PGCE Secondary Design and Technology with QTS

A Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is usually a one-year teacher training course. It offers a mixture of academic and practical learning, and it's the first step for graduates in the development of a teaching career. At Warwick, our PGCE courses provide a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS – a requirement to teach in the state school system as an Early Career Teacher).

Throughout the year, both the University-led and Partner-led routes are taught together. From September until the end of May, you will generally spend one day a week at the University. During the final few weeks of the course, you will experience five days a week in school.

There are regular personal tutorials with your university personal tutor throughout the year, as well as weekly mentor meetings in school and school visits from your moderation tutor. A minimum of 120 days are spent on school placement and a short primary school placement is undertaken during the year.

University-led

On the University-led PGCE programme you will undertake two main school placements organised by the University, one for one term and one for two terms.

You will also have further days in school as part of our Intensive Training and Practice programme focussing on key pedagogies including behaviour, planning, literacy and inclusion. The rest of the programme will consist of sessions taught by University of Warwick as well as independent study.

If you feel passionate about teaching and would like a programme offering placements in a range of schools, this may be the best option for you. We will provide you with a good grounding upon which you will be building your professional skills and understanding in schools. A limited number of optional three-day placements in a special school are also available to students on the University-led route.

Lead Partner route

Partner-led trainees have placements in two schools organised by the Partner school. Two terms are based at the host school and half a term at an alternative setting where the complementary placement takes place.

You will also have further days in school as part of our Intensive Training and Practice programme focussing on key pedagogies including behaviour, planning, literacy and inclusion. The rest of the programme will consist of sessions taught by University of Warwick as well as independent study.

If you would rather be immersed in the classroom environment and school culture and apply directly to one of our lead partners, consider the Partner-led route where you will spend the majority of the year based in a single school. There are three Lead Partner Routes available, Partner-Led-Training, Partner-Led-Training (Digital) and School Direct Salaried. On all partner-led routes you’ll complete a complementary placement.

To find out more about the Partners we work with on these routes please visit our Lead Partners Pages.Link opens in a new window

You may be eligible for funding through tuition fee loans and bursaries or scholarships. School Direct salaried provides an employment-based option and is ideal for graduates with extensive work experience, who have worked in a school or similar setting for some time. You won’t be eligible for any bursaries or scholarships but you will receive a salary while you train. School Direct Salaried trainees are usually contracted to the end of the school year.

Class sizes vary depending on the nature of the session: students will experience a variety of 1:1 tutorials, workshops in subject groups and mixed subject groups of 30 or fewer. There will be a small number of whole cohort lectures on key elements of professional skills. Some whole cohort events/conferences will be online with class sizes depending on the session.

The course provides more than the minimum of 120 days in school which run alongside a carefully sequenced programme of taught sessions throughout the year appropriate for your point of development. You will also have 20 days of explicit Intensive Training and Practice to enable you to develop, hone and refine key areas of your classroom practice.

You’ll be assessed in the following ways. All assignments are submitted in electronic form. Your tutors will give you formal feedback identifying the strengths of the academic piece, and offer any advice for future work. The current assessment methods consist of the following, however, CTE reserves the right to change these as appropriate in line with the requirements of regulatory authorities such as Ofsted and the DfE.

Subject Studies (Master's level)

Two assessments exploring a subject-specific issue of pedagogy and its application in classroom practice. on issues in your specialist subject
1 x 3000-word essay,
1 x Academic Presentation (equivalent to 1,500-words)

Professional Enquiry (Master's level)

A critical review of academic literature and educational policy connected to a chosen area of adaptive teaching followed by an annotated sequence of learning
1 x 4000-word essay

Professional Practice (Master's level)

A professional report focussing on an aspect of literacy; a viva voce (oral examination); meeting the Teachers’ Standards and fulfilling the Department for Education compliance requirements
1 x 2000-word professional report
1 x Viva voce

• Bachelor's degree with Honours at 2:2 or above, or equivalent level.
• At least Grade C or Grade 4 in GCSE English and Mathematics.*

Equivalency Tests

We are able to accept approved third-party equivalency tests in place of GCSEs. The current providers that have been approved are listed below, together with details of the discounts currently available. If you are intending to use another equivalency testing company, we recommend contacting our admissions team beforehand to ensure that they meet the entry criteria.

Equivalency Testing Link opens in a new window

• Long-standing company
• Excellent student support
• Secure testing
• Good and quick feedback
• Significant discount available for PGCE offer holders. Please email cte.admissions@warwick.ac.uk for the discount code.

A Star Equivalency Link opens in a new window

Why choose A Star Equivalency?

• Excellent student support
• A clear outline of required material in each exam
• Rolling programme of live online subject-specific support sessions
• An extensive range of free support materials
• Practice papers and marking schemes
• Discounted from £165 to £139 (saving £26). Please contact cte.admissions@warwick.ac.uk for the discount code.

