Program Overview

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Overview

The Secondary History PGCE with QTS is a one-year postgraduate certificate in secondary education designed for individuals with an undergraduate degree who aspire to become secondary school History teachers. This course emphasizes practical engagement with the curriculum while developing understanding of the theories that underpin the best models of practice.

Key Information

Entry Requirements

• An Honours degree (2:2 or above) with at least 50% relevant content in History.
• GCSE English and Maths at grade 4 or above (or grade C or above if awarded under the previous GCSE grading scheme) or equivalent.
• If your first language is not English, you will need IELTS 7.0 overall, with no element less than 6.5.
• If all or part of your qualifications are from outside the UK, we’ll need a UK ENIC statement of comparability.

Other requirements:

• You must demonstrate the ability to communicate effectively, and that you have the intellectual and academic potential to meet the required Teachers’ Standards by the end of the programme.
• You should provide two references. Where applicants have current or recent experience working with children or young people, one of the referees should be a member of staff who can comment on their potential to train to teach.
• Offers are subject to satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced disclosure checks and applicants must not previously have been barred from teaching or working with children. We also ask you to complete a health declaration to ensure that you have the health and physical capacity to teach.

All conditions must be met by 31 August for entry in September in the year of application.

Course Detail

The course is divided into two main themes:

• Initial Professional Development: This theme allows you to explore creative ways to interpret your knowledge into a language a child can understand. It helps prepare you for the classroom, allowing you to develop your own thinking, teaching skills, and subject curriculum knowledge to a level which you can trial in your placements. Themes include how young people learn, behaviour management, assessment, inclusion, creative and innovative teaching methods, and designing learning.
• History Specialist Subject Pedagogy: This theme gives you the opportunity to develop your subject teaching in a stimulating way, using different methodologies and new technologies to inspire and engage young people. It helps develop your understanding of the History curriculum; progression in History; planning and curriculum development in History, examination requirements, and inclusion issues in History.

Modules

• Developing Specialist Subject Knowledge: In this module, you will develop the subject content and pedagogical knowledge to support effective teaching in your specialist subject area. You will develop a systematic understanding of the statutory and non-statutory curriculum frameworks and public examination specifications for your subject and critically analyze and evaluate current research, policy, and practice.
• Pedagogies for Support Learning and Progress in the Secondary School: This module develops your understanding of pedagogy, focusing on the key areas of how pupils learn and how to support their progress; planning and teaching well-structured lessons; and adapting teaching to support the needs of all learners.
• Professional Values and Practice in Secondary Education 1, 2, and 3: These modules support your professional learning in the assessed phases of your school-based training. They begin to develop the theoretical knowledge, understanding, attributes, values, and skills that underpin the Teachers’ Standards.

Placements

During your time on the course, you will be required to complete 120 days of compulsory placements across at least two of our partner schools. Our network of partner schools spans Kirklees, Calderdale, Oldham, Manchester, Rochdale, Wakefield, Barnsley, and Bradford, offering a diverse range of educational settings.

Facilities

The University of Huddersfield provides various facilities to support your learning, including open access computer rooms and teaching spaces designed to simulate real-world educational environments.

Fees and Finance

Tuition Fees - Full-time

The maximum fees for UK-based students on undergraduate courses in 2025/26 will be £9,535 per year for full-time students (subject to parliamentary approval).

Additional Costs

• Your placements could be based in areas some distance from your point of study, so please be aware of potential associated traveling costs.
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is required to enable you to undertake placements in settings with children. We arrange this as part of the application process. Please note that there may be a charge for the DBS check.

Scholarships and Bursaries

The Department for Education provides financial support for trainee teachers on some secondary subjects, either as a bursary or scholarship. The eligibility requirements for financial support vary depending on your individual circumstances and the amount you can expect to receive will depend on the subject you choose to teach and your degree classification and relevant academic qualifications.

Career Support

The University of Huddersfield offers various forms of support to help you succeed in your career, including guidance on job roles, professional links, and further study opportunities.

Research Excellence

The University of Huddersfield is recognized for its research excellence, with a significant proportion of its research being classified as world-leading and internationally excellent. This commitment to research ensures that you are taught by experts in their fields and have access to the latest knowledge and practices in education.

Student Support

The University provides comprehensive support services to help you navigate your personal student journey, including academic support, career guidance, and resources for well-being and student life.

Important Information

The University reserves the right to make changes to courses, including the discontinuation of courses, due to circumstances beyond its control or to ensure the quality of the educational experience. In such cases, the University will work with affected students to find appropriate solutions, which may include transferring to another course or providing support for transferring to another university.