Further Education and Training PGCE

Course in brief

The Further Education and Teaching PGCE provides a formal teaching qualification for people working, or wishing to work, in the further education sector. This could include a college of further education, a sixth form college or an organisation such as a private training company.

The programme has an excellent reputation and in 2007 we became the first post-compulsory teacher education provider in the country to be awarded an Ofsted Grade 1.

The programme is delivered through a partnership stretching across East and West Sussex that includes full-time courses at the University of Brighton (Falmer campus) and Northbrook Metropolitan College, and part-time courses at Brighton Metropolitan College, Sussex Downs College in Lewes and Eastbourne and Sussex Coast College in Hastings.

If you already hold a degree, it is anticipated that you will graduate with a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), and there may also be an opportunity to gain masters-level credits. Applicants without a first degree will graduate with a Certificate in Education.

Need help and advice about training to teach options or want to register your interest in our programmes? Get in touch.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years

Meet us and find out more: 22 November, Falmer campus

Apply online

Please make sure that you meet the entry requirements before applying. If you have any questions the course team will be happy to help.

Apply now for your place

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2017. They should be used as a general guide.

We operate a flexible admissions policy – this means that you could receive a lower conditional offer than the typical offer, informed by our assessment of your complementary non-academic achievements and experiences. For courses that require interview or portfolio review, this may also be considered in the level of any conditional offer that follows if your application is successful.

Degree and/or experience
PGCE applicants must have an honours degree. Part-time applicants must also be working in the post-16 sector and would be expected to continue teaching for at least 50 hours a year within a post-compulsory education or training organisation concurrent with the course. Pre-service full-time applicants do not need teaching experience. Other industry experience relevant to their subject specialism is desirable.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)

Part-time in-service applicants are advised to have either GCSE English or an equivalent literacy qualification, or be able to demonstrate the ability to work at higher education level.
Full-time pre-service applicants must have GCSE maths and English language.

For non-native speakers of English
IELTS 7.0 in all elements.

Places are still available on the full-time route at the university and on the part-time routes at our partner colleges: Sussex Coast College Hastings, Sussex Downs College (Lewes and Eastbourne) and Brighton Metropolitan College.

Course in detail

Course structure

Students who opt for the part-time route must be working in the post-16 sector, and are normally expected to continue teaching for at least 50 hours per academic year for the duration of the course.

For the part-time in-service route you will be required to attend one half-day session per week during college term times, in addition to your regular teaching commitments. The full-time route is aimed at those who are not currently teaching and is a combination of taught sessions at the university and a teaching placement at an appropriate institution.

The full-time route is taught on our Falmer campus. The part-time route takes place at our partner colleges; Sussex Coast College Hastings, Sussex Downs College (Lewes and Eastbourne) and Brighton Metropolitan College.

Areas of study

The programme is delivered through seven modules on generic teaching and learning issues relevant to the post-compulsory sector, and reflecting the key areas identified in the new standards. It is endorsed under the Equipping our Teachers regulations 2007 originally managed by the Standards Verification UK (SVUK) but now under the control of the Institute for Learning (IfL). It meets the new Professional Standards for Teachers, Trainers and Tutors in the Lifelong Learning (post-compulsory) sector.

Syllabus

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector

Planning and Enabling Learning in the Lifelong Learning Sector

Theories and Principles for Planning and Enabling Learning

Enabling Learning and Assessment

Curriculum Design for Inclusive Practice

Action Learning for Subject Specialist Pedagogy

Professional Development and Wider Professional Practice

An introduction to teaching, learning and assessment in Education and Training

Contemporary Issues in Education and Training

Teaching Practice in Education and Training

Reflective Practice in Education and Training

Action Research to Support Subject Pedagogy

Ofsted

In our most recent Initial Teacher Education inspection report, the University of Brighton's School of Education was graded 'outstanding'.

Ofsted identified some of our key strengths as:

the very high attainment of the majority of trainees
the expertly designed and diverse range of programmes that respond to trainees' backgrounds, needs and interests as well as to national priorities
the outstanding progress made by trainees as a result of training, which enables them to fulfil their potential
inspirational teaching, tutoring and mentoring that model the best teaching and give trainees the ambition to reach the highest standards
highly reflective trainees who demonstrate good subject knowledge and a breadth of understanding of how to teach
an excellent range of training experiences that effectively prepare trainees to teach in a diverse society
the excellent resources available to trainees
leadership that is dynamic in its approach to anticipating change and solving problems
a visionary approach to innovation and change.

Careers and employability

The course is part of the university's continuing professional development provision, designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of teachers and others involved in training or development, whether professional or voluntary.

