Professional Education (PGCert)

General entry requirements

Minimum requirements

You must hold a UK Bachelor's degree with Honours at 2:2 or above, or equivalent level.

English language requirements

Your spoken and written English must be of an adequate standard for postgraduate study. You can find out more about our English language requirementsLink opens in a new window.

This course requires the following:

• Band A
• IELTS overall score of 6.5, minimum component scores not below 6.0

Additional requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this course.

Core modules

Two Portfolios, each with a unique 'module' theme:

An academic statement to accompany each portfolio.

Optional modules

There are no optional modules for this course.

Teaching

What support and access does the Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Education provide?

• An experienced mentor supporting the completion of the Postgraduate Certificate portfolio.
• You can access the University of Warwick library, giving you access to thousands of journals and online publications. Including those from the British Educational Research Association, the British Educational Leadership Management, the Administration Society and their international equivalents.
• Access to the Moodle Virtual Learning Platform and Postgraduate Certificate in Professional Education handbook.
• An Advanced Academic Skills workshop to help facilitate the completion of the required academic statements.

Assessment

The programme runs as a five-month cycle every January-June and June-November. It comprises the submission of two portfolios related to Strategic Research in Educational Practice and Effective Leadership and Mentoring in Professional Practice. Applicants have flexibility within these portfolios and can focus on themes that are pertinent to school improvement and individual professional development opportunities.

For example, for the Strategic Research Portfolio an applicant can focus on a strategic aspect of school improvement by selecting a theme of interest to them and their school. For the Effective Leadership and Mentoring Portfolio an applicant might focus on exploring a theme within their SLT roles/responsibilities, ECT mentoring activities or subject leadership/SENCo/Partnership responsibilities.

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.

Your career

Our graduates go on to work in a variety of roles within education, as classroom specialists, mentors, middle and senior leaders, and in pastoral positions.

Our teachers also move into related roles outside of school-based education, into Higher Education, social work and alternative education provision for example. They work across the state, independent and international school sectors.

In addition, our teachers have pursued further research by advancing onto our MA in Professional Education and/or through PhD/EdD further study, and have shared their research widely at conferences and through publication.

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.

Ofsted Recognition

In 2024, Warwick’s PGCE courses were rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with highlights including:

• Exceptional education and training quality
• Highly valued pastoral support for students
• Strong partnerships with schools and high-quality mentoring during placements.

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

• 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)

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.

Find PGCE with iQTS 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 2025/26 year of study).

Scholarships and funding

How to apply