Intro

Subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses are for graduates who want to train as secondary school teachers, but who must first develop their subject knowledge further.

It may be that your degree wasn’t in your chosen subject area, or perhaps you have relevant professional experience but need to learn how to apply that to teaching. Your PGCE or School Direct provider may refer you for SKE.

After successful completion of the course, you are expected to go straight into initial teacher training that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS).

Our SKE courses are fully online and available to those training to teach at Brighton and with other providers.

We offer SKEs in the following subjects:

biology
chemistry
mathematics
physics.

SKE courses attract a bursary of £175 for each week of study consisting of 25 hours.

Our courses are designed to fill any knowledge gaps, improve your understanding and skills, using tailored resources to meet your individual needs.

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Key facts

Location Fully online

Duration Varied

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

SKE courses are designed for those going into initial teacher training who don't have the required subject knowledge.

These courses are usually available if:

your degree wasn’t in your chosen subject, but is closely related
you have an unrelated degree, but relevant professional knowledge in the subject
it's been some time since you used your degree knowledge
you have always enjoyed the subject and explaining it to others.

For advice on whether your current degree makes you suitable for subject development via an SKE course, email professionalcourseadmissions@brighton.ac.uk with details of your qualifications.

Please check the course you are interested in for full entry requirements to initial teacher training.

Before starting the SKE you must have accepted a conditional offer from your training provider.

Course content

Biology

Our Biology SKE will prepare you for starting a secondary biology initial teacher training programme.

The Biology SKE is fully online which means you are able to study from home. The course offers blended learning with online materials, lecturers and resources.

The Biology SKE runs for eight or 12 weeks – the length of course you'll need will be determined at interview.

Each course requires a minimum of 25 hours study per week. The full study hours must be completed by the submission point in mid-August.

Email professionalcourseadmissions@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Find out about Secondary Biology PGCE at the University of Brighton.

Researcher in a white coat looking into a microscope

Chemistry

Our Chemistry SKE will prepare you for starting a secondary chemistry initial teacher training programme.

The Chemistry SKE is fully online which means you are able to study from home. The course offers blended learning with online materials, lecturers and resources.

The Chemistry SKE runs for eight or 12 weeks – the length of course you'll need will be determined at interview.

Each course requires a minimum of 25 hours study per week. The full study hours must be completed by the submission point in mid-August.

Email professionalcourseadmissions@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Find out about the Secondary Chemistry PGCE at the University of Brighton.

Mathematics

We offer Mathematics SKE courses that will suit various applicants, including those with a keen enthusiasm for mathematics but who may not have high-level mathematics qualifications. Each course will prepare you for starting a mathematics initial teacher training programme.

The Mathematics SKE courses run for eight or 16 weeks – the length of course you'll need will be determined at interview.

The Mathematics SKE is fully online which means you are able to study from home. The course is comprised of university online tuition with dedicated tutors as well as supported and guided independent work that you can complete in your own time.

By the submission point at the end of the course in mid-August you will have completed either 200 hours or 400 hours of study.

The 16-week course begins in April and the eight-week course in June.

Email professionalcourseadmissions@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Find out about Secondary Mathematics PGCE at the University of Brighton.

Physics

Our Physics SKE will prepare you for starting a secondary physics initial teacher training programme.

The Physics SKE is fully online which means you are able to study from home. The course offers blended learning with online materials, lecturers and resources.

The Physics SKE runs for eight or 12 weeks the length of course you'll need will be determined at interview. Start dates and study hours are fully flexible so you can fit them around your life and commitments.

Each course requires a minimum of 25 hours study per week. The full study hours must be completed by the submission point in mid-August.

Email professionalcourseadmissions@brighton.ac.uk for more information.

Find our more about our physics PGCE routes:

How to apply

Training to teach at Brighton

If you are applying for an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course with the University of Brighton, there is no separate application process for the Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE). You can use the personal statement section of your UCAS Teacher Training application to highlight that you are interested in SKE.

If you are invited to interview for the ITT course, the SKE will be discussed at that time. For any offers made where the admissions tutor has identified a need for SKE, successful completion of the SKE will be one of the conditions of embarking upon the ITT course.

Check your ITT course of interest for full entry requirements. You'll find more information on entry requirements for the SKE course in the entry requirements tab below.

If you want to seek advice on whether your current degree makes you a suitable candidate for subject development via an SKE course, email professionalcourseadmissions@brighton.ac.uk with details of your qualifications.

Training to teach with a different provider

If you are holding an offer for an ITT course with another institution and this offer is conditional upon first completing an SKE, then it may be possible to complete your SKE at the University of Brighton.

For further information please email professionalcourseadmissions@brighton.ac.uk.

Careers

Our SKE courses are designed for those going into initial teacher training but who do not have the necessary subject knowledge.

There is a national shortage of teachers in all of the subject areas our SKEs cover, and therefore employment prospects once you have qualified are extremely good.

Fees and costs

Course fees

There are no course fees for SKEs.

The Department for Education has confirmed funding of £175 for each week of study in the 2023–24 academic year. Each week consists of 25 hours of study.

Eligibility for the bursary is based on your highest academic qualification. If you have a third class or ordinary degree you are not eligible for a bursary unless you also have a masters degree.

You may also be eligible for a scholarship or bursary for your initial teacher training course.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2023–24.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

Fees, bursaries, scholarships and government funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
Student finance and budgeting while studying
About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. 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. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Education are listed here.

