School Direct (PGCE)

You’ll need:

• an honors level undergraduate degree 2:2 or above  
• GCSEs (minimum grade 4/C) in English language and maths 
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

If you’re currently studying or waiting for any of these, any place offered would be conditional on a successful outcome of this, or of a Southampton University equivalency test.

If your GCSE qualifications aren’t suitable, we offer equivalency tests in English and maths (non-transferable) which cost £50 each.

For secondary subject courses, the normal expectation is that students will have at least 50% of their undergraduate degree in their chosen subject. Please see individual subject areas for their particular application requirements.

Recognition of professional experience

If you don't have the exact entry requirements, but you have significant work experience in this sector we’ll assess your relevant professional experience, your subject knowledge and your aptitude for learning.

Your application will be considered on individual merit and you may be asked to attend an interview.

Got a question?

If you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course please contact our enquiries team; we're very happy to help.

This is a full-time course. You’ll study from September to June, with breaks at Christmas and Easter.

You’ll spend your time training in 2 placement schools.

The course consists of 4 compulsory modules. We assess 3 of them at master’s level, 1 at undergraduate level. You’ll need to pass the 3 master’s-level modules to gain your PGCE award.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Learning

In your school placements, you’ll have structured opportunities to observe experienced teachers at work and to discuss professional issues with colleagues. You’ll spend the majority of time learning from practical experience in the classroom.

Assessment

We'll assess you regularly to keep your progress under review and update you on your how you're getting on. Short, subject-based tasks will help you to develop an insight into effective teaching.

You'll need to demonsrate: 

• that your teaching meets the Teachers' Standards in order to gain QTS  
• your performance as a teacher  
• 3 assignments based on 
  • your curriculum area 
  • aspects of subject teaching 
  • a study of a whole-school issue

Your assignments are marked at master’s level and if successful in all 3, trainees will be awarded the Post-graduate Certificate in Education, as well as 60 credits towards a master’s degree. This course also leads to QTS, qualifying you to teach in school.

Academic Support

We’ll assign you a personal tutor, and you’ll have access to a senior tutor.

Successfully completing this course will give you Qualified Teacher Status in addition to your PGCE award. This means you'll be able to work as a teacher in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales.

School Direct courses often lead to you working in the school you’ve been training in. We also have high employment rates from all of our PGCE courses.

If you choose to continue your studies, the credits you build up from your master’s-level modules can be put towards a future master’s degree qualification.

Careers services at Southampton

We're a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019). Our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout your time as a student and for up to 5 years after graduation. This support includes:

• work experience schemes
• CV/resume and interview skills workshops
• networking events
• careers fairs attended by top employers
• a wealth of volunteering opportunities
• study abroad and summer school opportunities

We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture. You'll be able to take advantage of:

• our dedicated start-up incubator, Futureworlds
• a wide variety of enterprise events run throughout the year
• our partnership in the world’s number 1 business incubator, SETsquared

Tuition fees

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and all examinations.

Funding your postgraduate studies

A variety of additional scholarships, grants and bursaries  may be available to help you fund your master’s study, both from the University and from other organisations.

PGCE course applications are processed through UCAS. When you apply, you'll be taken to the UCAS website where you'll need to register an account with UCAS to submit an application. For information: there is a plan to move PGCE courses from applying through UCAS onto a DFE system.

Application deadlines

Supporting information

UCAS process applications for this course. When you apply, they'll give you details of any supporting information or documents you'll need to submit.

Learn more about how to apply with our postgraduate application guide.

What happens after you apply

Following application through UCAS you will hear back by email from the University. The University has 40 working days to respond to your application, but you will almost always hear back much more quickly than that.

If you are selected for the next stage of the process you will be invited for an interview at the University. The interview process includes an opportunity to find out more about the course and to ask questions. You will give a short presentation, complete a short written task and have a face-to-face interview with tutors. Following the interview, we'll make a decision on whether or not to offer you a conditional place. The decision will be uploaded to UCAS within 5 working days of the interview date.

Interviews will take place online if they are not possible in person. You'll receive an email from the admissions tutor if we'd like to talk to you before offering you a place.

All offers are conditional on enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and health checks.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000