Mathematics (PGCE)

Entry requirements 

You’ll need a 2:2 degree in maths or a related subject. 

You’ll need at least a grade 4 or C in GCSE Maths and English GCSE. 

Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements. 

If you don’t have the required GCSE grades, you can take our GCSE equivalent tests in Maths and English.

We might ask you to take a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course before starting your PGCE, depending on the maths content in your undergraduate degree.

Recognition of professional experience

Recognition of professional experience

If you don’t have the exact entry requirements, we'll consider your application based on your: 

• evidence of experience teaching or observing in a school or college
• relevant professional experience
• subject knowledge
• suitability for the course

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 an intensive 1-year course which you’ll study on a full-time basis. 

You’ll spend a minimum of 120 days in two different schools and you’ll attend taught sessions at the University every Friday. You’ll be expected to apply the learning from the taught sessions to your time in school.

During your time in school, you’ll start by observing classes before you are gradually introduced to teaching the whole class. With the support of your school-based mentor, you’ll be expected to quickly develop the skills and confidence to work with whole classes.

If you’d like to progress your qualification, you can apply your credits from the PGCE maths towards a master's.

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

Learning

You’ll participate in lectures, seminars and you’ll complete independent study and practical teaching activities throughout the course.

We'll assess you on your ability to teach, there are no dissertations but you’ll be given 3 assignments to complete.

There is a variety of different learning activities to help you learn, including:

• workshops
• feedback from a school-based mentor
• peer assessment
• small group presentations

Assessment

We'll assess you on your ability to teach and mainly through coursework and assignments, rather than exams.

You’ll be assessed by a combination of:

• 3 assignments; 2 written and 1 assessed presentation
• successful completion of your teaching placement
• completion of a portfolio against the Teachers’ Standards

Explore course modules for full details of learning and assessment. 

Dissertation

You will not need to complete a dissertation for this course.

Academic Support

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

We welcome students from any background to learn the skills required to teach maths.

Past students have gone on to work in a variety of different roles:

• teaching secondary school maths
• senior managers in schools
• mentor for trainee teachers
• lecturer in higher education
• teaching in special education
• teaching overseas
• personal tutor

Students have also continued their studies with a PhD to specialise further in their specific area of interest.

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

Fees for a year's study:

• UK/EU students pay £9,250.
• International students pay £18,100.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

What your fees pay for

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

Initial Teaching Education funding

Depending on your circumstances, you could get:

• a tax-free bursary or scholarship

• financial support if you're a parent, have an adult dependant or a disability 

• a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of your course

• a maintenance loan to help with living costs

Find out about Initial Teaching Education Funding

Other postgraduate funding options

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