For those without a first degree studied in the medium of English, Academic IELTS is required. (A minimum Academic IELTS band score of 6.5, with 6.5 in writing, and no less than 6 in Reading and Speaking and Listening).
The PGCE Education (DL) course has two teaching placement blocks, one each semester. For many, these blocks will be conducted within your school of employment – though other trainees may need to find schools that will take them as volunteers. Please note, teaching in Language Centres, Learning Centres, or similar can't be used to complete this course; teaching must take place in an international school, state school, or similar, that follows a recognised curriculum.
This course requires teaching in either a primary or secondary school. If you wish to teach in early years (kindergarten), you'll need to apply for the PGCE Early Years Teaching (DL) course.
It's a requirement of the course that all teaching placement hours use English as the language of instruction to deliver whole-class teaching (not small groups, interventions, or one-to-one support).
You'll also need to ensure that an appropriately qualified mentor is available in your placement school. You can be made a conditional offer without a placement and mentor in place, but you'll need to provide details of your placement/s and mentor before you can formally take up an offer and begin the course.
Please note, securing a mentor and school is your responsibility and not that of the University. With all four modules complete, you'll graduate with a PGCE. You may, however, take up to three years to fully complete and graduate, should this be necessary.
Read our additional information about the course to find out more about placements and mentors.
Observation of experienced teachers
Where possible, you should secure a reasonable number of teaching observations per week to support your work on the Subject Studies and Practice of Teaching modules. This can be in a school of your choice, and it's usually in the school where you'll undertake your placement.
Before applying
As part of your online application, you'll be asked to confirm you agree to the teaching requirements of the course.
You'll be asked to confirm contact details for your placement school, placement school head teacher, and placement school mentor. Please note that, as indicated above, conditional offers to join the course will still be made if these details aren't available – though they must be in place before you can formally take a place on the course.
You must also provide us with a copy of your degree certificate. Please provide both original and English translation (if applicable). If your degree was awarded by a UK university, you'll be exempt from providing proof of English.
We accept the following as evidence of English language:
- Transcript or certificate of your degree which clearly states you studied in the medium of instruction in English
- Letter from your university clearly stating the medium of instruction to be English
- Academic IELTS. If English isn't your first language, you need to send proof of Academic IELTS level 6.5 or equivalent (applicants whose first language isn't English must achieve a minimum Academic IELTS band score of 6.5, with 6.5 in writing, and no less than 6 in Reading and Speaking and Listening).
Without the above documents, we'll be unable to make you an offer on this course.
