Triangle

Course overview

Our Secondary PGCE course will support you in your ambition to become a confident, engaging and research-informed teacher, who, in turn, enables pupils to reach their full potential in the classroom and beyond.

Due to our strong, long-standing partnership with 150+ local schools serving diverse local communities, you will benefit from significant school-based teaching experience in a range of different contexts. Not only will you learn from experienced school-based colleagues, you will also learn from the pupils you will teach. Your placements also provide a useful networking opportunity, helping you to decide what kind of school you want to work in once you qualify.

Personalised support for our beginning teachers is important to us. We offer this in many ways through personal tutors, school-based mentors and coordinators, student network groups, and our wellbeing team. On top of this, you can access all the university’s support services.

Additional enrichment opportunities including time in an alternative provision, immersive practice days, special interest groups and School of Education seminars and events, ensure you have a range of rich, exciting learning experiences throughout the course.

Key features of the Secondary PGCE

  • Qualified to teach Key Stage 3 to 5 (11-18 years) in your chosen subject
  • Rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted in 2022
  • PGCE qualification (60 masters-level credits) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
  • Working across school and university settings from the first full teaching week
  • Two main placements
  • Immersive practice days focussing on key aspects of teaching
  • Excellent support from academic tutors and school-based mentors
  • Benefit of a large and strong schools partnership
  • Access to a wide range of enrichment activities
  • 60 PGCE credits can be used towards an MA Education and 30 credits can be used towards other masters courses
  • A commitment to equality and diversity

Subjects offered

Alumni profiles

View our Secondary PGCE alumni profiles.

Attend an information session

We hold monthly events from October through to July to give you the opportunity to find out more about starting your teaching career with the University of Nottingham.

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Why choose this course?

World top 100

university

QS World University Rankings 2026

World top 60

for education

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Rated 'Outstanding'

in our recent Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report

High employment level

Many of our graduates secure employment in our local partnership schools across the East Midlands region.

Over 100 years

of experience in the field of education

Support from experts

across our partnership. You'll work with excellent teacher educators and school-based mentors.

Course content

This course is designed to equip you with the skills you need to become an effective educator within your subject area and to enable you to develop your own theories of learning and models of good practice. A distinctive feature of the course is its strong focus on subject pedagogies: you will spend the majority of your time working in subject-specialist groups, exploring how best to teach your discipline and developing your subject-specific teaching expertise. The course gives you extended placements in at least two schools, enabling you to gain a broad experience of different and contrasting educational settings.

Your school placements will be supported by university-based teaching days, immersive practice days and periods of independent study. These sessions will continue to foreground subject pedagogy, allowing you to connect theory and practice in ways that are directly relevant to your chosen subject.

Immersive practice days, taking place across school and university-based days, will provide opportunities to work with a range of experts and your peers, to develop your understanding of, and practice, key aspects of teaching in your subject area. Through this subject-focused approach, you will gain the confidence and skills needed to design engaging lessons, respond to the needs of diverse learners, and establish yourself as a reflective practitioner within your subject.

University-based learning

You will actively work with tutors and peers, constantly exploring teaching and learning. You will engage with theory and research to make you a better teacher. For example we will look at theories relating to a socially just education in order to help you support the pupils in diverse schools within which you will work. Your university experience will include:

  • working with groups of beginning teachers in subject and cross-subject groups
  • modelling of teacher approaches you can use in your classroom
  • exploring research and practice
  • keynote inputs from experts, for example staff that specialise in special and inclusive education
  • peer teaching and learning
  • immersive practice days to develop understanding of, and have opportunities to practice, key aspects of teaching
  • exploring and practising all elements of being a teacher in a 'safe' space

Placements

We have a very strong, collaborative partnership with the schools we work with. University tutors, school mentors and coordinators work closely with you, and each other, throughout the year to support and challenge you to become the best teacher you can be.

We firmly believe that learning to become a great teacher isn’t about teaching as many lessons as you can as quickly as possible. It is about gradually building up your experiences and working with experienced teachers in lots of different ways. Your school-based learning will include:

  • two main school placements as well as a one-week Alternative Professional Experience (APE) in a different setting
  • a carefully structured programme to support your progress each term
  • a gradual build-up of teaching
  • observations across all key stages with expert teachers
  • weekly mentor meetings to discuss your progress and agree targets for development
  • involvement in all aspects of school life, for example helping with clubs, supporting school trips, joining staff meetings, and attending parents' events

Throughout your time in school you will undertake a wide range of professional development activities to develop your understanding of teaching and learning and the complex role of a teacher. Although placements are intensive and demanding, we carefully structure your progression, with a gradual build-up of teaching commitments, so you are well prepared to teach in different contexts. During your time on placement you will become part of your school's community and work professionally as a member of a team.

