Program Overview

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Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Mathematics) PGCE

Key Information

Study mode: Full time Duration: 37 weeks full-time, September to end of June Credit value (UK/ECTS equivalent): UK 120 / ECTS 60 credits Application status: Open Start date: September 2025

Course Essentials

The Mathematics PGCE is a full-time course that consists of four required modules and two blocks of teaching experience based in secondary schools within London and Greater London. You will complete the course within ten months, studying September to June. You must take modules totalling 120 credits to meet the requirements of the qualification. You’ll engage in education, pedagogy and professional studies sessions and curriculum workshops. These will take place in both university and school settings and will develop your expertise in general educational and professional issues, as well as subject pedagogy. You’ll gain the skills and understanding to take up positions in schools as a teacher of your subject with the potential to contribute fully to the life of the school. The course carries the Accreditation of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

Base Campus

Waterloo Campus is home of the Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery and facilities for other faculties. Please note that locations are determined by where each module is taught and may vary depending on the modules you study.

Regulating Bodies

King's is regulated by the Office for Students.

Entry Requirements

UK Applicants

• A minimum 2:2 undergraduate Bachelor’s (honours) degree.
• If you have a lower degree classification, or a degree in an unrelated subject, your application may be considered if you can demonstrate significant relevant work experience, or offer a related graduate qualification (such as a Masters or PGDip).

Programme-Specific Requirements

• 2:2 bachelor's degree (or international equivalent). Ideally, you will have a good degree in mathematics. However, there is a significant difference between school mathematics and the wide variety of topics and areas which are studied in mathematics degrees; therefore, degrees with a significant mathematical element are also acceptable for mathematics teaching – these include, for example, physics, some psychology courses, and some economics courses. As a guide, we would normally expect 50% of the degree to be in mathematics beyond A-level. For that reason, degrees in, for example, accountancy and business studies frequently do not cover enough mathematics to equip someone to teach at A-level.
• Knowledge and understanding of the subject you intend to teach. Applicants must have detailed knowledge and understanding of the subject you intend to teach, which is up to full A-level Mathematics. A high grade in at least single subject A-level mathematics (or equivalent) is essential, since the course is for teaching ages 11-18 and you will need to teach this level. If your degree subject does not contain any mathematics, we would expect you to have high grades in A-level mathematics and A-level further mathematics.
• GCSE grade C or above (or an equivalent qualification) in English language and mathematics. Applicants without these English or mathematics qualifications at the time they apply may be considered, but they must obtain them, or pass an equivalent test approved by King's, before the course starts.

International Applicants

• Equivalent International qualifications: Select a country to view the equivalent qualifications.

English Language Requirements

English language band: B

To study at King's, it is essential that you can communicate in English effectively in an academic environment. You are usually required to provide certification of your competence in English before starting your studies.

Nationals of majority English speaking countries (as defined by the UKVI) who have permanently resided in this country are not usually required to complete an additional English language test. This is also the case for applicants who have successfully completed an undergraduate degree (of at least three years duration), a postgraduate taught degree (of at least one year), or a PhD in a majority English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI) within five years of the course start date.

Selection Process

All applications should be made through DfE Apply, the Department of Education’s Teacher Training application portal, where you will need to register an account. After you submit this application, we will be in contact within a few days after we have created a King’s Apply account for you. You will not need to create your own account.

Before you can be offered a place on a PGCE programme, you will need to attend an online or in-person interview, usually within 40 days of your application submission date.

An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (criminal conviction check) and Occupational Health check are required for the teacher training programmes. The current fee for an Enhanced DBS check is £44.95 (correct as of October 2024). If you are made an offer for a PGCE programme, you will be contacted with instructions regarding these checks in due course.

Teaching Methods

• Seminars
• One-to-one tutorials
• Academic sessions
• Self-Study
• Teaching placement

We will use a delivery method that will ensure students have a rich, exciting experience from the start. Face-to-face teaching will be complemented and supported with innovative technology so that students also experience elements of digital learning and assessment.

You can typically expect:

• The equivalent of over 50 days of academic sessions at King’s (typically 3 hours in the morning and/or afternoon spread throughout the academic year).
• Approximately 120 days of teaching placement. This includes a short period of placement in primary schools (typically four days in length).
• Four Intensive Teaching and Practice (ITAP) weeks placed at strategic points across the year.
• A number of one-to-one tutorials totalling five to seven sessions across the year.
• Two visits from a tutor whilst on placement to observe lessons and monitor progress.
• Regular meetings with a mentor, who will be a member of staff at your placement school, whilst on placement.
• Written feedback on all credit-bearing assignments within 4 weeks of the deadline.

Assessment

• Written assignment
• Written portfolio

The 45-credit honours-level module will be assessed by a combination of written (online) portfolio documents and continuous assessment of your teaching practice benchmarked to the DfE's Core Content Framework. Your progress will be tracked through three progress reports that will be completed by staff at the placement school. Successful completion of this module will indicate that you have met the DfE's Teachers’ Standards.

The 30-credit master’s-level modules will each be assessed by a written assignment heavily based on in-school research that trainees undertake.

The 15-credit honours-level module will be assessed by an assignment focusing on data collection methods in the school environment.

Structure

Required Modules

You are required to take the following modules:

• Professional Practice in Education (45 credits)
• School Data (15 credits)
• Studying Policy & Professional Practice (30 credits)
• Focused Pedagogical Studies (30 credits)

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Employability

The majority of trainees go into teaching or other areas of education; many become heads of departments or members of senior management teams; some take up careers in educational administration in the advisory or inspection services.

Tuition Fees

UK

Full time: £9,535 per year (2025/26)

International

Full time: £25,500 per year (2025/26)

These tuition fees may be subject to additional increases in subsequent years of study, in line with King’s terms and conditions.

Deposit

If you receive an offer with us at King’s, you must accept your offer within your DfE Apply account and within their prescribed timescales. You will not be required to pay a deposit to secure your place on the PGCE programme.

Bursaries and Scholarships

The Department for Education provides tax-free bursaries for teacher training courses. You may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship when training to teach.

For information on rates and eligibility, please visit Get Into Teaching or contact the King’s Admissions Office by message on King’s Apply. King’s will automatically assess your eligibility for a bursary when a place on a PGCE course is offered. King’s will apply for the funding on your behalf once the terms of your offer have been met and you have enrolled on the course.

Additional Costs

In addition to your tuition costs, you can also expect to pay for:

• Books if you choose to buy your own copies.
• Clothing for optional course-related events and competitions.
• Library fees and fines.
• Personal photocopies.
• Printing course handouts.
• Society membership fees.
• Stationery.
• Travel costs for travel around London, between campuses, and for project placements.
• Graduation costs.

Funding

To find out more about bursaries, scholarships, grants, tuition fees, living expenses, student loans, and other financial help available at King's, please visit the Fees and Funding section.