Program Overview

PGCE Secondary Music with Specialist Instrument Teaching with QTS

The PGCE Secondary Music with Specialist Instrument Teaching with QTS is a one-year postgraduate certificate in education that prepares students to teach the secondary school music curriculum for the 11-16 age range. This practical course immerses students in music making and teaching, encouraging them to develop and apply their own musical skills.

Course Overview

The course focuses on teaching music musically, enabling pupils to make, understand, and enjoy music. Students learn how to plan and deliver lessons rich in musical content and activity, using both acoustic and digital instruments to strengthen their subject knowledge. The course also explores creative and inclusive approaches to teaching music, considering how music education can promote inclusion and support pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Features and Benefits

• Employability: Students gain the skills and experience to teach music at GCSE and potentially A/AS-levels.
• Teaching experience: Students spend at least 120 days on placement in mainstream secondary schools, gaining experience in teaching and learning.
• Postgraduate credits: Students achieve 60 masters level credits, which can be put towards further study and career development.
• Partnerships: The university has partnerships with over 500 schools, colleges, and educational organisations, providing students with a range of school experiences.
• Research-led teaching: Many staff are active researchers in education, and their research influences the programmes.

Course Structure

The course includes lectures, seminars, and practical sessions, with a focus on peer collaboration and sharing knowledge and experience with fellow trainees. Students develop research-informed practice, analysing the latest educational research and theories and applying this knowledge in their practice.

Placements

Students go on at least two placements in different secondary schools or colleges, experiencing mixed and single-gender schools, city academies, faith schools, comprehensive and selective schools. Placements provide contexts for students to put their learning into practice, reflect on their actions, evaluate their role in relation to pupils' learning, and review their performance in supporting teaching and learning.

Entry Requirements

• Degree: A minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification.
• GCSE: Grade C/4 or above in English language and mathematics.
• Other requirements: Appropriate post-16 qualifications, ability to communicate effectively in spoken and written English, excellent interpersonal skills, and an informed and realistic understanding of the complexities and challenges of teaching in a secondary school.

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year are still being finalised. Information on 2025/26 standard undergraduate fees for UK/Channel Islands and EU/Non-EU international students is available.

Careers Support and Prospects

• Employed or in further study: 93.7% of UK-domiciled, full-time, postgraduate taught graduates are employed or in further study 15 months after graduation.
• Explore your options and build sought-after skills: The Careers Service supports students in getting ready for what comes next, whether that's continuing their studies or pursuing their work ambitions.
• Graduate Outcomes survey: The university's groundbreaking research with industry means it has unrivalled business connections that can help open doors to dream careers.

Related Courses

• PGCE Secondary Music with QTS*