You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes and should budget approximately £30 for printing.
For courses which require a placement, you’ll be expected to pay for your travel expenses but you may be able to claim some travel costs back from the university, depending on where your placement is in relation to where you live.
Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget up to £150 to buy your own copies
You may wish to consider budgeting up to £25 for stationery/teaching materials.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. Students based here study a range of subjects – from 2024 these will include education studies, teaching, sport and exercise, nursing and midwifery, allied health professions and medicine. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes and the students' union shop and bar.

The campus sports centre has a fitness suite, activity studios and a sports hall. There is also a floodlit astroturf football pitch, netball and tennis courts.

Specialist learning facilities at Falmer include the curriculum centre used by teaching and education students, which houses over 30,000 teaching resources, and clinical skills and simulation suites used by health students. New facilities are being developed ready for September 2024 when all of our sport and health students will be based here. Learn more about the changes at Falmer.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre. There are regular bus services to the city centre and other campuses. Falmer train station is right next to campus and a nine minute journey to central Brighton.

Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

Brighton: Falmer

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:
- Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls offer a range of rooms on our Falmer campus, minutes from your classes, and on the edge of the South Downs.
- Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Falmer campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Local area

About Brighton

The University of Brighton is at the heart of our city's reputation as a welcoming, forward-thinking place which leads the way when it comes to the arts, music, sustainability and creative technology. Brighton is home to a thriving creative community and a digital sector worth £1bn a year to the local economy, as much as tourism.

Many of the work-based learning opportunities offered on our courses such as placements and guest lectures are provided by businesses and organisations based in the city.

You can also get involved with city festivals and events such as the Brighton Festival, the Fringe, Brighton Digital Festival, Brighton Science Festival, the London to Brighton bike ride, and the Great Escape festival of new music to name but a few. Other annual highlights include Pride, the Brighton Marathon, and Burning the Clocks which marks the winter solstice.

You'll find living in Brighton enriches your learning experience and by the end of your course you will still be finding new things to explore and inspire you.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Maps

Falmer campus

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our Brighton Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more.

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Student views

Santha

"I studied maths to A-level and have worked with numbers throughout my career as an accountant for 25 years. I took the mathematics SKE.

"Being a more mature career changer, I found the studying and subject content very challenging. All subject tutors were always very encouraging and consistently showed great confidence in my ability and were readily available to help resolve any issues that may have arisen.

"Lesson material was well prepared and informative as was all module information and assignment expectations. The course staff are all extremely professional, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, inspiring, supportive and very kind. They all had high expectations of students but always on hand to provide guidance when required. Emails were promptly replied to and they were readily available at any time to discuss any issues.

"My subject knowledge regarding maths for teaching has developed very well. The SKE particularly supported the development of my critical thinking skills which have become essential during my teaching practice and with subsequent assignments."

Haruna

"My course was 16 weeks. The content details were excellent and related to both KS3, KS4 and KS5. The materials used were very helpful even to this da.

"It was very intense and very detailed as well with excellent support from all the tutors involved.

"My subject knowledge was excellent by end of course and that gave some of the confident and skills required in starting the PGCE. It also allowed us to transition easily into our school-based teaching practice.

"The SKE Build on my subject knowledge contents and help guide me on what needs to be taught at secondary school level."

Panagiota

My subject knowledge significantly improved thanks to the online interactive lectures, support from lecturers, self-practise and teamwork with the SKE peers. All the sessions were delivered online using MS Teams and to my surprise these were very interactive and effective.

Weekly tutorials were built in the SKE course. Further support was always available by all the SKE tutors, even outside the SKE dedicated days.

The SKE course helped me to identify my weaknesses and strengths, adapt my learning and create a good resources library. I have made some very good friends during the SKE course and the experiences we shared together have been incredible; supporting and motivating each other in this new, adventurous career path!

SKE also enabled me to have smooth transition to the PGCE.

Claire

Although I had been an accountant for over 20 years, all of my work was ‘number’ related. I hadn’t looked at the wider topic of maths since I did my GCSE in it 30 years previously.

All of the seminars were online and the content was both relevant and delivered extremely well delving into the history of maths and software to help us which made maths interesting whilst enabling me to access the learning.

I had two days a week of online seminars which counted as 10 hours towards my 25 hours of study expected per week. The other 15 hours were self-study and I had the flexibility to complete these at a time that suited me.

I felt very supported – my lecturers and tutor were all very personable and were always willing to answer any questions or give advice on the course or what I could be doing to gain the maximum benefit from it

My subject knowledge improved considerably during the course. I felt much more confident in my ability to teach maths to GCSE level.

Samantha

The 16-week SKE has really helped to prepare myself for my PGCE year in terms of preparing us for assignments, lesson planning but more importantly, being reflective with regards to ourselves and our professional development.

We were expected to study for 200 hours over the 16 weeks and had to keep a working diary week by week to evidence our hours and work. The materials for this course were fantastic in terms of showing us ideas for teaching, which I have used during my PGCE.

The SKE was a really good steppingstone, not only for subject knowledge but also in terms of my teaching practise and being able to be more specific within my reflections.

We could not have asked for more supportive and caring staff. They were amazing and really made a difference especially with making sure we communicated and interacted with our peers.

It really has helped myself to develop and succeed throughout my PGCE year. Choosing the University of Brighton was the best choice for me.

Joely

"I had studied up to A-level, data and statistics at degree.

"The course materials were really good - we had everything that we needed. I would usually do work in the afternoon/ evening/weekends after work.

"I felt very well supported. I had contact with the university a few times a week informally, at least one more formal tutor meeting and more if needed.

"I not only improved/recalled maths that I had forgotten but I was able to better explain maths and understand it from a student perspective.

"I enjoyed the SKE so much and feel like I gained a lot from it. It made me very excited for my PGCE."