Further Education and Training PGCE

Course structure

This course is delivered through taught sessions at the Falmer campus and on placement in a further education setting.

Taught sessions at the university normally take place on a Wednesday where you will build on and enhance your strengths. Sessions include seminars and tutorials, self-directed study, peer-teaching sessions, practical workshops, shared expertise sessions with leading practitioners, and reflexive learning.

You will spend two days a week teaching, under supervision, in one of our local partnerships which include further education colleges, sixth form colleges, a land-based college (Plumpton) as well as Lewes Prison, DV8 and the Connected Hub.

Our tutors and mentors will advise and support you throughout your placement. You will receive comprehensive feedback during this time which will enable you to see what you are doing well and where you might need to improve.

COVID-19 continues to disrupt exams and English language testing in some parts of the world. For 2022 entry, we have expanded the number of qualifications we are able to accept. If you have, or are sitting, one of the qualifications listed here and it meets our validity policy then you do not need to take an IELTS test, even if we asked you to do so in your offer. Please let us know and send a copy of your results so we can check your qualification.

• English language, English literature, or English language and literature A-levels at grade D or above.
• English courses from other UK universities, subject to subject to being awarded from an accredited institution and at the CEFR B2 minimum levels required and meeting all four components.
• A bachelors or masters degree from an accredited university in the UK or a Home Office majority English-speaking country.
• TOEFL iBT At Home test – check the TOEFL website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• IELTS Indicator home-based test – check the IELTS Indicator website for more information about which countries are operating this test and the test eligibility.
• KITE (Kaplan International Tools for English) - an easy to access online English Language test from Kaplan online that can be taken from home.
• LanguageCert International ESOL (IESOL) Exam.
• Occupational English Test (OET) – accepted for Medicine and a range of allied health profession courses, including Pharmacy, which have vocational training elements.

If you need additional English language training we have pre-sessional courses available.

All qualifications are subject to our normal admissions checks and the above is only a summary and not a guarantee that your qualification will definitely be accepted. If you are applying for an undergraduate or postgraduate taught course, contact the enquiries and admissions team for more support and guidance. If you are applying for a postgraduate research degree, get in touch with the doctoral college team.

We will also continue accept the standard English language qualifications detailed below.

Preparing for your teaching career

You will graduate from this course equipped with the skills and knowledge to become a confident and competent teacher in the further education sector.

You will consider the learning and teaching strategies that are relevant to your specialist subject and develop leadership and management skills.

As well as gaining a PGCE, for those interested teaching in a secondary or sixth form setting can also apply for Qualified Teaching and Learning Skill status (QTLS) through the Society for Education and Training once you have successfully completed the course and are in full-time employment.

QTLS is recognised in law as having parity with QTS for teaching in schools as a qualified teacher.