As part of your second placement, you will undertake a small-scale research project where, with the support of your tutor, you will formulate and develop a research project on an area of interest.

You will also experience immersive practice days in different partnership schools to further support your ongoing professional development. In addition to this, you will have the opportunity to have a week placement in an alternative educational setting.

We appreciate that you will be keen to know the location of your school placement as soon as possible. Experience has shown us that it is important to carefully consider a range of factors, such as: access to transport, caring responsibilities and previous experience to name but a few, when making placement decisions. For these reasons, we don’t allow applicants to express an interest in a particular school. Similarly, offer holders are not able to request or make arrangements for their own placement in a particular school. Instead, we work with you from the moment you have an offer to understand your personal circumstances factoring these into our placement decisions to ensure we do all we can to support you to be successful.

Further information about our PGCE courses can be found on the School of Education Initial Teacher Education website.

Modules

Core modules

Learning and Teaching in Schools

This 30-credit module explores teaching and learning in subject disciplines and more generally. An extensive programme of lectures and seminars will enable you to develop a practical knowledge of teaching informed by a critical understanding of theories of teaching and learning. The module is assessed through written assignments, presentations and related classroom-based work.

Schools and Society

This 30-credit module is focussed on developing inclusive, socially just practices in relation to your wider professional role and the teaching of your subject. Most of the teaching takes place in cross-subject seminar groups. You will complete an inquiry project situated within school and society and your subject specialism, and submit two written assignments as assessment for this module.

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Monday 15 September 2025.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Group study
  • Tutorials
  • Discussion group
  • School-based teaching practice

How you will be assessed

  • Presentation
  • Teaching practice
  • Coursework

Your practical teaching will be assessed by school-based mentors and coordinators, in collaboration with university tutors. Your presentations and coursework assignments will be assessed by university tutors. All elements of your work across the year will be taken into account and there are no written exams.

You will need to demonstrate your practical abilities as a teacher and your theoretical understanding of this practice and must fulfil the requirements for the Teacher Standards by the end of the course. We take an holistic approach to assessing whether you have met the standards that avoids gathering pieces of evidence to tick off boxes. Our key message is that if you are engaging successfully with all elements of your course you will be meeting the standards. To achieve your PGCE with QTS, you will need to meet the Teachers Standards and pass your academic assignments at masters level.

Fundamental mathematics and English skills

Before being recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), you must be able to demonstrate competence in maths and English. At interview we will discuss your current level of ability and if needed, we will direct you to resources to engage with before the course. Throughout the year you will be supported to develop further to ensure you are fully competent by the end of your course.

Contact time and study hours

This is a full-time course starting end of August 2026 and finishing end of July 2027 (exact dates to be confirmed). You should expect to work full days when in university and on placement. 

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2026 entry.

Undergraduate degreeUK undergraduate degree/equivalent – in all cases we will be looking at the relevance of your degree alongside other qualifications in your proposed teaching subject, plus GCSE/equivalent – English (language or literature) and mathematics, 4 (C) or above

Suitability to teach

In order to protect children and young people from trainee teachers who might put them at risk of harm because of their previous conduct, the Department for Education stipulate that all Initial Teacher Education (ITE) providers must carry out a range of checks. This is to ensure anyone admitted to an ITE programme, has been deemed suitable to train to teach.

Before you register for your PGCE course you must have met the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, occupational health requirements and all other conditions of your offer.

DBS

All ITE students are required to have a criminal record check before they begin their course, and you must let us know of any criminal convictions you may have. As part of your application and the conditions of your offer to study with us, you’ll be required to complete an enhanced DBS check before you register to study. Failure to disclose any information may result in your offer being revoked or the termination of your place studying your course with us.

The university uses the Disclosure and Barring Service to assess the suitability of applicants to work with children and young people. Our current DBS partner, Know Your People, will email all offer holders with the important information about completing your DBS application.

You should be aware that the disclosure certificate will list all convictions and cautions received. Certain offences may lead to the applicant being refused entry onto the course, or subsequently being asked to withdraw. We do not discriminate unfairly against any subject of disclosure based on information revealed.

Non-UK residents (excluding the Republic of Ireland), or individuals who have spent a substantial period of time living abroad, need to obtain a police check from your home country and this must be received by the end of August.

If you have any concerns in relation to the above, please get in touch.

Occupational health

All ITE students must demonstrate they are able to meet the activities that a teacher must perform as set out in the Education (Health Standards) (England) Regulations 2003. Therefore, all offers are subject to a satisfactory occupational health assessment.

