Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with QTS in Secondary (11-16 or 11-18) (2025 Entry)

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Course code

N/A*

Start date

1 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time

Qualification

PGCE

Led by

Centre for Teacher Education (CTE)

Location

University of Warwick

Course code

N/A*

Start date

1 September 2025

Duration

1 year full-time

Qualification

PGCE

Led by

Centre for Teacher Education (CTE)

Location

University of Warwick

Meet us

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Find out more about our Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education (PGCE) with QTS degree at Warwick

The Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a high-quality, Ofsted rated outstanding programme founded on the Warwick Teacher Values of Social Justice, Intellectual Curiosity and Creativity. Warwick's Centre for Teacher Education has strong partnerships with schools across the region. With us you will become an effective and confident teacher and make a real difference to young people’s futures.

The course is fully accredited by the Department for Education, and in 2024 received an 'Outstanding' grade from Ofsted. The ambitious curriculum both encompasses and goes beyond the ITT Core Content Framework.

*For more information on how to apply please visit our Centre for Teacher Education webpagesLink opens in a new window.

Course overview

Our Secondary Postgraduate Certificate in Education focuses on the 11-18 age range. Our course will develop you into a highly effective teacher, equipped with the values, skills and knowledge to become a successful school leader.

Our courses offer the best of both immersive, school-based training and regular teaching input from experts with subject specialist teaching experience. In addition, you can access the support and learning facilities of a world-class university.

On the course you will develop a secure subject knowledge base, and the ability to plan and teach in your subject so that all pupils learn and make good progress. You will learn how to assess and evaluate learning and develop your teaching to ensure progress for all pupils. You will also learn about the needs of pupils and how to adapt your teaching to strengthen inclusion in your teaching.

In partnership with regional schools, we will ensure that you have the skills and knowledge needed to forge a strong personal and professional identity, which you will continue to develop throughout your career. The Warwick Teacher Values, of Social Justice, Intellectual Curiosity and Creativity run through all our programmes.

The secondary programme is offered across the following subjects:

Art and Design
Biology
Chemistry
Computer Science
Drama
English
Geography
History
Maths
MFL
Music
Physical Education
Physics
Religious Education
Business Studies and Economics
Social Sciences (Psychology and Sociology)
Design Technology

Please visit the Centre for Teacher Education websiteLink opens in a new window to find out more.

Entry requirements

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

2:2 undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.

At least Grade C or 4 in GCSE English and Mathematics (or equivalent).

Apply through DfE Apply for postgraduate teacher training programmes.

English language requirements

You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window. This course requires the following:

Band B
IELTS overall score of 7.0, minimum component scores of two at 6.0/6.5 and the rest at 7.0 or above.

International qualifications

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications.

For more information, please visit the international entry requirements pageLink opens in a new window.

Academic References

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught courses, and two academic references for research courses.

You will be asked to include an email address for your referee(s) when submitting your application and we will contact them for you.

View our guide to academic references.Link opens in a new window

Additional requirements

Suitability and safeguarding checks.

Modules

Core modules

Subject Studies

This module is taught by a subject specialist in your field and focuses on the evidence base, subject knowledge, pedagogy and practice of teaching your specialist subject.

Professional Enquiry

This module uses case-based learning approaches to understand the more complex needs of some groups of learners and how you might adapt your teaching to meet their needs. The module includes input from specialist teachers and will help you develop teaching that is effective and inclusive of all learners.

Professional Practice

This module connects both the taught curriculum and school placements, focusing on how you are embedding new knowledge and robust evidence into your own teaching in a school placement as well as supporting your professional development.

Optional modules

There are no optional modules for this course.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees are payable for each year of your course at the start of the academic year, or at the start of your course, if later. Academic fees cover the cost of tuition, examinations and registration and some student amenities.

For more information on tuition fees please visit our Centre for Teacher Education webpagesLink opens in a new window.

Find your taught course fees

Fee Status Guidance

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Students will be classified as Home or Overseas fee status. Your fee status determines tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available. If you receive an offer, your fee status will be clearly stated alongside the tuition fee information.

Do you need your fee classification to be reviewed?

If you believe that your fee status has been classified incorrectly, you can complete a fee status assessment questionnaire. Please follow the instructions in your offer information and provide the documents needed to reassess your status.

Find out more about how universities assess fee status

Additional course costs

As well as tuition fees and living expenses, some courses may require you to cover the cost of field trips or costs associated with travel abroad.

For departmental specific costs, please see the Modules tab on the course web page for the list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue (please visit the Department’s website if the Module Catalogue hyperlinks are not provided).

Associated costs can be found on the Study tab for each module listed in the Module Catalogue (please note most of the module content applies to 2024/25 year of study). Information about module department specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

Core text books
Printer credits
Dissertation binding

Scholarships and funding

Scholarships and bursaries

Scholarships and financial support

Find out about the different funding routes available, including; postgraduate loans, scholarships, fee awards and academic department bursaries.