If you are intending to use another equivalency testing company, we recommend contacting our admissions team beforehand to ensure that they meet the entry criteria.

You can find out more about our English language requirements. This course requires the following

Please adjust your country as required:

We welcome applications from students with other internationally recognised qualifications. For more information, please visit the international entry requirements page.

We typically ask for one academic reference for taught 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

Documentation

If you graduated within the last two years, you will need to provide an academic reference. Please refer to your DfE portal for further information.

You will need original certificates for all your qualifications. If you no longer have these, you can obtain a Certified Statement of Results instead. Please note that these can take some time to obtain from exam boards and may incur a fee.

Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) Courses

Usually, an honours degree or equivalent qualification in the subject specialism, or a directly relevant subject, will be accepted. If your degree is not in the subject area you wish to teach, or you have relevant professional experience but need to learn how to apply that knowledge to teaching, you may be suitable for a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course.

If you are eligible following an application, you will be recommended an appropriate length of SKE course to complete. We require the SKE to be completed preferably before the course start date in August and, at the latest, by the October half-term.

If your recommended SKE course overlaps significantly with the start of the PGCE, you may wish to consider deferring your place. SKE courses typically range from 8 weeks (short) to 28 weeks (long). The availability of short, medium and long courses is subject to change and depends on individual SKE providers.

The Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) Course Directory Link opens in a new window provides an overview of available courses and providers.

Funding for Chemistry SKE courses has been available since April 2021. Please note that eligibility criteria for SKE funding may change, and bursary rates are subject to review by the Department for Education.

Classroom Experience

Although it is not an entry requirement, we strongly recommend gaining some experience in a mainstream UK secondary school (Key Stages 3 and 4) before applying.

This experience will provide valuable insight into the teaching profession and help strengthen your application.

Find out how to gain school experience .

Safeguarding Checks

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff, enrolled trainees and offer holders to share this commitment.

Successful completion of an enhanced DBS check, confirming your suitability for the profession, is a condition of any offer to study within CTE.

Disclosure of a criminal conviction does not automatically make you ineligible to enrol on a PGCE course. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. We recommend reviewing the DBS guidance for applicants with previous convictions.

* The GCSE grading system for English and Mathematics changed in 2017 from A*–G to 9–1. Grade 4 is considered equivalent to the previous Grade C.

** Special offer available for University of Warwick students. Mathematics exams are available at Foundation or Higher level. English, Science and Biology exams are untiered. Additional low-cost support options are available for students who require further assistance.

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 statusLink opens in a new window

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 list of core and optional core modules with hyperlinks to our Module Catalogue, where module-related costs are detailed. 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 2026/27 year of study).

Information about module specific costs should be considered in conjunction with the more general costs below:

• Core text books
• Printer credits
• Dissertation binding
• Robe hire for your degree ceremony

Dissertations and Assignments are only submitted digitally. However, students may wish to print and bind their dissertation for their own purposes. Students on some courses will have a final poster presentation as part of their project and the printing of posters may be at the students’ expense.

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


Discover our Scholarships and financial support

Build the skills to inspire the next generation.

Why study with us?

Join a community committed to helping you grow with confidence, and making a life-changing difference to children. Rooted in our long tradition of Teacher Education, our programmes combine social justice, curiosity and creativity. Whether you’re new to teaching or advancing in your career, your study will be shaped around the areas that matter most to you.

Gain the best start for your career with our Initial Teacher Training courses, including our PGCE with QTS programmes rated Outstanding by Ofsted. Our International PGCE with International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) is a grade 1 programme rated by PENTA on behalf of DfE. Or, if you’re an experienced teacher with a passion for research-led practice, we also offer a PG Cert and MA.

Learn more about us on our Centre for Teacher Education website.

Our Postgraduate Taught courses

• PGCE Primary Early Years 3-7 (with QTS)
• PGCE Primary with QTS 5 - 11 (with QTS)
• PGCE Primary 5-11 (with iQTS)
• PGCE Secondary (with iQTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Art and Design (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Biology (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary Business Studies and Economics (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Chemistry (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary Design and Technology (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary Social Sciences (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Computer Science (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Drama (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with English (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Geography (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with History (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Mathematics (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Modern Languages (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Music (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Physical Education (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Physics (with QTS)
• PGCE Secondary with Religious Education (with QTS)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Education International (PGCEi)
• Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Education (PGCert)
• Professional Education (MA)

As a CTE student, you’ll benefit from courses designed for a diverse community of learners, including face-to-face and online students. PGCE students develop their practice through strong partnerships with schools, where real-world experience is complemented by high-quality mentoring. If you study on campus, Warwick’s Westwood Campus offers authentic learning and teaching spaces, with all the facilities of the main campus just a short walk away - including the Library and collaborative study environments. Meanwhile, online learners are supported through dedicated digital resources, expert guidance and a strong virtual learning community.

