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How do children respond to different teaching methods? Does experience outside of the classroom help children to learn? How does educational research influence and inspire the way you teach six-year-olds?
Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the primary curriculum.
You will specialise in either early years and key stage 1 or key stage 1 and key stage 2 and gain experience across the primary key stages so that you are confident in teaching any year group. You will have taught university...
*with a recommendation for QTS
1 year full-time (September to June)
Mamta Naik“I feel privileged to work with future teachers on our Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education. I love the knowledge and life experience that our postgraduates bring to the course and their steely determination to succeed on a very demanding course. I am always amazed and impressed by what they achieve in one year of study with us.”
Programme Lead and Senior Lecturer, PGCE Primary
On your PGCE, you’ll have lectures and seminars at Manchester Met and will typically spend a minimum of 120 days on two teaching placements across the North West.
In university, you will explore key aspects of primary teaching including managing behaviour, planning and assessing learning. You’ll consider approaches to teaching such as: the benefits of learning outside the classroom; practical science experiments and investigations; mathematical problem solving and engaging in experiential learning. A fundamental part of the course is exploring how theory supports classroom practice.
As part of the Manchester Met curriculum you will explore the fundamental theories of pedagogy, behaviour management, assessment, curriculum and professional behaviours. In addition to this you will examine key themes such as research informed practice, career focussed teacher development, subject and age phase expertise and teaching for the community.
You’ll develop research informed practice during lectures and seminars, where you will analyse the latest educational research and theories and use this knowledge in your practice. When you first arrive, we’ll give you a full overview of the year to help you to stay organised throughout the course and know what to expect and when.
During your first weeks in university taught sessions, you’ll explore curriculum pedagogies, professional responsibilities and expectations. You’ll work in groups and independently to update your subject knowledge and gain confidence before your first teaching placement.
You will go on your first placement in late September, where you’ll gradually put the skills you’ve learnt at university into practice and build your confidence in the classroom. You will start your placement with a period of induction followed by two intensive training and practice weeks in both university and school where you will develop foundational key skills. You’ll be supported by a class mentor and progressively take on the responsibility of whole class teaching. This will include planning, teaching and evaluating your lessons, assessing the children’s progress, and contributing to other aspects of a typically busy school life. Your first placement will be followed by time in university before starting your second placement. In this placement you will, with support and mentoring, progress to teaching an 80% timetable.
When you’re on placement, your class mentor will support, guide and coach you. You will also receive support from your personal tutor at university and a university visiting tutor.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
Degree
You must have obtained (or be working towards) a 2:2 honours degree (or international equivalent). For exceptional candidates, particularly those with a higher-level degree or substantial relevant work experience in schools or relevant occupations, we will consider applications from those who hold a 3rd class degree.
GCSE
You will need GCSE grade C/4 or above in English language, mathematics and science.
You can apply with GCSEs pending for this course and sit the relevant equivalency tests approved by Manchester Met (see our admissions tutor team for approved equivalency providers).
As per government requirements for teacher training courses, we are not able to accept key skills, adult numeracy and literacy or functional skills as an alternative to GCSE English language and mathematics. We are not able to accept human biology, physiology, environmental or agricultural science as an alternative to GCSE science qualification. We are not able to consider Level 3 qualifications (e.g. A-levels, BTECs) as an alternative to GCSE English language, mathematics and science.
If you are due to graduate or have graduated within the last three years your principal referee must be a university lecturer from where you graduated.
A Disclosure and Barring Service Check (DBS) and satisfactory health check are also required. Instructions on how to complete these checks will be provided once you hold a firm offer for this course.
Overseas
Overseas candidates should have Cambridge Proficiency in English or IELTS 7.0 with no component below 6.0, taken within two years of course start date. Further details can be found on mmu.ac.uk/international
Personal Statement
To apply for teacher training the personal statement plays an important role in the admissions process. Successful candidates will demonstrate a good understanding of teaching and learning within a primary school setting. You may wish to evidence your understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools or other learning settings.
Interview
You will be expected to attend an interview as part of the application process. Full details of your interview will be provided by email once your initial application has been approved.
Full-time fee: £9,250 per year. This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation and may increase each academic year in line with inflation or UK government policy for both new and continuing students.
Full-time fee: £21,500 per year. This tuition fee is agreed subject to UK government policy and parliamentary regulation and may increase each academic year in line with inflation or UK government policy for both new and continuing students.
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of study provided the course is completed in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
Optional estimate: £400
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, many students choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. You may need to print resources for use in school. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £100 each year for books and printing.
Optional estimate: £30
Some students choose to buy resources for use in the classroom if these are not available in school.
Compulsory estimate: £0.00 to £51.00 depending on your status.
DBS checks - before enrolling on your course, you must undergo a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check (Enhanced Disclosure). The University covers the cost of payment for the first DBS application and ID verification, and where the application is made through the University.
Upon completion of the DBS check on whichever course, students have the option to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. The Update Service allows individuals to keep their DBS certificates up to date, and allows employers or education providers to check a current certificate, without the need to request a new certificate. At April 2022, the cost of subscription to the DBS Update Service is £13.00 per year, to be paid by the student. Subscription is strongly encouraged for students embarking on programmes, where DBS clearance will be an ongoing requirement for placements and professional practice.
Students who have resided outside the UK continuously for a period of twelve months or more in the last ten years, while over the age of 18, will also be required to provide evidence of a satisfactory overseas police check, and to meet any associated costs, including the cost of a certified translation if required.
Returning students who have previously obtained DBS clearance but who require a new check, for example, due to a suspension of study, are required to pay the DBS application fee of £38.00 (accurate at 6th April 2022) and any associated costs, including the cost of ID verification through the Post Office Certification Service, which is approximately £13.00 but subject to the relevant cost at the time of application.
We also advise you to budget for student membership of professional bodies.
Most of our graduates go on to work as teachers in primary schools.
The PGCE programme provides you with 60 masters level credits when you graduate. You could put these towards a masters degree to help you develop your career in the field of education.
Our facilities
Find out about our specialist facilities, with classrooms, studios and laboratories specifically designed for teaching in your specialism.
To apply for this course please use Find Postgraduate Teacher Training Service:
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.