Program Overview

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PGDE Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Chemistry)

Overview

The Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (Chemistry) is a one-year, full-time course designed to blend knowledge, research, and the experiences of successful teachers. This approach will help students grow their motivation, confidence, and creativity to succeed in the classroom.

Mode of Study:

• Full-time

Duration:

• 1 year

Start date:

• August

UCAS code:

• F1X1

Placement:

• Yes

Course details

This course is split into three trimesters, with 18 weeks spent in university and 18 weeks in secondary school placements.

Taught Modules:

• Learning & Teaching 1
• Learning & Teaching 2
• Contexts of Learning
• Professional Enquiry
• School Experience

These modules will help develop skills as a dynamic and effective teacher. All modules are SCQF Level 11.

Learning & Teaching 1&2

These modules are related to knowledge of the curriculum and school placements. Students will explore effective methodologies, curriculum design, and keep up-to-date with current initiatives from the Scottish Government’s “A Curriculum for Excellence” and “The Attainment Challenge” policies.

Contexts of Learning

This module will allow students to explore the theory and policy underpinning the educational system. Key themes such as behavior management, additional support needs, and more will be explored, both in theory and practice. Visiting experts will offer professional advice on complex issues.

Professional Enquiry

This module will prepare students to undertake an action research project. The project will be combined with an interdisciplinary project in the later placement, which will give invaluable insights into the complexities of making changes to practice and equip students with research methods.

How you’ll be taught

Students will be taught by a team of experienced lecturers who have extensive knowledge of both the Higher Education sector and Secondary schools.

The University-based work consists of four Modules and is based around the school curriculum and the way it is taught (Curricular Pedagogy and Educational Studies).

During school placements, students will undertake a variety of tasks to help them understand and develop the skills needed to be a professional teacher.

Assessments

Students will be assessed in a variety of ways across four academic modules, from critical reflection to literature reviews.

On placement, students will also complete formal classroom observations, which will assess their placement time as a whole.

Students will also complete classroom-based research that will contribute to a formal report, and attend a practitioner conference where their projects will be presented.

Modules

Modules that students will study* as part of this course

Contexts of Learning (TED11100)

In this module, students will be introduced to the theories, policy, legislation, and issues relevant to Secondary education in Scotland. Through attending lectures and seminars, students will build a critical understanding of the purposes of education, theories of how learning takes place, the complex and sometimes challenging influences that can impact on learning, and the policies and legislation that frame this learning.

Learning & Teaching 1 (TED11102)

Learning and Teaching 1 is designed to explore the professional values, personal commitment, complex pedagogical approaches, and subject knowledge required in curricular specialisms. There will be a focus on the Senior Phase of secondary school to allow students to develop their confidence in working with pupils who are working towards external qualifications.

Learning & Teaching 2 (TED11103)

This module builds on Learning & Teaching 1. Through this module, students will further develop their understanding of their subject area within the secondary curriculum and strengthen their confidence with a range of pedagogical approaches and assessment strategies.

Professional Enquiry (TED11101)

This module is focused on building students' skills in practitioner-based enquiry in schools. It will help students develop this skill through focusing on an area of their own teaching practice and focusing on building their skills in this area through reflective practice.

School Experience 1 (TED10101)

In this placement module, students will put into practice the professional knowledge and skills gained in Teaching and Learning 1 (LT1). Students will spend 35 days in a secondary school planning, teaching, and reflecting, thus developing the professional capacities to effectively plan and teach lessons, predominantly in the senior phase (S3-S6).

School Experience 2 (TED10102)

In this module, students will undertake 55 days of school placement to further develop the knowledge, skills, and values set out in the General Teaching Council Scotland (GTCS) Standards for Provisional Registration.

Entry requirements

What are the entry requirements for Education Chemistry?

The entry requirements for this course are a degree from a UK Higher Education Institution, or degree of an equivalent standard from an institution outside the UK. The degree should be in the subject to be taught and contain at least two graduating courses (80 credits) in the relevant subject. A minimum of 40 credits should be from Year 2 of study.

Ordinary Degrees are also acceptable.

We also require SQA Higher English at Grade C or equivalent as well as SQA National 5 Mathematics or SQA National 5 Applications of Mathematics at grade C or equivalent.

Please note you will also be expected to attend an interview.

SUBJECT-SPECIFIC GUIDANCE

Chemistry

80 Credits across two modules are acceptable. Courses should include organic, physical, and inorganic chemistry.

Can I make an appointment with an advisor to discuss further about the admission process?

If you want to get more information on the admission process, please get in touch with the undergraduate admissions team.

English language

If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

This may not apply if you have completed all your school qualifications in English. Check our country pages to find out if this applies to you.

International students

We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Admissions policies

We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.

Our admissions policies will help you understand our admissions procedures, and how we use the information you provide us in your application to inform the decisions we make.

Fees & funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances, and the course you are studying. We also have a number of bursaries and scholarships available to our students.

Tuition fees for 2024/25

Students from | 2024/25 | 2025/26 |
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Scotland | £1,820 | £1,820
England Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland | £9,250 | £9,250
Overseas and EU | £22,870 | £24,015

Tuition fees are subject to an annual review and may increase from one year to the next. For more information on this and other tuition fee matters, please see our Fees and Funding links above.

Careers

Secondary Chemistry and Science Teacher (Can be in Scotland, UK or most countries of the world.)