Program Overview

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Overview

This one-year postgraduate course qualifies you to be a secondary teacher of music in England and Wales.

Course Options

PGCE

• Start date: September 2025
• Duration: 1 year
• Full-time

Entry Requirements

Academic Requirements

• Bachelor's degree with minimum Second Class (2:2) or equivalent in the subject applicant plans to teach.
• GCSE English and Maths grade A*-C/9-4.
• Satisfactory references.
• Satisfactory personal statement.

International Qualifications

We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications.

Interview

An interview is required with a member of the academic teaching team.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Applicants for this course are required to complete a Student Suitability Declaration and an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Health Check

Applicants for this course are required to complete an occupational health check.

Fees, Funding, and Additional Costs

Fees

• Home Applicant: TBC per year
• International Applicant: £15,560 per year

Funding

Home Students

• Postgraduate Loans Scheme: £10,280 to fund your Masters Programme under the Postgraduate Loans (PGL) scheme
• Postgraduate Scholarship: Apply for a 50 per cent discount on your tuition fees
• Alumni Discount: up to 15% fee waiver (exclusions apply)
• Early Payment Discount: 5% fee waiver
• Asylum Seekers scholarship: 100% fee waiver
• Civic Engagement: £1,000
• Hardship Bursary: up to £2,000
• Sport Scholarships: Up to £6,000

International Students

• Living costs for international students: £1,265 per month (estimated)
• How to pay your fees: online payment facilities, by telephone, in person, or bank transfer

Additional Costs

• Textbooks
• Computer equipment
• Printing
• Travel

Course Modules

Year 1

• Active Enquiry and Intervention Impacting upon Learner Progress (Core Module)
• Developing Subject Expertise and Subject Specialism (Core Module)
• School-Based Learning: Reflections on Practice (Mental Wealth) (Core Module)
• Research informed practice (Core Module)

What We're Researching

At the University of East London, we are working on the big issues that will define our future, from sustainable architecture and ethical AI, to health inequality and breaking down barriers in the creative industries.

Your Future Career

The Secondary PGCE course at the University of East London was designed in 2001 in conjunction with the local authorities to address the secondary education teacher shortage in East London.

Industry Links

The partnership works with input and support from the London Boroughs of Barking & Dagenham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Waltham Forest, and Redbridge.

Further Study

You may also decide to undertake further study at the University of East London, either at the end of your course or after gaining teaching experience, perhaps specialising in Special Educational Needs or taking our MA Leadership in Education.

How We Support Your Career Ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, and further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking.

Career Zone

Our dedicated and award-winning team provide you with careers and employability resources, including:

• Online jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work
• Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
• 1-2-1 career coaching services
• Careers workshops and employer events
• Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth Programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you’ve mastered.

How You'll Learn

The university-based training initially consists of weekly lectures on themes that are then developed in seminar groups.

Class Sizes

We organise our training so that it feels like a school. We teach students mainly in small groups of 30 rather than in large lecture halls of 150 or 300 because it is important that you have plenty of time in your subject groups.

Placement

You will undertake two long placements in contrasting schools, totalling 24 weeks.

How You'll Be Assessed

To pass your PGCE and be recommended for Qualified Teacher Status, you have to demonstrate that you have met the Teachers' Standards.

Campus and Facilities

Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD

Our waterfront campus in the historic Royal Docks provides a modern, well-equipped learning environment.

Who Teaches This Course

This course is delivered by the School of Childhood and Social Care.

Course Leader

Neil Garner

Department of Education, School of Childhood and Social Care

Related Courses

• PGCE Secondary Physics
• PGCE Secondary English
• PGCE Secondary Geography