Teacher Training FAQs
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Primary Teaching
Teacher Training FAQs
How do I apply?
Applications for teacher training are processed through the UCAS Teacher Training website.
Can I apply if I am still completing my undergraduate degree?
Yes. Many applicants are in the final year of their undergraduate degree. If you are successful at interview and in this position, completing your degree will be a condition of our offer.
You will need to be awarded at least 2nd class Honours (a 2:2 or higher).
I want to study secondary teacher training. What undergraduate degree do I need?
For Secondary Teacher Training programmes, you need a degree that is directly relevant to your subject specialism - usually at least 50% of your degree should be in your specialist subject.
What can I do if my degree is not related to the subject I want to teach (secondary teacher training only)?
If your degree is not related to the subject you want to teach, then you can apply for a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course.
Subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) courses are available for eligible candidates who want to enhance their knowledge so that they can teach a priority subject. UEL offers these in Computing, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Spanish.
What are the entry requirements for teacher training?
You'll need at least 2:2 Honours. For Primary teacher training, you'll need GCSEs (grade A-C) in English, mathematics and a science-related subject. For Secondary teacher training, you’ll need GCSEs (A-C) in English and mathematics only.
What can I do if my qualifications are not from the UK?
If your qualifications are not from the UK, we recommend that you contact NARIC.
NARIC can provide you with a statement of comparability, telling you whether the qualifications you have match the entry requirements for the PGCE.
Do I need to have classroom teaching experience in order to apply?
No. If you have classroom experience, that's great but not a requirement. However, we do expect you to have spent at least five days observing in a UK school or Early Years setting. This is to ensure that you have some understanding of how schools work and of the expectations placed upon teachers.
What do I need to include in my personal statement?
The purpose of your statement is to show the admissions tutor that you are an ideal applicant for teacher training, both in terms of your suitability for a course leading to qualified teacher status (QTS) and your capacity to make a success of postgraduate study.
The UCAS teacher training website provides further guidance on writing a personal statement.
What will the interview involve?
The entire interview process lasts about three hours. During the interview you will be asked to talk about a current educational issue. Please ensure you have done some research into current educational issues in advance of the interview. You could, for example, read recent editions of the Times Educational Supplement.
Our aim is to find out as much as we can about your attributes, skills, knowledge and understanding in order to shape training opportunities for you, should you be offered a place on the programme.
Your responses to these tasks and activities will be considered alongside all the other evidence to assess your suitability for the PGCE programme.
During the individual interview you will be given the chance to talk with a tutor about the programme and any other issues that are relevant.
What is the skills test and when do I need to complete it?
The numeracy and literacy skills tests cover the core skills that teachers need to fulfil their professional role in schools, rather than the subject knowledge required for teaching. This is to ensure all teachers are competent in numeracy and literacy, regardless of their specialism.
You must pass a skills tests in Literacy and Numeracy prior to starting the course. (This is in addition to passing the English and mathematics GCSEs).
When will I receive an offer?
After you apply, we will spend some time reviewing your application.
If your personal statement demonstrates that you have the capacity to succeed on the programme, and you either have the required qualifications or are in the process of acquiring these, you will be invited to interview.
At the end of the interview day, the interviewing panel will make a decision and your status on UCAS will be updated. We will aim to update your status within 48 working hours of your interview.
The status update will include an indication of any outstanding conditions, where appropriate.
How do I enrol?
You'll receive an email from us asking you to enrol online via UEL Direct, and it's important that you do this as soon as possible. You'll need your unique password to complete your enrolment, which is your date of birth in the form of dd-mmm-yy.
For example, if your date of birth is 1 January 1995, your password would be 01-jan-95.
Can I complete the PGCE course part time?
Unfortunately, you will not be able to complete this course part time.
The PGCE at UEL is a one year full time programme.
Are there any bursaries available?
Home and EU students studying for a Postgraduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) may be eligible for a tax-free bursary from the government, worth up to £25,000. These are paid in ten instalments from October to July, directly to your UK bank account, starting in October each academic year.
For more information on the funding available visit the Get Into Teaching website.
What support services are available for students?
When you come to study at UEL, you'll have access to our full range of academic, personal and peer support services including tutors, health and wellbeing, library services, childcare and disability support services.
Our Student Support hubs in Docklands and Stratford feature centralised helpdesks to cater for your every need.