Program Overview

Overview

The Secondary Music 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 Music teachers. This course aims to develop subject specialist knowledge alongside hands-on classroom experience.

Key Information

Entry Requirements

• An Honours degree (2:2 or above) with at least 50% relevant content in Music.
• 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 include demonstrating the ability to communicate effectively and having the intellectual and academic potential to meet the required Teachers’ Standards by the end of the programme.
• You should provide two references, with one being from a member of staff who can comment on your potential to train to teach if you have current or recent experience working with children or young people.
• 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.

Start Dates

• 8 September 2025

Duration

• 1 year full-time

Course Detail

The course is divided into two main themes:

1. 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, enabling you to develop your own thinking, teaching, and subject knowledge base to a level where you can trial it in your placements. Themes include educational psychology, how young people learn, behaviour management, assessment, inclusion, creative and innovative teaching methods, and designing learning.
2. Music Specialist Subject Pedagogy: This theme provides 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 music curriculum, progression in music, planning and developing musical activities, examination requirements, music technology, world music, informal teaching approaches, music leadership, and inclusion issues in music.

Modules

• Developing Specialist Subject Knowledge: Develops the subject content and pedagogical knowledge to support effective teaching in your specialist subject area.
• Pedagogies for Support Learning and Progress in the Secondary School: Develops your understanding of pedagogy, focusing on key areas such as how pupils learn, planning and teaching well-structured lessons, and adapting teaching to support the needs of all learners.
• Professional Values and Practice 1, 2, and 3: These modules support your professional learning in the first, second, and final assessed phases of your school-based training, focusing on developing your theoretical knowledge, understanding, attributes, values, and skills as a teacher.

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.
• You will gain valuable insight into the role of a secondary school teacher, supported by both a mentor within the school and a dedicated Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who will visit you in school to provide guidance and support.

Facilities

The University of Huddersfield provides various facilities to support your learning, including open access computer rooms and teaching spaces designed to enhance your educational experience.

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).
• Tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University, including charges for registration, tuition, supervision, and examinations.

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, and 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 and Outcomes

• Previous graduates from courses in this subject area have gone on to work in a variety of roles such as Secondary School Teacher, Community Education Officer, Learning Mentor, Education Consultant, Family Support Worker, and Education Mental Health Practitioner.
• The University of Huddersfield offers support networks and services to help you get ahead in your studies and social life, including career guidance and resources to assist you in your professional development.

Research Excellence

• The University of Huddersfield is recognized for its research excellence, with three-quarters of all its research being world-leading and internationally excellent.
• Our researchers carry out work that makes a real difference to people's lives, and we are in the top 50 UK universities for Research Power.