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PGCE Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Lifelong Learning)

A postgraduate teaching qualification for the lifelong learning sector, for graduates starting a teaching career or already working as a teacher or trainer.

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Why choose this course

  1. Placement with a partner institution, including one-to-one mentoring
  2. A step towards QTLS, full professional status for lifelong learning teachers
  3. Focused on practical teaching, with support from tutors and mentors
  4. A subject specialist module and a conference at the University of Huddersfield
  5. A personal tutor assigned to you throughout your studies

Overview

If you’re looking to progress into a career teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, including sixth form and further education colleges, adult education and a wide range of other training and educational settings, then this course could be ideal for you. We welcome applicants with industrial skills and/or relevant academic qualifications and a passion for teaching and training others.

Read the full overview

Why Lifelong Learning?

  • Upon successful completion of this course, you may be eligible to proceed to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status, following a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training. QTLS is the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning sector.
  • During the course you’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills to play a full part in teaching and curriculum development.
  • We know there’s no substitute for the classroom environment, so we’ll give you the opportunity to go on placement with one of our partnership institutions. On your placement you’ll be able to observe experienced teachers, gain practical hands-on experience and benefit from one-to-one mentoring to help develop the skills you’ll need to become an outstanding and effective teacher.

Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Trainees will be notified when applicable.

Choose your route

Pre-service

For people starting a career in teaching

  • 1 year full-time, £8,190 a year
  • 2 years part-time, £4,095 a year

If you’re looking to progress into a career teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector, including sixth form and further education colleges, adult education and a wide range of other training and educational settings, then this course could be ideal for you. We welcome applicants with industrial skills and/or relevant academic qualifications and a passion for teaching and training others.

More about this route

What you’ll study

Year 1

Year 2

The placement hours for each practice-based module should be at least 125 hours in duration (totalling 250 hours), of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice. The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module (totalling 20 hours), alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery.

Entry requirements

  • complete a satisfactory i professional discussion

How to apply for this route

In-service

For people already working as a teacher or trainer

  • 2 years part-time, £4,095 a year

If you’re already working as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment within the education and training sector (former post-14 sector) and looking to progress your career, then this course will help you on your way.

More about this route

Overview

If you’re already working as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment within the education and training sector (former post-14 sector) and looking to progress your career, then this course will help you on your way.

  • On this course you’ll have the opportunity to develop the skills to play a full part in teaching and curriculum development. The course allows you to focus on your particular subject specialist area, alongside general teaching in the lifelong learning sector and a significant amount of your learning happens in your place of work, allowing you to put theory into practice.

What you’ll study

Year 1

Year 2

Work-Based Practice:

You should be in employment as a teacher or trainer at a recognised training or educational establishment. The work-based practice hours for each practice-based module should be at least 125 hours in duration, of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice (totalling 250 hours). The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module, (totalling 20 hours) alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery.

To improve your range of experience in the sector, your work-based practice across the year must include experience in another teaching location. Cumulatively, this must come to 20 hours across the year. The 20 hours experience can include observation of practice, CPD activities, etc rather than teaching practice. If it is not possible to source a second work-based practice/ placement, this could include observation of a different subject area and/or venue (e.g. alternative provision, 6th form) in the same provider. The 20 hours of experience in another work-based practice/ placement will be logged in the teaching portfolio that you will submit as part of the assessment requirements for the module titled ‘Being a Subject Specialist Teacher’.

Entry requirements

  • provide confirmation of satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
  • complete a satisfactory in professional discussion

How to apply for this route

What you’ll study

4 modules

Research Informed Teaching, Learning and Assessment

  1. Modules

    • Becoming a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)
    • Being a Subject Specialist Teacher (Practice Based)
    • Curriculum and Context
    • Placement

The placement hours for each practice-based module should be at least 125 hours in duration, of which at least 75 hours should be teaching practice (totalling 250 hours). The balance constitutes your professional practice hours and can include a range of activities, including team meetings, planning, interviews, assessment meetings, observations and/or provider wide CPD sessions. These activities should be supported by reflection and self-evaluation. A minimum of 10 hours of remote synchronous delivery should be included per practice-based module, (totalling 20 hours) alongside a minimum of 40 hours face to face delivery. To improve your range of experience in the sector, your placement practice across the year must include experience in another teaching location. Cumulatively, this must come to 20 hours across the year. The 20 hours experience can include observation of practice, CPD activities, etc rather than teaching practice. If it is not possible to source a second placement, the placement could include observation of a different subject area and/or venue (e.g. alternative provision, 6th form) in the same provider. The 20 hours of experience in another placement will be logged in the teaching portfolio that you will submit as part of the assessment requirements for the module titled ‘Being a Subject Specialist Teacher’.