Disabilities and health concerns do not necessarily form a barrier to entry onto the PGCE course, people with disabilities or chronic illnesses may have the capacity to train to teach, just as those without disabilities or medical conditions may be unsuitable to train to teach. In line with the Equality Act (2010) we treat all students fairly, offering ongoing support and making reasonable adjustments where necessary. 

If you are offered a place on a PGCE course you are required to complete a medical questionnaire. Our current occupational health provider, Optima Health, will email all offer holders with the important information about completing your pre-course occupational health questionnaire (PPQ). You must ensure you have completed this before you start the course. Any offer of a place is subject to satisfactory occupational health clearance. 

A panel from the School of Education schools partnership reviews all occupational health recommended reasonable adjustments. This panel determines whether the recommended reasonable adjustments can be made on an individual case-by-case basis considering professional practice in a school context.

It is therefore important to note that all offers of a place on the course are conditional on obtaining occupational health clearance. Accepting someone who is unlikely to fulfil the demands of teaching would not be in the interests of the student and would be contrary to the school’s overriding duty of care to children and young people.

All of the information disclosed is treated as completely confidential.

Conditions of your offer - academic and non-academic

All offers made for our PGCE courses are subject to a series of academic and non-academic conditions. You need to meet these to be able to take up your place with us.

Academic conditions

You must be able to evidence that you hold GCSE or equivalent in English (language, or literature) and mathematics, grade 4 (C) or above. You will also need an undergraduate degree from an UK HEI or equivalent.

Non-academic conditions

Non-academic conditions will include DBS and occupational health as detailed above.

Other conditions may also fall into this category and will be detailed as part of your offer of a place on the course. They will be determined on a case-by-case basis during the admissions process, for example, the successful completion of a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course.

Applying

  • Visit DfE Find for more information on applying
  • Visit Apply for teacher training to start your application
  • Complete and submit the application form following the instructions - see tips for guidance
  • Complete a personal statement - see tips for guidance
  • Once you have submitted your application to Apply for teacher training, it is sent to us
  • Suitable candidates will be invited to interview at the university
  • Successful applicants will be offered a place
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Where you will learn

Jubilee Campus

Jubilee Campus has eco-friendly buildings, alongside green spaces, wildlife and a lake. 

This campus is home to our business, education and computer science schools, as well as a sports centre and student accommodation.

You can walk to University Park Campus in around 20 minutes or catch a free hopper bus. Nottingham city centre is 20 minutes away by public bus.

Fees

Qualification PGCE
Home / UK £9,535
International £25,750

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on an Initial Teacher Education course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. This includes travel costs to your placement school which will obviously vary according to where you live, where you need to travel to, and your mode of transport.

Some of our courses will also include local visits or field trips which will also incur costs. You should be able to access most of the academic resources you will need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles. The school covers the cost of a DBS check.

Funding

Teacher training bursary

Please visit the Department for Education website for further information.

Tuition fee and maintenance loans

You may be eligible to apply for a fee loan which covers the cost of the tuition fee. Maintenance loans are also available. Please visit the student finance website for more detail.

University of Nottingham Core Bursary

As a student on a PGCE course, you may be eligible for an income assessed core bursary.

University of Nottingham Potential Bursary

These bursaries include support for students with financially dependent children or adults, or students who have been in care.

Careers

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

Our students are very successful at gaining employment after graduation. Many secure positions in local partnership schools. Some graduates go overseas to work as a teacher

Other graduates have gone on to work as counsellors, education advisers and vocational/industrial trainers and instructors.

Successful completion of your PGCE will give you 60-masters level credits which can be used towards a masters degree in education at the University of Nottingham. Or you can use 30 credits against a selection of other MA courses. Find out more about using PGCE credits.

Career progression

97.4% of PGCE graduates secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average starting salary was £31,261.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2022/23.

You complete two school placements over the duration of this course and will spend time in your first placement school from week one. The second school placement will start in January.

University tutors and school ITE leads work closely with you, and each other, throughout the year to support and challenge you to develop into the best teacher you can be.

We have a very strong, collaborative partnership with the schools we work with.

 

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates
" I cannot emphasise enough the amount of support available on the course. I always felt that there was someone to turn to. My university tutor, and other tutors on the course, checked in frequently and were always willing and available to discuss or help with any issues or concerns. In addition to academic support, they were incredibly helpful when it came time to look for a job, helping with cover letter writing and mock interview sessions. My school-based mentors in both placements were also fantastically supportive. Their positive feedback gave me the confidence to keep pushing myself, and through their guidance and advice have helped me develop into the teacher I wanted to be. "
Olivia Harrison - Secondary PGCE Science

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This content was last updated on Monday 15 September 2025. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.