PGCE Post-compulsory
PGCE
Key facts
Start dates
September 2024
Location
Course length
Full time: 12 months – Harcourt Hill Campus only
Overview
Inspire others with a love for your subject or trade - and develop the methods and skills to teach in adult and further education.
On this course, you’ll build a deep understanding of adult education teaching pedagogy, and ways to support student learning. You’ll master teaching skills and techniques. You’ll apply your knowledge in the classroom. And you’ll graduate with the skills and confidence to help your students achieve their goals.
You’ll join a supportive community of trainee teachers - from all different backgrounds. You’ll learn from each other, and share experiences as you progress.
You’ll emerge a confident, versatile professional, ready to teach in further and adult education settings, like:
- higher education
- the health service
- adult and community education
- the prison service
- the armed forces
- private training.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
GCSE: GCSE English and Maths grade 4-5 are required prior to entry.
Applicants are welcome from any academic discipline that is taught in FE or post-compulsory education and training.
Admission is open to those with a good undergraduate honours degree (or equivalent) or other professional / vocational qualification relevant to the subject you wish to teach.
We also accept those with relevant vocational qualifications and experience who do not necessarily possess a degree.
Also you need to complete additional DBS and Health teaching checks prior to your enrolment. Once you have accepted an offer from Oxford Brookes you will notified to complete your Health and DBS checks preceding your enrolment; you will receive your DBS notification by email in May.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Screening
All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.
Selection process
A successful application leads to a teaching interview invite from Oxford Brookes University. A successful interview will secure your place on your chosen PGCE Post Compulsory course.
Your teaching interview will be remote (online).
You’ll receive an interview date invite. That contains interview advice/guidance and documentation for your interview. Please confirm your interview date as soon as possible.
Then you'll receive a Zoom interview invite for 10.00 - 14.00 on your interview day. Please also accept this invite.
Enjoy your interview and ask questions, it’s your chance to find out about us.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
International applications
International students requiring a Student visa can study this course at our other partners.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Application process
Postgraduate Certificate in Education - full-time course
Graduates should apply through:
DfE Apply
Application link: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Compulsory costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) initial check | £54 |
| Fitness for Practice certificate | £55 |
Optional costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Travel and associated costs if relevant when undertaking work placements. | £30-700 per year |
| Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) top-up check (to keep up to date) | £13 |
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
| You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
Department of Education bursaries are now available for the PGCE Post Compulsory.
They're available if you wish to teach in STEM (Computing, Science, Engineering and Maths), SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disability) and English.
Bursaries are available on a first come first serve basis and are subject to meeting conditions for eligibility.
If you are eligible, we'll discuss all details with you at your interview.
All financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
On the course, you’ll combine your deep knowledge of your subject or trade with professional teaching skills. You’ll learn about the pedagogies that underpin adult education teaching approaches. And you’ll know how and when to use different techniques. You’ll be able to meaningfully support a diverse range of learners - all with different needs.
As you study, you’ll work with your tutors to develop practitioner skills. You’ll be closely supported all the way through. You’ll gain confidence in an academic setting. And you’ll be able to implement key teaching competencies, like:
- assessing learners’ needs
- planning teaching programmes for groups and individuals
- developing and using teaching techniques
- using technology to teach, face-to-face and online
- supporting individual learners
- assessing learner outcomes and achievement.
Study modules
If you do not meet the Level 7 criteria for the following modules:
- Evidence informed practice
- Key issues in subject specialism
- Curriculum design.
You will study them at Level 6.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
Both Full time and Part time students will be on campus for the first three weeks of the course.
For the second three weeks full time students will be on campus on Monday and on placement for the rest of the week. Then full time students will be on placement Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and on campus Thursday and Friday. Part time students will then be on placement on Thursdays and Fridays and in between placements will also join full time students for taught sessions on Thursday and Friday, before returning to their placements in January..
On your placements you will:
- begin by observing experienced teachers
- work alongside experienced teachers
- complete 7 contact teaching hours a week.
Assessment on this part of the course is by regular written assignments and observations by your placement mentor and a member of Oxford Brookes teaching staff.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
The most important aspect of your assessment will be the development of your teaching skills with individuals and groups.
Your teaching will be observed by:
- your mentor
- a placement coordinator
- a university tutor.
In order to pass the course you must demonstrate:
- your competence as a teacher
- your development as a reflective practitioner.
In addition you will be required to undertake assignments relating to the course modules.
There are no examinations.
Please note there is no guarantee of employment with your placement college when you have completed the course.
Research
The School of Education, Humanities and Languages is a thriving centre for educational research and teacher professional development, so students on master's level programmes join a large research community comprising researchers at all levels of higher education study. During your time with us (either full or part time) you'll have opportunities to present your own research and network professionally.
We hold 2 major research conferences each year - the School of Education Research Conference and the EdD Colloquium. All students are invited to attend our annual Research Seminar Series (which attracts both internal and external speakers). We also organise a number of conferences, lectures, seminars and debates, some of which have an international reach.
The School’s 6 research groups exist to encourage engagement in research, publication, conference presentations, seminars and workshops:
- Inclusion and Wellbeing
- Policy, Partnership and Leadership
- STEAM pedagogy and learning
- Humanistic Perspectives on Education
- Early Years
- Applied Linguistics
After you graduate
Career prospects
A PGCE in Post Compulsory education will give you the edge in the competitive further and adult education jobs market. And you’ll graduate ready to teach in colleges and other further education settings, like:
- higher education
- the health service
- adult and community education
- the prison service
- the armed forces
- private training.
You’ll also gain Masters’ level credits that can be applied to a Masters’ level course, if you choose to further develop your qualifications later in your career.
And we have strong links with local partner colleges, supporting your employment prospects.
Related courses
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.