Then: where it leads

Occasional changes to modules and course content may take place. Students will be notified when applicable.

How you’ll learn

You’ll learn through lectures, seminars and workshops, with independent study in between.

  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Workshops
  • Practical and lab sessions
  • One-to-one tutorials
  • Online learning platform
  • Independent study
Read more about how you’ll learn

The primary way of delivering this programme is on Campus.

On this course you’ll have the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and understanding needed to teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector, and the ability to identify your ongoing needs for professional development. The course helps to prepare you for playing a full part in the teaching, administrative, and curriculum development activities in colleges and in other education and training organisations.

As part of the course, you’ll complete a subject specialist module and will be able to attend the culminating conference at the University of Huddersfield. You’ll be informed of the exact dates during the first year of the course.

The focus of this course is on practical teaching. You’ll have the opportunity to gain experience of learning and teaching alongside other professionals with support from tutors and work-based mentors. You’ll be supported to gain competence in planning, teaching and learning; and in working with students; with assessment of your progress taking place in formal classrooms and in student-centred learning situations.

In addition, you’ll be taught through a series of lectures, seminars, tutorials and interactive workshops and you’ll have a personal tutor who’ll be assigned to you throughout your studies to support your ongoing wellbeing and ensure that you have a positive learning experience.

Meet us at an open event.

Next: Thursday 7 January 2027, 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Book an open event

Where it can take you

Upon successful completion of your postgraduate studies, progression onto the following programmes may be of interest:

Read more about careers and progression

Masters in Education Studies

Upon successful completion of this course, you may be eligible to proceed, following a process of professional formation through the Society for Education and Training to gain Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. This is the full professional status for teachers in the Lifelong Learning Sector.

Found where you fit?

Apply now

Entry requirements

Don’t have the standard qualifications? You may still be able to apply.

UK first degree (an honours degree typically 2:2 or above, or a Masters)

Entry requirements for this course are normally:

  • UK first degree (an honours degree typically 2:2 or above, or a Masters)
  • In all cases, entry will be conditional on satisfactory progress and achievement in Year One of the course, with transfer to the Professional Graduate Certificate available for those not meeting this condition.
  • If this degree is not in the candidate’s main teaching area, they will normally be required to hold a National Vocational qualification (NVQ) level 3 or 4 (or an equivalent qualification), in the subject area forming their main teaching base.
  • GCSE maths grade C/4 or Level 2
  • GCSE English grade C/4 or Level 2
  • Relevant work experience in some specialist subject areas
  • In addition you must also:
  • provide confirmation of a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
  • provide one satisfactory reference
  • complete a satisfactory professional discussion
  • identify a work-based mentor who can support you in your subject specialism
  • The course is particularly suitable if you have work experience and/or qualifications in industry, including business and administration, hair and beauty, health and social care, public services or construction, engineering and many other vocational areas.
  • We particularly welcome applicants from under-represented groups.
  • If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, or equivalent.

Taken a different path?

We are committed to creating educational opportunities for people from a variety of backgrounds and situations. If you have been out of formal education for some time, and/or you do not have the qualifications stated, we might still be able to consider your application and offer you a range of support. We are here to help. Please get in touch to find out more.

Ask a question

Fees and funding

£8,190

a year for UK students, full-time

£4,095

a year for UK students, part-time

Financial support

UK students can take out a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course and a maintenance loan to cover living costs.

We also have a range of other financial support available.

Initial Teacher Education (ITE) Bursary (Department of Education)

Pre-service route

Aimed at PGCE students studying to work in FE. ITE bursaries are only available for the following subjects; Computing, Engineering or Manufacturing, Mathematics, Science, English (capped at 100 places) Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

How to apply and who is eligible

Additional costs

Your Tuition fees cover the majority of costs associated with your programme (including registration, tuition and assessment.)

There may be some extra costs that you might need to make or choose to pay:

  • Books (you’ll have access to books from your module reading lists in the LRC, but you may want to buy your own copies)
  • Printing and photocopying

If your programme includes a work placement, you may be required to pay for a Basic or Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Questions about funding?

Ask a question

or call 01724 281111, option 2

Your next step

Apply now, come and see us first, or ask us anything.

Want to visit first?

Open Event – 7th January 2027Thursday 7 January 2027, 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Book your place

What happens after you apply

1

You apply

Apply direct to us online, and we’ll reply by email.

2

You hear back

You’ll get an unconditional offer, a conditional offer, or an unsuccessful application.

3

You get ready to start

Before you enrol we’ll need photo ID and copies of your certificates. Apply for Student Finance early.

Read our full guide to applying

Quick reference for careers advisers

Level

Level 7

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Study mode

Full-time
Part-time

Awarding body

University of Huddersfield

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