Secondary (PGCE)

You’ll need:

• a 2:2 undergraduate degree 
• some subject knowledge 
• GCSEs (minimum grade 4/C) in English language and maths 

You don’t need experience in a school before you start this course, but we do recommend you spend some time in a classroom to improve your understanding the role of a teacher.

Please also provide full details of subjects and level of any Access or other qualifications you have.

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

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

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 divide your time between the University and 2 placement schools. If you choose to study the School Direct PGCE option you will spend your time in your placement school.

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

The learning activities for this course include: 

• lectures 
• seminars  
• tutorials  
• group activities  
• directed study  
• independent study and research 
• school placements

Assessment

Assessment is based mainly on your ability to teach. You’ll also have 3 major assignments and several short tasks, which you’ll receive preparation for. 

 We’ll also assess you using:  

• written assignments  
• a presentation  
• a portfolio

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 as well as your PGCE award. This means you'll be able to work as a teacher in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales.

We have high employment rates from our PGCE courses, with many trainees going on to work in our partnership schools. Successful completion of the maths specialism route will also put you in a strong position, both when applying for jobs and career development.

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

Fees for a year's study:

• UK/EU students pay £9,250.
• International students pay £18,104.

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.

Extra costs you might have to pay

Travel to and from school placements.

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.

You may also be asked to provide:

• a reference
• an English language qualification
• a personal statement
• evidence of professional qualifications

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