BA Teaching Qualification for Further Education (TQFE) - pre-service

We’re accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), which means you can register with them when you graduate.

University Diploma

Higher National Certificate (HNC) at Level 7 on the Scottish Credit Qualification Framework (SCQF) or equivalent.

This pathway is for students where an HNC is the highest qualification available in the UK in that subject area.

BA Degree

Higher National Diploma (HND) at Level 8 on the Scottish Credit Qualification Framework (SCQF) or equivalent.

Equivalent recognised qualifications are:

• Senior Award from the City and Guilds ‘Professional Recognition Award’ (Affliateship Level).
• Other qualifications which are equivalent to an HND or HNC may be considered.

Candidates for both qualifications must also have both literacy and numeracy skills. The normal entry requirements are:

• A National Qualification Course in English at level 6 on the SCQF (or suitable evidence of being able to attain this standard) or SQA communication level III.
• A National Qualification Course in numeracy or Mathematics at level 4 on the SCQF (or suitable evidence of being able to attain this standard).

You should also have Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills equivalent to Intermediate 2 (i.e. level 5 on the SCQF).

Mathematics Standard Grade (3), National 5 (C), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.

View the entry requirements for your country

Application procedure

For this course all applicants should contact the Admissions and Access Office to request an application form.

Application Enquiries
Admissions and Access Office
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
Scotland UK

+ 44 (0) 1786 467044
admissions@stir.ac.uk

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have any of the following prior Professional Development Awards (PDAs), you’ll undertake a 20 credit APL module as your final module on the course:

• Group Award Code: G85D 18 ‘Advanced Diploma Teaching in Further Education’
• Group Award Code: GG87 49 ‘PDA Teaching Practice in Scotland’s Colleges’
• Group Award Code: GG82 49 ‘Developing Teaching Practice in Scotland’s Colleges’

If you’re a postgraduate candidate who has the DELTA (or equivalent) award, you’ll be exempt from the final course module.

If you claim any of the above exemptions, you must provide your certificates when you apply for the TQFE course. Retrospective exemptions are not given once you’ve started the course. Where exemptions are granted, a reduced fee is charged.

If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:

• IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
• Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
• IBT TOEFL 78 overall with a minimum of 17 in listening, 18 in reading, 20 in speaking and 17 in writing.

Pre-sessional English language courses

If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, our partner INTO University of Stirling offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.

Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses

See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.

We have strong links with colleges throughout Scotland, enabling us to provide practical placements as part of this course.