The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE/PGCertEd) is in Level 7 of the Framework of Higher Education Qualifications and the Professional Certificate in Education (ProfGCE) is in Level 6.
This RQF Level 7 qualification includes practical knowledge, skills and abilities that are academically rated as corresponding to Master’s Degrees, Integrated Master’s Degrees, Graduate Graduates, PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) and Graduate Certificates. Shows ability.
Fees
For PGCE courses in England, a fee of £9,250 will normally be charged, which can be borrowed (at interest) from Student Finance England.
In September 2012, the government introduced a new initiative with the aim of encouraging the best graduates into the teaching profession, particularly in mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry and modern foreign languages.
| Subject | Bursary | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Chemistry | £24,000 | £26,000 |
| Computing | ||
| Maths | ||
| Physics | ||
| Classics | £10,000 | Not available |
| Languages | ||
| Biology | £7,000 |
Independent schools[edit]
Teachers in independent schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are not required to hold any particular qualifications, although most schools now prefer applicants to have a PGCE, especially younger people going into teaching as a first career. This flexibility does allow them to occasionally hire older people who have practical experience, such as appointing ex-engineers as mathematics or physics teachers, or appointing people with high-level postgraduate qualifications but no formal teacher-training.
Other qualifications
The PGCE is the main postgraduate route for teacher training in England and Wales, but there are a number of other ways to gain QTS.