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). This can be at the University of Brighton or another institution.

We offer SKEs in the following subjects:

biology
chemistry
mathematics
physics.

We offer SKE courses of varying lengths, each attracts a bursary of £200 per week of study. All courses require 25 hours of study each week.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Falmer

Duration 8–28 weeks

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Course content

Biology

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

We offer courses with a duration of 8, 16 or 28 weeks depending on your individual needs. Course dates are flexible and begin between November and June each year.

The majority of the Biology SKE course is delivered through online learning, with one week of tuition at the Falmer campus in the summer.

Email Sian Williams for more information: sw241@brighton.ac.uk

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.

We offer courses with a duration of 8, 16 or 28 weeks depending on your individual needs. Course dates are flexible and begin between November and June each year.

The majority of the Chemistry SKE course is delivered through online learning, with one week of tuition at the Falmer campus in the summer.

Email Sian Williams for more information: sw241@brighton.ac.uk

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

Mathematics

We offer a range of 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.

Courses run for 8, 20 or 28-weeks with start dates in February and June each year for 8 and 20-week courses and November for 28 week courses. The length of your course will be determined by your own needs.

Email Sian Williams for more information: sw241@brighton.ac.uk

Find out about Secondary Mathematics PGCE at the University of Brighton

Long SKE (28 weeks)

Phase 1 (November) – Blended learning
Phase 2 (February) – 2 days per week attendance at university
Phase 3 (May) – 2 days per week attendance at university

Medium SKE (20 weeks)

Phase 1 (February) – 2 days per week attendance at university
Phase 2 (May) – 2 days per week attendance at university

Short SKE (8 weeks)

Phase 1 (June) – Blended learning

Blended learning involves:

taught sessions at university
independent study at home
a problem-solving day and student presentations at university

University attendance involves:

Mondays and Tuesdays tutor-led sessions
independent study at home.

Physics

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

We offer courses with a duration of 8, 16 or 28 weeks depending on your individual needs. Course dates are flexible and start between November and June each year.

The majority of the Physics SKE course is delivered through online learning, with one week of tuition at the Falmer campus in the summer.

Email Sian Williams for more information: sw241@brighton.ac.uk

Find our more about our physic PGCE routes:

How to apply

For applicants looking to complete an SKE and ITT course with the University of 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, contact Sian Williams with details of your qualifications: sw241@brighton.ac.uk.

For applicants looking to complete an SKE with the University of Brighton prior to an ITT course with another institution

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 is possible to make a direct application to the University of Brighton for the SKE course. Please print the form, complete your details and send to:

Sian Williams
University of Brighton
Checkland Building E349
Village Way
Falmer
Brighton
BN1 9PH.

Include the following information with your application:

confirmation that you have been offered a place on an ITT (Initial Teacher Training) course with another provider, due to start next September, which is conditional on completion of an SKE course. Please enclose a copy of the offer letter if you have one.
the title of the ITT course you will be starting in September.
the name of the Institution where you will be undertaking your ITT course along with the Programme Leader’s name and contact details, including an email address.

Please note that you will not need to provide separate references with this application and will therefore not need to complete section 10 (referees' names and addresses). To save time in completing the form you may also prefer to print and attach the personal statement you wrote for your UCAS Teacher Training application rather than writing a new one.

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.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

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

You may need more specific subject knowledge if you have:

studied the subject to a highly advanced level, but over time have lost some of the basic skills needed to teach at secondary level
studied for a degree that’s related to the subject rather than an exact match for it
recently graduated and studied for a degree not related to the subject but have a related A level
changed career and may have an unrelated degree with substantial related knowledge including an A level

For advice on whether your current degree makes you suitable for subject development via an SKE course, contact Sian Williams with details of your qualifications: sw241@brighton.ac.uk

Please check your course of interest for full entry requirements to initial teacher training.

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

Fees

Course fees

There are no fees to pay for an SKE course.

SKE courses attract a bursary of £200 for each 25-hour week of study. Length of study will depend on your individual needs.

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.

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.

Info

Location

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.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton

Campus where this course is taught

Falmer campus

Set in the South Downs, our Falmer campus is around four miles from Brighton city centre. 7,000 students are based here taking subjects including criminology, English, education, nursing and medicine, paramedic science, psychology and sociology. Brighton and Hove Albion's Amex stadium and beautiful Stanmer Park are right next door.

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. Psychology students learn in our applied cognition and flexible creative method labs.

Falmer campus has two halls of residence on site, as well as a library, restaurant, cafes, and a 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.

Cycle lanes link Falmer with our other campuses and the city centre and there is a BTN BikeShare hub on site. 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.

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Newly refurbished atrium in the Checkland Building

Accommodation

Brighton: Falmer

All eligible students applying for 2020 are guaranteed an offer of university halls of residence.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Falmer campus is linked to the halls on Falmer campus and at Varley Park.
- Paddock Field and Great Wilkins halls are on Falmer campus and offer a range of room types and catering options
- Varley Park offers a mix of room and catering options. Varley Park is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there's a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.

Unihomes and unilets
Unihomes and unilets are student houses that we let to our students on behalf of private landlords. This option can work particularly well when you're balancing learning with placements and other commitments. We have unihomes and unilet properties across the city.

Private renting
There's plenty of support if you opt for private renting. This is an option which offers choice and flexibility – enabling you to choose where you live and who with. We manage our own studenthomes database of properties. This lists accommodation offered by landlords who have signed up to our code of standards. Every summer we provide online events and resources, as well as other advice services, for students looking for a place to live and people to share with.

Outside views at Falmer accommodation

Extensive facilities at Falmer sports centre

Students dining at Westlain

Maps

Falmer campus

Student views

Santha Dixon

"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.

"I spent 12 hours a week at university. It was expected that for each teaching hour an additional hour of home study was completed therefore totalling at least 12 hours per week on top of uni time. This was significantly increased towards the end of the course as assignment deadlines loomed. You would benefit from completing past GCSE papers on a regular basis to become familiar with the curriculum and to identify topic knowledge gaps which may then be researched further.

"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.

"I really enjoyed spending time at uni. The environment and facilities are fantastic, the library very well resourced and support staff including student services fantastic.

"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."

David Bowles

" I studied on a 20 week mathematics SKE - my previous experience of mathematics was as part of my degree.

"I felt well-supported during the course and it definitely enhanced my subject knowledge. The SKE was really interesting and good for resilience building. It was an excellent lead in to the discipline of the PGCE year.

"University of Brighton is an excellent place to study and the staff are very approachable."