Credit-rated routes to the various awards enable students to build from certificate-level through diploma, first degree, postgraduate certificate and postgraduate diploma to masters level.

Positions held by recent graduates include:

HE Learning Mentor at Sussex Coast College (2010 graduate)
Lecturer in Fashion Management with Marketing at Southampton Solent University (2010 graduate)
Lecturer in Photography at Exeter College with Faculty responsibility for curriculum enhancement (2011 graduate)
Course coordinator of Level 2 BTEC Creative Media Production at Alton College. (2012 graduate)
ICT lecturer at Northbrook Metropolitan College in Worthing (2013 graduate)
Science lecturer at Brighton Metropolitan College, (2013 graduate)

The teachers we train are:

highly committed to their pupils’ learning and ambitious in what they want to help them achieve
inquisitive, critically reflective and motivated to keep learning and improving their own practice
quick to adapt to different learning contexts and confident to challenge inequalities
an asset to the profession, willing to share their knowledge and experience and to collaborate with others
well-prepared for the realities of teaching, with the confidence, resilience and skills to be innovative, to take risks and be creative.

Fees and funding

Your fees

UK/EU (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 13,920 GBP

Bursaries

Information on available bursaries for further education initial teacher training can be found here.

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2017–18.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full- or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and living here

Location

About Brighton

Forward-thinking and welcoming, the city of Brighton & Hove is a community of creative and diverse people who share values like sustainability and inclusivity – just like its university.

Miles of pebble beaches, hundreds of bars, restaurants and clubs, a packed calendar of culture, music and sport and great independent and high street shopping attract visitors from all over the world. By the end of your course you’ll still be finding new things to enjoy about the city.

The Brighton Festival, England’s largest arts festival, takes place every May – as does the Great Escape Europe’s leading industry showcase for new music, 300 bands perform over three days at venues across the city. Major events celebrate Pride, digital culture, cinema, photography, food and the winter solstice. Our own Brighton Graduate show is a highlight, turning the university into the largest exhibition space in the south east as we celebrate the outstanding creativity of our students.

As a student here you’ll have a unique opportunity to experience what the city has to offer. Volunteering and placement opportunities enable you to play your part in the events, organisations and communities that make Brighton such a compelling place to be.

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Surrounded by the South Downs National Park and just five miles from the centre of Brighton, our Falmer campus has benefited from over £60million of investment over the past 10 years. 7,000 students are based here, studying subjects including English, education, social science, nursing and medicine.

Recent developments include the Falmer Sports Centre – with its fitness suites and sports hall – and the innovative Checkland Building, which has natural ventilation systems and an insulating green roof.

Falmer has also recently installed more than 600 solar panels, which reduce the campus’s carbon emissions by more than 80 tonnes. The renovation has made us one of the top universities in the UK for on-site renewable energy production.

Accommodation

Brighton

Our Brighton halls of residence are located across the city in Grand Parade, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

Grand Parade is in central Brighton and has one hall of residence, Phoenix Brewery, within walking distance.
Moulsecoomb is two miles from the city centre and also has one hall of residence, Moulsecoomb Place, on campus.
Varley Park offers the biggest choice of student accommodation with ten halls of residence.
Falmer campus has two halls of residence: Great Wilkins and Paddock Field.
Varley Park and Falmer are around four miles from Brighton centre; there are good public transport services nearby.

Aside from halls, you have the option of Unihomes, which we let out to our students on behalf of private landlords.

You can also choose to join the many students who live away from campus in private rented accommodation. We have a list of high-quality, university-endorsed private sector accommodation and can help you find housemates to move in with.

Find out more on our Brighton accommodation webpages and if you have any questions, our accommodation team will be happy to help. You can contact them by email at accommodation@brighton.ac.uk or by telephone on 01273 644100.

Paddock Field

Moulsecoomb Place

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Falmer campus and Brighton and Sussex Medical School map

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Student Views

Alexander Seddon-Dyer

Hands-on experience and support

I chose the School of Education because of its reputation, the course and recommendations from former students. The placement was fantastic in giving me real hands-on experience of teaching in the further education sector.

The course leader was always available to answer any questions and provided feedback to help me reach my targets. The support I gained from staff on placement was also invaluable.

Career preparation and progression

The course has provided me with the tools needed to begin a successful career in teaching. I was made aware of the fundamentals that teaching involves, along with a plan for how best to progress my career.

I am currently working full-time in a FE college. I plan to continue developing my professional knowledge in order to advance my career and to be a successful lecturer whose students reach their full potential.