Course summary
Gain the experience, opportunity and knowledge to work in Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 with the PGCE Primary Education. Our Primary Postgraduate Certificate in Education course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach children aged five to 11. Reading's Institute of Education boasts award-wining tutors and consistently high graduate employment rates and provides outstanding support and pastoral care. Overall, 99% of our graduates who reported their main activity to be full-time employment were in graduate level work and/or study 15 months after the end of their course (based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2025, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022/23, based on Postgraduate Initial Teacher Education responders from the Institute of Education). For more information, please visit our programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/education-pg/pgce-primary-education
Modules
Sample modules may include:
- The core subjects (English, mathematics and science)
- Professional Studies
- The Foundation Subjects
- Special educational needs
- Leadership
Qualified teacher status (QTS)
To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:
- Primary
Entry requirements
IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent). Entry requirements: You are normally required to have at least a 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent from a university outside the UK. You will need to have achieved Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE Mathematics, English Language and a Science subject, or equivalent qualifications. As part of the application process for this programme, you will be required to attend an interview. You will also need to demonstrate competence in Fundamental English and mathematics by the end of the course. This is a new DfE requirement which replaces the QTS skills tests in literacy and numeracy. If you accept an offer with us you will also be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| Republic of Ireland | £9535 | Whole course |
| EU | £26450 | Whole course |
| England | £9535 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £9535 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £9535 | Whole course |
| Wales | £9535 | Whole course |
| Channel Islands | £9535 | Whole course |
| International | £26450 | Whole course |
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
New UK/Republic of Ireland students: The fee for 2026/27 is not yet available. For the 2025/26 entry, the fee was £9,535.
New international students: £26,450 for 2026/27
Provider information
University of Reading
Whiteknights Campus
Reading
RG6 6UR