Program Overview

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Professional Certificate in Education (Further Education and Training)

Our Professional Certificate in Education (PCE) will give you the skills to become a teacher in the Further Education sector.

This course is for you if you teach or intend to teach in Further Education colleges, sixth-form colleges, adult education centres, art colleges, healthcare, or community organisations, the public services and a wide range of commercial and voluntary organisations.

The course provides the skills needed for teaching and learning and classroom management and help trainees to explore the theory underpinning teaching practices. Leaders’ ambitions are for their trainees to become innovative teachers and future leaders in the further education and training sector. They successfully recruit trainees who represent diverse communities and who act as role models for learners in a wide range of settings, including colleges and schools (Ofsted 2023).

The course is offered full-time and part-time. Full-time attendance will benefit those wishing to obtain a qualification before seeking employment which incorporates a period of supervised teaching practice (pre-service). The part-time mode is aimed at teachers and trainers who are already employed (in service).

School

Education

Location

Avery Hill Campus

Duration

• 1 years full-time
• 2 years part-time

Start month

September; January

Fees

• Home: £9,535
• International: £17,500

What you should know about this course

• Our course offers transition through the professional formation process leading to QTLS status.
• The course is representative of the students we teach and the communities we serve.
• We develop local teachers who teach with passion and purpose for the empowerment of the learners they teach.

What you will study

Year 1 (Full-time)

• The Curriculum Examined (20 credits)
• Theories of Learning & Teaching and Applications (20 credits)
• Exploring the FE Teaching Role (20 credits)
• Professional Practice 1 (20 credits)
• Professional Practice 2 (20 credits)
• Research and Practice in Subject Specialist Pedagogy (20 credits)

Year 1 (Part-time)

• Theories of Learning & Teaching and Applications (20 credits)
• Exploring the FE Teaching Role (20 credits)
• Professional Practice 1 (20 credits)

Year 2 (Part-time)

• The Curriculum Examined (20 credits)
• Professional Practice 2 (20 credits)
• Research and Practice in Subject Specialist Pedagogy (20 credits)

Entry requirements

UK citizens and permanent residents

• A level 3 qualification in a relevant subject
• GCSE Mathematics and GCSE English Language at grade 4/C. Equivalent qualifications may be considered.

International entry requirements

The University of Greenwich accepts a broad range of international qualifications for admission to our courses.

For detailed information on the academic and English language requirements, please find your country in our directory.

How you will learn

Teaching

Learning takes place through a combination of timetabled learning and independent study.

Class sizes

We offer personalised learning with small tutor groups of 25. The typical student intake per year averages 45. Lectures are normally attended by 45, and seminars/tutorials by 20-25.

Independent learning

Outside of timetabled sessions, you will need to dedicate time to self-study to prepare for course work, presentation, and portfolio subject knowledge. Our library and online resources will support your further reading and research. You can also join a range of student societies.

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of contact hours (lectures, seminars etc), independent learning, and assessments. For full-time students, the workload should be roughly equivalent to a full-time job.

Assessment

You can view how each module is assessed within our 'What you will study' section.

Each course has formal assessments which count towards your grade. Some courses may also include 'practice' assignments, which help you monitor progress and do not count towards your final grade.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

• Home: £9,535
• International: £17,500

Other costs

Resources: you may need to purchase books for your studies (estimate, £150 per year).

Placements: you are expected to pay for your transport to your placements during the year.

Scholarships and bursaries

We offer a wide range of financial help including scholarships and bursaries.

Careers and placements

Will I have a work placement?

Full-time students are placed in a college where they will complete a minimum of 150 hours teaching.

Part-time students will undertake a minimum of 150 hours of teaching to meet the sector requirements.

What sort of careers do graduates pursue?

Graduates of this course can pursue a teaching career in the Further Education and Training sector.

Currently 85% of trainees get employment from the placement setting where they train during their study.

Support and advice

Academic skills and study support

We want you to make the most of your time with us. You can access study skills support through your tutor, our subject expert librarians, and our online academic skills centre.

Where appropriate, we provide support in academic English and mathematics.

Support from the department

During the course, you will be allocated a personal tutor who will support your studies. Your tutor will be on hand to offer both personal career and academic guidance. Support is tailored to meet the needs of each of our individual students to ensure high quality outcomes.