Skip navigation
Further Education and Skills at University of Portsmouth - UCAS

Course options

There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Course summary

Overview If you have a level 3 qualification in a relevant subject area, plus a desire to help students begin their careers through further education, this Certificate in Further Education and Skills (CertEd) course will enable you to teach at college level. You'll learn the most effective teaching techniques by spending time on teaching placements in real education settings and exploring teaching theory in lectures and seminars. You'll also develop subject specific knowledge by working closely with course teachers and work-based subject mentors. If you're not yet working or teaching in further education, you can study this course full-time at the University. If you do already have a role in further education, you can study part-time at one of our partner colleges, alongside your job. Wherever you study, you’ll be a student of the University of Portsmouth, so you’ll have access to all of our facilities and support. After the course, you'll be able to take up teaching roles in further education colleges, sixth-form colleges and private training providers, or to top up your Certificate to a full Bachelor’s degree.

  • Develop your skills as a teacher through practical experience in the classroom and theoretical study around further education
  • Join fellow professionals from many different backgrounds for lectures and seminars, creating an effective peer network where you can share ideas and experiences
  • Get more than 100 hours of work experience on teaching placements arranged by the University (full-time only)
  • Choose to study full-time at the University or part-time at one of our partner colleges: Chichester College, South Hampshire College Group - Eastleigh Campus, Havant and South Downs College, or Isle of Wight College
  • Be eligible for membership of the Society for Education & Training (SET) when you graduate, which enables you to work towards Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status
Recognised by: Completing this course enables an application to be made to the Institute for Learning (IfL) for QTLS (Qualified Teacher Learning & Skills) status. This course has been inspected by the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED). Full-time and part-time study options You can study this course full-time over 1 year or part-time over 2 years. The type of study that's best for you will depend on whether or not you're already working and/or teaching in further education. Full-time study The full-time version of this course at the University is ideal if you're not already working in teaching. If you study this course full time, the working hours are similar to a full-time job – times will vary but you'll generally be at the University or on placement from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Part-time study If you're already working and/or in further education, the part-time version of this course is designed for you. If you study this course part time, you'll go to one of our partner colleges once a week. You'll also need to have a teaching placement with an identified subject mentor that includes at least 50 hours of teaching a year. Careers and opportunities This CertEd Further Education and Skills will give you the formal teaching qualification you need to teach in further education settings such as colleges, sixth-forms and private training providers, or to pursue further study. What can you do with a certificate in further education? After graduating, previous students have gone on to work in:
  • further education colleges
  • sixth-form colleges
  • private training providers
  • public services
  • voluntary organisations
You could also turn your CertEd into a full Bachelor's degree with a relevant top-up course, such as BA (Hons) Education Studies (Top-Up).

Modules

Year 1 Core modules:

  • Learning and Teaching in Further Education L4 (30 credits)
  • Current Themes and Policy in Curriculum Design L5 (30 credits)
  • Educational Research in Practice L5 (30 credits)
  • Professional Practice in your Subject Area L5 (30 credits)
There are no optional modules in this year. We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies. Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry and some optional modules may not run every year. If a module doesn’t run, we’ll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.

Assessment method

You'll complete two teaching blocks over the course of study, with each teaching block consisting of two modules. Each module consists of two to three assignments. You’ll be assessed through: research-based essays teaching practice files lesson observations logging personal development You’ll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark. You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.


How to apply

Application codes

Course code:
X305
Institution code:
P80
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

This course may be available at alternative locations, please check if other course options are available

International applicants

Main site - EU and International applicants accepted Chichester - EU and International applicants accepted Havant and South Downs College - EU and International applicants accepted Chichester College Crawley Campus - This course is available to EU and International applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa Eastleigh - This course is available to EU and International applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa Isle of Wight College - This course is available to EU and International applicants who do not require a Student Route Visa

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

A level 3 qualification within your subject delivery area coupled with sufficient experience to establish professional competence. Formal qualifications, experiential learning and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) are also considered. GCSE English and mathematics at grade C/4 or above, or equivalent. All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in support of their application. All offers are subject to Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and Occupational Health clearance. Full time students who study on campus will be provided with a teaching placement and subject mentor by the University.

Additional entry requirements

Criminal records declaration (DBS/Disclosure Scotland)

Applicants must pass Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting the course.

Health checks

Applicants must pass Occupational Health check before starting the course.

Interview

All shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend an interview in support of their application.

Other

Part-time students are required to have secured their own teaching placement with at least 100 teaching hours plus 75 non-teaching hours per year, and have an identified subject mentor.


English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.0 with no component score below 5.5.
PTE Academic54An overall score of 54 with a minimum of 51 in each skill.
TOEFL (iBT)7979 with a minimum of 18 in Reading, 17 in Listening, 20 in Speaking and 17 in Writing.
Cambridge English AdvancedCambridge English: Advanced (CAE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Cambridge English ProficiencyCambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) taken after January 2015. An overall score of 169 with no component score less than 162.
Trinity ISEPassTrinity College Integrated Skills in English (ISE) Level III with a Pass in all 4 components

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

EU £9535 Year 1
England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
International £17200 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students who are resident in EU countries: please note that the net fee is inclusive of the Transition Scholarship Placement Year and Year abroad (at the time of publishing for 2024/25): UK/Channel Islands and Isle of Man students – £1,385 EU – £1,385 (including Transition Scholarship) International (Non-EU) – £2,875. Fees are accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change at any time without notice. All fees are subject to annual increase. For more information about fees, go to port.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/undergraduate-fees-and-student-finance/tuition-fees-living-costs-and-other-study-costs
Further Education and Skills at University of Portsmouth - UCAS