Level 6
Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)
| Duration | Age Group | Study | Start | Cost | Available Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 YEAR | ADULT | FULL TIME |
15/09/2026 |
£8,250 * | Southend Campus |
| 2 YEARS | ADULT | PART TIME EVENING |
15/09/2026 |
£4,125 per year * | Southend Campus |
| Duration | Age Group | Study | Start | Cost | Available Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 YEAR | ADULT | FULL TIME |
15/09/2026 |
£8,250 * | Southend Campus |
| 2 YEARS | ADULT | PART TIME EVENING |
15/09/2026 |
£4,125 per year * | Southend Campus |
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Overview
This award is validated by The Open University.
This teacher training programme is for individuals who wish to gain a nationally recognised Level 6 teaching certificate in the sector.
Full time – one year (two days in college).
Part Time – two years (one evening per week).
The Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (Further Education and Skills Sector) is a Level 6 teaching qualification which has a teaching/training practice requirement.
This course is ideal if you work, or want to work as a teacher or trainer in the further education and skills sector; if you are in or want to start a career in a teaching or training role; if you are a teacher or trainer who is seeking career progression in your area of work. This programme is a recognised Full Teacher Training qualification, eligible for QTLS application on completion.
You will be required to complete a minimum of 250hrs in placement, including at least 150hrs of teaching practice during which you have full responsibility for planning, delivering and assessing specific area/s of the institution’s provision. The placement should be within a local sixth-form teaching post-16 learners or a local college teaching post-16 or adult learners.
Alongside organisation of a placement and to support your studies, you will also be required to ensure you have a mentor in the workplace who is a qualified teacher/lecturer (i.e. PgCE) and where possible is a subject specialist in the same area as the trainee teacher. Where the mentor is not a subject specialist the trainee teacher will require the support of a named subject coach.
Entry Requirements
- An Honours degree (or above) or equivalent
- Hold GCSE Maths and English at grade C / 4 or above, or hold an equivalent numeracy or literacy qualification at Level 2, such as Functional Skills – evidence of this will be required during the application cycle
- An overseas qualification in English language will need to be deemed equivalent to GCSE grade 4 by ENIC. If this is not the case, you will need an IELTS qualification with a minimum score of 7 in each element.
- A 500-word written piece, prescribed following application and returned to the ITE team prior to or at interview
- A completed Teaching and Mentor Hours form from your workplace to confirm your mentor and organisatio
- It is a legal requirement that you complete a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced check. The process for this will be discussed at interview.
Additional Entry requirements – Part-Time
-
You must be working in a paid educational position in which you would be able to lead at least 150hrs of teaching and undertake at least 100hrs of placement activity (e.g. planning, marking, tracking, meetings, training).
Additional Entry requirements – Full-time
-
You must secure a suitable teaching placement where you would be able to lead at least 150hrs of teaching and undertake at least 100hrs of placement activity (e.g. planning, marking, tracking, meetings, training)..
- Whilst the ITE team will give advice on how to apply for positions we do not provide you with teaching placement. It is the responsibility of the prospective trainee to arrange their own placement.
Course Structure
The Open University (Resources and Regulations)
As a student studying at South Essex College you have joined a community of over 40,000 students studying on programmes validated by The Open University and delivered by our network of partner institutions worldwide. When you're studying on a OU Validated programme your primary relationship is with the institution you have registered, which means you have access to their resources and facilities. Did you know that in addition to this you can use the Open University's free online resources and tools. Follow this link to Regulations for validated awards of The Open University.
Structure of the Course
A variety of teaching strategies are used, such as group interaction, paired and individual work, one-to-one seminars, guest speakers, support from subject specialist mentors and regular tutorial input. A range of interactive technologies are taught and are available for use by trainees.
Part-time programme
- Study four modules per year, eight modules across the two year programme
- One evening per week in college
Full-time programme
- Study eight modules in one year
- Two days in college, two on placement
Modules
- Principles of teaching and learning
- Developing inclusive practice
- Behaviour management
- Enabling learning by assessment
- Theories and principles in pedagogy
- Digital pedagogy
- Professional development project
- Wider professional practice
Assessment & Feedback
Link to Open University Student Handbook
Assessment dates fall in both semester one & two. Trainees complete a variety of assignments including portfolios of teaching practice, presentations, case study, seminar and research project. There will also be formal observations of your teaching practice across the programme.
Course Cost
Adult,
full_time:
£8,250
Adult,
part_time_evening:
£4,125 per year
Fees are per academic year for Home/UK students.
Additional course costs can be found here
Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Bursary
If you have English and Maths at a Grade 4 or equivalent and a subject specialism at L3 or above you may be eligible to apply for the ITE Bursary. For more information please visit the Government website here.
What Next...
After completion of the course you will be able to apply for Qualified Teacher: Learning and Skills status (QTLS). QTLS is equivalent to but distinct from QTS (Qualified Teacher Status).
