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“Although I had been teaching for 8 years previously, the PGCE had a significant impact on my practice, especially engaging with the weekly programme of readings. By the end of the course, the training hadn’t just impacted on me, it had improved practice in my department and the wider school!” – Ezzat Ali, PGCE 2020.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education for International Trainees offers teachers based in schools outside the UK, who have not undergone a period of formal training, the opportunity to participate in a structured programme of professional development online. 

From September 2024 onwards we are offering a course with a new PGCE at the heart of the training. The PGCE will be assessed by three assignments, but there will be an opportunity to specialise for two of the modules and receive more training on areas such as:

• SEND
• Boarding
• Leadership
• Coaching and Mentoring
• Philosophy of Education
• International Education and other educational topics

This will be alongside a core module focusing on the fundamentals of teaching and learning. We also want to include coaching for students in order to support schools with career development.

Course content

The PGCE for International Trainees is a 37-week school-based course, during which time you will work under the guidance of your in-school mentor. Each week you will reflect on your practice and have one-to-one meeting with your mentor to review progress and set targets. There are eight online training days (including two induction days) which will complement the weekly programme of University online resources.

You will also be assigned a university tutor who will meet you regularly (approximately once a month) to assess your progress and guide your development.

“…the time and effort she (University tutor) offers to my mentor and I is outstanding. She has been a pleasure to work alongside and to have as a supporting body throughout. Thanks to her lovely feedback during our meetings, I am at a stage where I feel confident and comfortable in my classroom.” Aishlin O’Rourke, PGCE for International Trainees (Primary).

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a Level 7 course and you will be assessed by three essays. If you complete the course successfully, you will gain 60 L7 credits. These can be put towards a Masters at a later date.

We are able to offer the course in most subjects and to all age levels. Your University tutor will be a subject specialist. Subjects that you can do your PGCE in include: Art, Music, Design Technology, Food Technology, Business Studies and Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Computer Science, English, Drama, Classics, Modern Languages, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Psychology, and Physical Education.

Training Sessions

Six one day ‘live’ training sessions plus two induction days (in late August), run by the University, will be delivered online. Attendance at all these days is mandatory.

Typically these days will take place in September, November, December, February, March and May. Dates to be confirmed.

• • You must have a university bachelor’s degree or equivalent; Please check on UK ENIC which provides advice on comparability & equivalency. We will need to see your original degree certificate.
  • You must be employed as a teacher in an international school abroad that teaches English National Curriculum subjects or the International Baccalaureate (IB) and be in sole charge of a full-size class for a minimum of 10 hours a week.
  • International applicants may need to demonstrate proficiency in English. Full details are available on our Postgraduate Language Requirements page.

In addition, you must:

• Obtain a commitment from your school to provide a suitable mentor.
• Show the physical and mental fitness to teach.

The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through the course, enabling them to demonstrate all of the English Teachers’ Standards and releasing them for the compulsory live online training days (six per year + two induction).

The fees for this course are:

Start	Type	Total cost
Sep 2025 Full-time (37 Weeks) PGCE - International Trainees (Sep 2025)	UK	£4,500
	INT	£4,500

The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.

Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.

The fees for this course will be confirmed in due course.

Applicants must also pay a £300 non-refundable Registration Fee.

Fees are invoiced at the beginning of the course. Installments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.

All staff at COBIS member schools get a 5% discount on course fees. To ensure the discount is applied please select ‘COBIS’ from the partnership box on your application form.

If you would like a tutor to travel from the UK to observe lessons in person, this is possible for an additional fee. Please contact: [email protected]

Applicants from China should apply through the Buckingham International School of Education, please click here: https://www.bise.org/find-a-course

• • UK degree (2.2 or above) or equivalents.
  • You must be employed as a teacher in an international school abroad that teaches the English National Curriculum or the International Baccalaureate (IB) and be in sole charge of a full-size class for a minimum of 10 hours a week.
  • International applicants may need to demonstrate proficiency in English. Full details are available on our Postgraduate Language Requirements page

In addition, you must:

• Obtain a commitment from your school to provide a suitable mentor.
• Show the physical and mental fitness to teach.

The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through the course, enabling them to demonstrate all of the English Teachers’ Standards and releasing them for the compulsory live online training days (six per year + two induction).

Tuition Fee: £4,500
Registration Fee: £300 (non-refundable)

Fees can be paid in termly instalments or in one lump sum. Termly instalments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.

We are now accepting applications. The course will start in September 2025.

*Depending on the readiness of supporting documents, applications might be still accepted on a case by case basis. Please contact our admissions officer Tracy ([email protected]) for confirmation. 

Before we can accept you, you will need to supply:

• a copy of passport photo page
• copies of your qualification certificates – UK Bachelors Degree or equivalent (an ENIC statement of comparability will be required for all qualifications awarded outside of the UK)
• a head and shoulder style photo for your University identity card
   

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