Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: See fees section below
International/EU: £17,725 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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What is the UCAS code?
XQ33
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When do I start?
September 2025
Course summary
- Inspire others with a love for your subject or trade.
- Plan and teach dynamic, stimulating learning activities with confidence and skill.
- Develop techniques and skills needed to teach adults and young people.
- Learn how to embed core subjects including English, maths and ICT into your subject specialism.
- Integrate positive behaviours for learning into your teaching.
The PGCE prepares you to teach learners in inclusive learning environments from the 14-84 age range. The FES sector comprises further education colleges, sixth form colleges, adult education, prison education, charities and independent or work-based providers.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
This course is designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive. We have a cohesive and ambitious curriculum that successfully links theory and practice through carefully chosen teaching, learning and assessment activities.
We have been rated outstanding by Ofsted across all initial teacher education courses (March 2024). We offer sector leading initial teacher training in early years, primary, secondary and post-16 and we are rated outstanding in all four areas by Ofsted. Inspectors said that the course offers ‘…a rich, highly ambitious teaching curriculum underpinned by current, relevant theory and high-quality learning resources’ and that ‘trainees develop a deep understanding of the craft of teaching and how to apply it to their specialist subject.’
Your teaching will develop through placement based learning and academic study. Our placement team coordinate placements that give you a range of experiences in FES settings, including SEND.
You’ll be taught by a highly skilled and experienced team of tutors who are research active and who have a wide range of experience teaching in the FES sector.
Collaborative working features across all aspects this course. You’ll join a supportive community of trainee teachers. You’ll learn from each other and share experiences as you progress.
Through our carefully structured curriculum, first we’ll introduce you to being a teacher in the FES sector. Then incrementally you’ll take responsibility, applying techniques to manage behaviour and assess learning. By the end of the course, you’ll be taking responsibility for teaching full sessions. You’ll graduate with skills and confidence to help your learners achieve their goals.
You learn on this PGCE through:
- Practical teaching in placement settings
- Interactive seminars and workshops
- Lectures and tutorials
- Visits to FES settings
- Guest speakers with specific FES specialisms
- Reflection and professional conversations
- Group work
- Feedback on your teaching from experienced mentors and tutors
- Self-directed learning
- Blended approach to teaching (online and face to face)
We believe that having an inclusive culture helps to build a diverse teaching community that benefits learners, organisations and communities that the FES sector serves. We will positively promote equality and diversity and encourage applications from all sections of society.
A large proportion of your studies will be spent in placements where you will benefit from working alongside skilled practitioners who place value on collaboration, creativity and inclusive practice.
You will learn through:
- Setting-based learning
- Blended approach to teaching (online and face to face)
- Collaboration with other students
- Research informed practice
- Innovative teaching approaches
You will be supported in your learning journey through several key areas. These include access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development, access to our Skills Centre with opportunities for one-to-one support, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments and employability activities.
Applicants are welcome from any academic discipline that is taught in the FE sector.
Applicants may be eligible to receive government bursary in shortage subject areas.
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Teaching placements in relevant settings to support the development of effective subject specialism forms a significant part of your learning. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from observing experienced teachers, gaining practical hands-on experience and being mentored to help you develop into a successful and effective teacher. Placement based learning is embedded throughout the course. You will be briefed on the expectations of the role of a professional teacher and will experience some of the demands of employment first hand whilst on placement.
Work Placements
The placement experience comprises at least 150 hours of lead teaching plus a further 100 hours of teaching related activities throughout the course. At least 20 hours teaching will be synchronous online teaching. During the course, you will complete 10 formative observations of teaching, which are assessed by your placement mentor and/or a SHU tutor.
Field Trips
A field trip will encourage you to promote and embed education for sustainable development (ESD) across learning and working practices, whilst also experiencing teaching in a non-traditional setting.
Networking Opportunities
Professional networks are an important element of every career, and through the contacts you make on placement and with expert speakers from the FES sector, you will be able to start building yours.
Future careers
This course prepares you for careers in:
- Further education colleges
- Sixth form colleges
- Adult education
- Prison and criminal justice education
- Charities and community projects
- Independent and work-based providers
Higher Education
Placement in diverse, carefully chosen FES settings will allow you to learn from different contexts and prepare you to teach in any FES setting.
The programme content meets the Learning and Skills Occupational Standards. Those obtaining the PGCE FES will be eligible to apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status. QTLS has parity with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
The University-based sessions will be based at City Campus. There will also be opportunities to engage with on-line learning and collaboration. Much of your time will be spent applying and developing your professional knowledge in FES settings while on placement.
We’ve investing £250 million in new facilities over the next five years. This means students have access to new, innovative, and flexible spaces to study and relax in, making their student experience even better.
Entry requirements
All students
Typically you need
• A good degree or equivalent.
• Normally we require GCSE grade C, or Grade 4 in English Language and mathematics, or equivalent. Where applicants have achieved a GCSE grade 4 or above in English literature only we will look for further evidence of a breadth of achievement in English. We will consider applicants who are in the process of obtaining the relevant GCSEs.
• Experience of a Post-16 / Further Education teaching environment, that enables you to demonstrate awareness of your subject or specialist context in Post-16.
• The skills and commitment to benefit from higher education.
In-service students must have evidence that they are already working as a teacher or tutor, will teach a minimum of 60 hours in each year of the course, and that their employer will provide a specialist mentor to support them.
Candidates who are successful will demonstrate a sound understanding of teaching and how children learn, where possible within a school setting. We encourage all candidates to evidence their understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools or other learning settings. Demonstrating an ability to make links between experience and knowledge, and their proposed career would be desirable.
Selection event
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to a selection event and you should present a passport or photo driving license. You can present other forms of photo ID for the selection event, but if you do, you will still need to present valid identity documents required by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to starting your course.
See our selection event guidance for this course.
You must also complete a declaration of criminal convictions and health check forms.
If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 7.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
International and European entry qualifications.
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
Course enrolment - professional requirements
Before enrolling you must complete all the professional checks that are required as part of entry for the course:
Suitability Declaration
You must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission suitability declaration form provided during the admissions process:
- Unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
- Involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments.
- Involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations.
- If you have ever been removed from a teacher training programme as a result of your behaviour, or would have been removed if you had not left the programme.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- You will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- You will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the DBS application process.
- If you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- Where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Academic Administration Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
- In addition to this all those who are made an offer of a place will be checked against the DfE children’s barred list.
Occupational Health Screening
You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.
Other background checks
All applicants that have accepted an offer will also be checked against the prohibition list to ensure you are not:
- Subject to a prohibition order issued by the Secretary of State.
- Prohibited to teach in another country of the European Economic Area (EEA).
If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please notify the Academic Administration team immediately by emailing professionalchecks@shu.ac.uk.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Exploring And Developing Pedagogical Practice In Further Education And Skills
Professional Practice
Reflecting On Professional Practice And Development In Further Education And Skills Education
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fees for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 are regulated by the UK government and are yet to be confirmed. For an indication, our tuition fee for UK students starting this course in 2024/25 is £9,250 for the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Education (PDF, 255.8KB)
Scholarships and bursaries
If you are starting a PGCE you may be entitled to financial support.
Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