Living costs

Find out more about the cost of living as a postgraduate student at the University of Warwick.

Bursaries and scholarships up to the value of £30,000 may be available.

Find out about Teacher Training bursaries and scholarships on the Get into Teaching website.

For more information on financial support for teacher training please visit our Centre for Teacher Education webpagesLink opens in a new window.

Teaching

Regular tutorials and a tailored seminar programme ensure that you are treated as an individual from the outset and are supported to progress according to your ability, taking account of your professional and personal development needs. Teaching is mainly through small group workshop sessions that provide time to explore how your own teaching is informed by what you learn on the course.

The online conferences and Intensive Training and Practice components provide you with the opportunity to work with students on the primary, early years and international PGCE courses, thereby enriching the learning experience.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a range of Master’s level assignments, which are aimed at assessing your professional and subject specific learning. You will also be assessed on whether you meet the Teachers’ Standards at a level appropriate for an Early Career Teacher.

Reading lists 

If you would like to view reading lists for current or previous cohorts of students, most departments have reading lists available through Warwick Library on the Talis Aspire platform. 

You can search for reading lists by module title, code or convenor. Please see the modules tab of this page or the module catalogue.  

Please note that some reading lists may have restricted access or be unavailable at certain times of year due to publication dates. If you cannot access the reading list for a particular module, please check again later or contact the module’s host department.

Your timetable

Your personalised timetable will be complete when you are registered for all modules and you have been allocated to your lectures, seminars and other small group classes. Your compulsory modules will be registered for you when you join us.

Careers

Your career

Upon completing one of our courses, you will be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and will gain up to 90 credits at Master’s level. This allows you to fast-track to stage two of CTE’s Master’s degree, quickly progressing your professional development.

Career progression may be through subject leadership or pastoral responsibility such as Head of a year group, with next steps being a senior management role.

Our department has a dedicated professionally qualified Senior Careers Consultant offering impartial advice and guidance together with workshops and events throughout the year. Previous examples of workshops and events include:

Applications and Interviews for Teaching Jobs
Preparing for Teaching Job Interviews
Writing a Personal Statement for Teaching Jobs
Careers Drop In (for applications and interview support)

Department

Centre for Teacher Education (CTE)

Our vision and ambition for the Centre for Teacher Education (CTE) derives from a commitment to continue the long history of Teacher Education at the University of Warwick where generations of new teachers gain employment in our partner schools to improve the life chances of the children they teach. Our programmes are underpinned by our core values of social justice, intellectual curiosity and creativity.

Our commitment is to ensure we support and develop you as an Early Career Teacher and engage you as part of our alumni community. CTE’s Master's in Professional Education is aimed at practising teachers and school leaders and is designed to ensure the content aligns with an individual’s educational research interest. You will focus your research on an area of your own choice to ensure your studies and learning has real value and impact within your school context.

We pride ourselves on making a difference to our students. We place high-quality teaching and student support at the heart of what we do and recognise that our success is built on the strength of our partnership with our students and schools. Teaching is our top priority and our commitment to our students is paramount.

Learn more about us from our website.Link opens in a new window

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

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How to apply

For more information on how to apply please visit our Centre for Teacher Education webpagesLink opens in a new window.

How to apply for a postgraduate taught course

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2024 entry

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Explore ways to connect with us

We understand how important it is to visit and explore your future university before you apply. That's why we have put together a range of online and in-person options to help you discover more about your course, visit campus, and get a sense of postgraduate life at Warwick. Our events offer includes:

Warwick hosted events
Postgraduate Fairs
Live chats
Talk and Tours
Department events

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Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

Why Warwick

Discover why Warwick is one of the best universities in the UK and renowned globally.

8th in the UK

in the Guardian University Guide 2025

6th Most Targeted University

by the UK's top 100 graduate employers (The Graduate Market in 2024, High Fliers Research Ltd)

69th in the World

out of 1,500 institutions across 104 locations (QS World University Rankings 2025)

Page updates

We may have revised the information on this page since publication. See the edits we have made and content history.

About the information on this page

This information is applicable for 2026 entry. Given the interval between the publication of courses and enrolment, some of the information may change. It is important to check our website before you apply. Please read our terms and conditions to find out more.

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Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with QTS in Secondary (11-16 or 11-18) (2025 Entry)

Find out more about our Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Education (PGCE) with QTS degree at Warwick

Scholarships and financial support

Living costs

After you’ve applied

Applicant Portal

Admissions statement

Join a live chat

Find out how to apply to us, ask your questions, and find out more.

Explore ways to connect with us

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

Why Warwick

8th in the UK

6th Most Targeted University

69th in the World

5th best student city in the UK

Gold standard teaching

92% of our research

Page updates

About the information on this page

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