Success Stories...
Success story: Monique Warburton
Course studied
Throughout my time at South Essex Colleges Group, the tutors were incredibly supportive and always encouraged me to keep going, even during difficult times.
My name is Monique Warburton, and I studied Level 6 Professional graduate Certificate in Education (PgCE) at South Essex Colleges Group.
Before studying my PgCE, I worked in special needs care, supporting young people in my local community and giving their parents valuable respite. Helping young people gain independence inspired me to pursue a career in teaching.
I began with an Access to Teaching course, which helped me build confidence in academic writing and prepare for university-level study. I then completed four years of Special Needs Studies before taking a break. Having spent many years at South Essex Colleges Group, I chose to return to complete by PgCE in 2023 because I already felt comfortable and supported by the staff. Staying local at the Southend City College campus gave me the confidence to continue my education after being out of learning for a long time.
Studying for my PGCE was a huge achievement for me. The course taught me valuable skills including lesson planning and how to use digital technology in teaching, such as Kahoot and Blooket. Throughout my time at South Essex Colleges Group, the tutors were incredibly supportive and always encouraged me to keep going, even during difficult times.
Since graduating, I have been working at the college as a part of the Adult Workforce Skills team. I previously worked as an iPrep tutor teaching employability skills, including health and safety, money management, and mental health first aid. I also taught counselling skills and support work before progressing into teaching Business Administration and IT.
I now help learners develop skills in Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Cyber Security, something I genuinely enjoy because I continue learning new skills myself while helping others achieve their goals.
My time at the college massively helped prepare me for the workplace and also built my confidence personally. Completing both my degree and PGCE are among my proudest achievements, alongside raising my children and working full-time as a teacher.
The best thing about further education is working with learners who genuinely want to be there and achieve their qualifications. I would absolutely recommend South Essex Colleges Group because of the support available from staff, the welcoming environment, and how accessible the campuses are locally.
Looking ahead, my ambition is to open a small cooking school for students with learning disabilities, helping them develop life skills while also working towards maths and English qualifications. I want to continue supporting others to gain confidence and independence, just as I was supported throughout my own journey.
Find out more information about our teacher training courses
Returning to education was one of the best decisions I have made. The PGCE course helped me develop the teaching knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to progress into a professional teaching role
At University Centre South Essex, we help you develop the skills, confidence and industry experience needed to turn your passion into a career. With strong professional links and supportive teaching, our courses prepare you for real opportunities in the creative industries. Gemma’s story shows how determination, practical learning and the right support can lead to exciting roles in the world of theatre and costume.
From studying animation at University Centre South Essex to returning as a lecturer, my journey has come full circle. I first studied Digital Animation at the college between 2017 and 2019, graduating with a First-Class Honours degree. After completing my studies, I spent several years working in the animation industry as a freelance Character Designer and 2D Animator, collaborating with companies including Storytime Magazine, Humanitarian Operations and Imagine FX magazine. I also worked on a variety of freelance commissions and most recently illustrated a children’s book that has since been published on Amazon.
Although I loved working within the creative industry, over time I began to realise I wanted a new challenge. After returning to the college as a guest speaker for the animation course and working alongside lecturer Lawrence Bignell, I rediscovered my passion for teaching. The encouragement and support I received from both Lawrence and Chris Brookes gave me the confidence to enrol on the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course at University Centre South Essex.
Returning to education was one of the best decisions I have made. The PGCE course helped me develop the teaching knowledge, confidence and practical skills needed to progress into a professional teaching role. Coming from an industry background with limited teaching experience, I quickly learnt how to apply educational theory into practice and build engaging lessons for students. The course also strengthened my academic writing, critical analysis and presentation skills, all of which have helped me grow personally and professionally.
One of my proudest moments was receiving the call to say I had secured a full-time position as a HE BA (Hons) Animation Lecturer at University Centre South Essex. Achieving this role confirmed that I had chosen the right career path and reinforced my passion for helping students develop their own creative skills and confidence.
Today, I work full-time teaching on the animation degree, creating a safe and professional studio environment where students can grow as artists and animators. I am passionate about supporting learners, helping them build industry-ready skills and encouraging them to achieve their full potential.
My experience at University Centre South Essex has been incredibly rewarding. The support from tutors throughout the PGCE course, especially Chris, Anne, Nicola and Aimee, played a huge part in helping me achieve my goals. Their guidance and encouragement continuously pushed me to improve and develop as both a teacher and creative professional.
I would highly recommend University Centre South Essex to anyone considering further or higher education. The supportive environment, practical experience and expert teaching provide students with the skills, confidence and opportunities needed to succeed in their chosen career. My ambition for the future is to continue progressing within education, eventually becoming Programme Leader for the HE Animation degree and studying for a Master’s degree in Animation to further develop my subject expertise.
