14May
PostgraduateCourse summary
The University of Buckingham is:
- Home of the two-year degree, the University of Buckingham, based in the South East of England, is ranked 6th for Student Satisfaction in the UK (National Student Survey, 2020).
- We are proudly independent and not-for-profit, and offer courses in Allied Health, Business, Computing, Education, Humanities, Law, Medicine, Psychology and Security and Intelligence. We are one of the few universities in the UK that offer September and January start dates for almost all of our courses.
- Based in Buckingham on a riverside campus, we are only 20 minutes’ from Milton Keynes central station and a short drive from Bicester, Aylesbury, Banbury and Northampton. There is free parking on-site and we are within easy reach of London and Oxford.
- Our award-winning small class tutorials ensure every student is known by name and supported throughout their studies, including by dedicated personal tutors.
- As pioneers of the two-year degree, we offer a condensed version of the traditional three-year degree, meaning you can gain a full honours degree and complete your studies a whole year earlier. Alternatively, you can complete both your undergraduate and master’s degree with us in just three years: saving you time and money.
Assessment method
The PGCE is a 37-week school-based course during which time you will work under the guidance of a mentor and receive weekly tutorials to review your progress and to set targets. You must teach for a minimum of 13 hours a week. There are six days of residential training and two days of online learning which include subject-specific content. Trainees will participate in lectures, workshops, seminars and discussion groups led by experts in their field. The course encourages reflective practice, focusing on the subjects being taught, the craft of the classroom and the underpinning educational values of the teacher. You will cover five key topics using Intensive Training and Practice. As a part of this you will be required to attend a live but online talk on twenty Thursdays 8.30 to 9.30am. You need to be available to attend residential courses. You will be assigned a University tutor who will visit you once per term to assess your progress and guide your development. You will be assessed against the Teaching Standards and Core Curriculum Framework, which is embedded in the PGCE curriculum, by both your mentor and your tutor. The Buckingham tutor and the school mentor will jointly assess the student’s competence as a teacher during and at the end of the course. There are three essays to complete, carrying a total value of 60 Level 7 (Master’s) credits. If successful, trainees will be qualified to teach in both independent and maintained schools in England. For teachers undertaking their first year of teaching we highly recommend your participation in our Introduction to Teaching course as an addition to the PGCE. This will provide you with some basic knowledge and skills to start teaching.
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:
- Secondary
Entry requirements
You must be employed as a teacher in a secondary independent or state school and be teaching your subject for a minimum of twelve hours across two consecutive key stages. Every year some of our applicants have arranged to work in a school for the specific purpose of gaining this training, others have worked in the school for a year or two, some for longer than that. You will be expected to have the following qualifications: UK degree (2.2 or above). For equivalent qualifications, contact [email protected] to confirm that your qualification meets the University entry requirements GCSE in English Language, Maths at grade C/4 or above or equivalent. For equivalent qualifications, contact [email protected] to confirm that your qualification meets the University entry requirements. In addition, you must: Demonstrate competence in literacy and numeracy. Attend an interview. Provide a reference from your headteacher supporting your application to undertake a PGCE. Obtain the commitment from your school to release you for the second school placement and to provide a suitable mentor. Provide a satisfactory criminal record check and show the physical and mental fitness to teach. The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through the course, enabling them to demonstrate all of the Teachers’ Standards across the full age and ability range of training, and cannot be graded as inadequate.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees
| England | £7500 | Whole course |
| Northern Ireland | £7500 | Whole course |
| Scotland | £7500 | Whole course |
| Wales | £7500 | 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
No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Provider information
University of Buckingham
Hunter Street
Buckingham
MK18 1EG