salary of between £25,714 and £32,157 in the UK, depending on where you teach. A PGCE is an internationally-recognised qualification, so you'll also be able to work as a teacher overseas, including in the USA, Canada and Australia.
You could also earn 60 postgraduate credits on this course, which you could put towards a full Master's degree (worth 180 credits) in the future.
The partnership achieves outstanding employment rates, with exceptionally high levels of progression for trainees to positions of enhanced responsibility.
Graduates of this course have gone on to work in:
- further education colleges
- sixth-form colleges
- private training providers
- public services
- voluntary organisations
Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:
- Further education maths teacher
- Social sciences teacher
- Sociology and Criminology college lecturer
- Project coordinator
- Educational support worker
- Learning support tutor
Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and from our Careers and Employability Centre, which you can access for 5 years after you graduate.
You'll benefit from:
- Networking events
- Applied projects with companies such as IBM, Boeing and Hampshire County Council
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- Support starting your own business
Placements and work experience
On this PGCE Further Education and Training course, you'll spend over 100 hours building teaching experience on placements in real further education settings, working with pupils and teaching professionals.
You'll be able to put your theoretical learning into action and develop the practical teaching skills and techniques you'll need in future teaching roles.
Placements for full-time students
If you're not already working in teaching and/or further education, you can take the full-time version of this course at the University.
We'll work with you to find teaching placements at a further education provider that suits you, and we'll arrange these for you. Your choice of placement provider isn't limited to the list of partner colleges below – you may be able to do your placement at any further education provider in the Hampshire/south coast region, dependent on arrangements.
Placements for part-time students
If you are already working in teaching and/or further education, the part-time version of this course is designed for you.
If you study this course part-time, you'll go to one of our partner colleges once a week. You'll also need to arrange a teaching placement with an identified subject mentor that includes at least 50 hours of teaching a year.
Our partner college websites have more information for the part-time version of this course:
- Chichester College
- Eastleigh College
- Havant and South Downs College
- Isle of Wight College
- St Vincent College
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your PGCE, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
It is our expectation that all international students will join us here on campus in Portsmouth.
Course structure
This PGCE course will take:
- 1 year (full-time study)
- 2 years (part-time study)
Full-time study
The full-time version of this PGCE Further Education and Training lasts 36 weeks, between September and June. If you study full-time, you'll attend lectures and seminars at University, and spend time at a work placement each week.
For the first 3 weeks of the course, you'll be in University 5 days a week. You'll then spend 2 weeks on placement induction, spending 3 days on placement and 2 days in University.
After this, you'll spend Monday-Thursday on teaching placements, and just Fridays at University. Your working hours will be similar to a full-time job – times will vary but you'll generally be at the University or on placement from 8.30am to 4.30pm. You may occasionally need to go to University and course events in the evenings and at weekends.
Part-time study
If you study part-time, you'll attend one of our partner colleges once a week and secure your own teaching placement, where you'll teach at least 50 hours each year.
See our partner college websites for details of the part-time version of this course:
- Chichester College
- Eastleigh College
- Havant and South Downs College
- Isle of Wight College
- St Vincent College
Teaching
PGCE study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to helping you become a teaching professional.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree. If you choose campus based study, the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Teaching methods on this course include:
- seminars
- workshops
- lectures
Teaching staff
These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:
Mrs Jo Elliott
Assessment
You'll be assessed through:
- research-based essays
- teaching practice files
- lesson observations
- logging personal development
You'll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Term dates
September start
The PGCE academic year runs from September to the following June/July. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter, and half terms in October, February and May.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
Supporting your learning
If you study this course full-time at the University, you'll get support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to postgraduate study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your Master's.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning development tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- Improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- Delivering presentations (including observing and filming presentations)
- Understanding and using assignment feedback
- Managing your time and workload
- Revision and exam techniques
As well as support from faculty staff and your personal tutor, you can use the University's Academic Skills Unit (ASK).
ASK provides one-to-one support in areas such as:
- Academic writing
- Note taking
- Time management
- Critical thinking
- Presentation skills
- Referencing
- Working in groups
- Revision, memory and exam techniques
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
The Maths Café offers advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop or use our online resources.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
If you study part-time at one of our partner colleges, you’ll still be a student of the University of Portsmouth.
Of the people and services above, you’ll have access to Academic skills support, Wellbeing and mental health support, Disability advice and additional support, and Library support.
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees (September 2023 start)
- Full-time: £9,250
- Part-time: For partner college fee information, please contact Department of Student and Academic Administration on +44 (0)23 9284 5259.
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time: £9,250
- Part-time: For partner college fee information, please contact Department of Student and Academic Administration on +44 (0)23 9284 5259.
- Full time: £17,200
- Part-time: For partner college fee information, please contact Department of Student and Academic Administration on +44 (0)23 9284 5259.
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available funding for teacher training.
If you're a UK student who achieved a first in your undergraduate degree you may be eligible for a £3,000 University of Portsmouth scholarship.
Bursaries and grants
You may be able to receive a bursary or grant from the Department for Education to support your study with us.
Bursaries and grants are awarded on a first come first served basis, so we encourage you to apply early. For more information, including eligibility criteria, check the Department of Education.
Pre-service bursaries for those not already working in teaching
Up to £29,000 if you start this course in 2023
If you're not already working in teaching and you study this course full-time in 2023, you may be able to get a pre-service bursary.
These bursaries, paid to you, are available in the following subjects:
- Computing, engineering (and/or manufacturing), maths, and science (including biology, chemistry, or physics): £29,000
- Special educational needs and disability (SEND): £15,000
- English: £12,000
Fees and funding for teacher training
Find out more about how much teacher training costs, as well the options available to you for funding, including scholarships and bursaries.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Discover how you can fund your Master's study at Portsmouth – including loans, scholarships and bursaries – and read our guidance on topics like how to budget, and how to get support if you're disabled or have dependents.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Entry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
September 2023
- A good honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject.
- GCSE Mathematics and English language at grade C (Grade 4) or above, or equivalent.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- Part-time students are required to have secured their own teaching placement where you will teach at least 50 hours per year and have an identified subject mentor.
- Full time students will be provided with a teaching placement by the University.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
- you have a UK degree
- you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning)
- you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
- All shortlisted applicants are subject to interview.
- All offers are subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and Occupational Health clearance.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start date in September, as long as there are places available. If you wait until September to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
Standard applications
Start this course in September 2023 at the University of Portsmouth
Standard applications
Start this course in September 2023 at a partner college (part-time) – 2 years
Chichester College (Chichester campus)
Chichester College (Crawley campus)
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.