In the Centre for Teacher Education, our values-based approach to developing Early Career Teachers derives from our commitment to developing teachers who are just, curious, and creative and who contribute positively to every child’s educational outcome (including SEND and EAL pupils), and to tackling social deprivation.

At Warwick, we’ll help you find your own path to success. We understand that teaching is more than just a job. We also know that you are more than just another applicant. That’s why our approach is tailored around your needs. We’re focused on getting you prepared to enter the classroom, and ready for all the challenges that teaching throws at you. We won’t drop you in at the deep end, but we will help you become accustomed to different school environments.

We have a long history of providing students with the best access to the contacts, resources and facilities needed to fulfil teaching promise. You’ll also benefit from our research-informed teaching, delivered at an acclaimed university with a reputation for excellence. That teaching will come from people who truly understand about the journey that you’re taking.

There’s lots to take in when you think about becoming a teacher. That’s why we ensure that support is available whenever you need it. As well as having a personal tutor, that will support you throughout the time you’re at Warwick, you can rely upon the friendship and guidance from your fellow trainees. We also have online resources dedicated to giving you the help and support you need.

So, choose Warwick and give yourself the ideal start for that journey. Be somewhere which believes your teaching career can be as long, rewarding and enjoyable as you want it to be. Be somewhere that trusts you to follow a more personalised teaching path, but will be there for you wherever that path takes you.

Career progression may be through a specialist curriculum or pastoral role, or by moving into management. Teachers may become heads of Key Stages or coordinators of a cross-curricular area, such as special needs or careers education, as well as subject or professional mentors for trainee teachers on placement.

Warwick’s relationship with you continues beyond the PGCE, with many graduates going on to become leaders in education. Many alumni become senior leaders and mentors in schools, maintaining ties with Warwick. Join us to make a meaningful impact as a teacher.

Upon completing this course you'll be recommended for qualified teacher status (QTS) and gain 90 credits at Master's level. This allows you to fast-track to stage two of our Master's degree, quickly progressing your professional development.

"At University of Warwick, trainees receive the best possible start to their teaching careers, emerging as confident, highly skilled professionals ready to inspire the next generation."

"Warwick trainees are renowned for their preparedness, resilience, and innovation, making them highly sought-after educators across the UK and beyond."

Ofsted report, 2024

Our campus

Within a close-knit community of staff and students from all over the world, discover a campus alive with possibilities.

Our campus is where all the elements of your student experience come together in one place. You won't be short of ways to spend your time on campus - whether it's visiting Warwick Arts Centre, using our incredible sports facilities, socialising in our bars, nightclub and cafés, or enjoying an open-air event. Or if you need some peace and quiet, you can explore lakes, woodland and green spaces just a few minutes’ walk from central campus.

Follow our students around campus on our social channels to see their experiences first-hand.

Teaching facilities

Our campus is designed to cater for all of your learning needs. You will benefit from a variety of flexible, well-equipped study spaces and teaching facilities across the University.

• Oculus, our outstanding learning hub, houses state-of-the-art lecture theatres and innovative social learning and network areas
• The  University Library
• Different study spaces offering you flexible individual and group study spaces, computers, printing and scanning facilities, multimedia resources and more

Supporting you

Our continuous support network is here to help you adjust to student life and to ensure you can easily access advice on many different issues. These may include managing your finances and workload, and settling into shared accommodation. We also have specialist disability and mental health support teams.

Whether you live on campus or off campus, in private accommodation in the well-serviced local area, you’ll be part of a community to get the most from your experience at Warwick.

Explore accommodation at Warwick

Societies and sports play a huge part in community life at Warwick. With over 300 to choose from, getting involved is one of the easiest ways to make friends and share in experiences. Whether you’re into films, martial arts, astronomy, gaming or musical theatre, you can instantly connect with people with similar interests.

Explore Warwick Students' Union societies and sports clubsLink opens in a new window

Our alumni community still call Warwick home. From a few hundred in 1965 to more than 310,000 alumni, and it's ever-growing.

As Warwick graduates, our students have access to employability support for two years after graduation, including access to careers appointments, job vacancies and professional networks.

Learn more about our Alumni community

Applications for courses starting in September and October 2027 are now open.

The on-time deadline for taught postgraduate courses starting in September/October 2027 is 2 August 2027.

We will still accept late applications, however cannot guarantee that the application will be processed in time to complete the admissions process if received in September or there are a number of conditions to meet.

If applying late please include your degree certificates and transcripts, English proficiency evidence (if needed) and ensure referees can submit references promptly to allow time for CAS and visa processing (if applicable).

• Application Portal
• After you've applied
• Admissions statement
• Join a live chat

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

This information is applicable for 2027 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 web page 'Important information to consider before making an application' in advance of applying to Warwick.