Secondary (English Medium) (Part-time) PGDE

Course code X136

What is special about this course?

This PGDE Secondary (English Medium) (Part-time) programme is aimed at graduates wishing to follow a part-time route to become a Secondary teacher in Scotland. 

It begins with online study, Monday evening online seminars and one day per week in school, and builds up to five-day weeks in school placements, between April and June of year 2. Please read the FAQs to see a draft calendar and for more detail about the course structure. 

Secondary subjects available on the part-time programme:

  • Biology and Science
  • Chemistry and Science
  • Computing Science
  • English
  • Gaelic
  • Home Economics
  • Mathematics
  • Physics and Science
  • Religious Education
  • Technological Education

Special features

  • Can be studied from anywhere in Scotland
  • Course team of experienced teachers
  • School based mentors
  • School placements offered locally

Entry requirements

Important: Please click here to read our FAQ sheet for essential information about applying to this programme

  • You should hold a relevant degree at undergraduate level or above; preference will be given to those possessing a degree at Honours level, but consideration will also be given to those holding Ordinary degrees
  • There are subject specific entry guidelines for secondary teaching stipulated by GTC Scotland in the 2019 Memorandum on Entry Requirements to Programmes of Initial Teacher Education in Scotland. Details of these are available here or in our Frequently Asked Document - see link above

You must also hold the following qualifications prior to starting on the course:
English:

  • Scottish Higher (C or above) OR
  • A level (D or above) OR
  • GCSE English Language (C/4 or above) and English Literature (C/4 or above) or equivalent PLUS

Mathematics or Applications of Mathematics: 

  • National 5 (C or above) OR
  • SQA Intermediate 2 (C or above) or Standard grade Credit OR
  • GCSE Mathematics (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent

 

  • You should only apply for either the part-time or full-time programme, whichever best suits your circumstances. You will only be invited to the online selection event for your chosen route
  • This is a Category 1 PVG course: PVG Scheme membership is required to successfully achieve target qualification, where there is guaranteed contact with vulnerable groups in key elements of the course. For further information visit our PVG scheme webpage
  • Applications for this course must be made through the link at the bottom of this webpage

Our full-time programmes are not available by distance learning:

You may also study our full-time Primary and Secondary PGDE programmes in Gaelic:

PGDE

You will study the following modules:

Year 1

  • Establishing my teacher identity (S1)
  • Professional practice 1: Understanding contexts for learning - 1 day in school per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday) (S1 and S2)
  • Enquiry and evidence-based practice (S2)

Year 2

  • Exemplifying collegiate professionalism (S1)
  • Professional practice 2: Building teaching responsibility - 2 consecutive days in school per week (Tuesday/Wednesday or Wednesday/Thursday) (S1 and S2)
  • Professional practice 3: Evidencing the SPR* 2021 - 5 days in school per week (April-June)

*(Standard for Provisional Registration)

How will I study my course?

  • Part-time (structured)
  • You will learn through a combination of self-directed and tutor-led online study via the university's virtual learning environment (VLE), along with experiential learning in schools

How long will my course last?

  • Part-time (structured): 2 years @ 16 hours per week (up to approximately 35 hours per week in April-June of the second year)

Number of hours per week indicates the total number of hours you should dedicate to the course, including time spent on individual study, in lectures and tutorials, and on placement.

Where can I study my course?

  • Inverness

This online course can be studied from anywhere in Scotland, with school placements in local schools. You will be enrolled at UHI Inverness and supported by staff from across the University.

Start date

  • August

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes:

  • EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
  • EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.
  2023-24 2024-25
PGDE (invoiced over two years) £1,820 £1,820

Rest of UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland, including Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) studying in Scottish or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status, the following fees apply:

  2023-24 2024-25
PGDE (invoiced over two years) £9,250 £9,250

There are a number of funding options available to UK students to help you pay for your studies and your cost of living while studying. Eligible students who are resident and studying in Scotland can apply for a part-time fee grant from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). SAAS will determine eligibility.

This course is not available to students domiciled outside of the UK or for international students (including EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK) requiring Student Route visa sponsorship to study here.. For students living in the UK and assessed as international for fee status, the following fees will apply:

This includes EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

  2023-24 2024-25
PGDE (invoiced over two years) £13,980 £14,988

Funding

External scholarships and financial support may be available via the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

Additional costs

You will be expected to cover costs for: 

  • PVG disclosure check
  • Travel to the course induction
  • Travel to school placements - these are arranged through the GTCS national system to be within 90 minutes travel time from your term-time address

Students based on an island may need to complete the final six-week placement off-island. Travel and accommodation will be supported for this.

What can I do on completion of my course?

Graduates will hold provisional registration as a secondary teacher with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTC Scotland). This qualifies students with Scottish and RUK fee status to apply for the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS), GTC Scotland’s induction year, which can then allow you to qualify for the status of full registration (your fee status is assessed based on both nationality and residency criteria, and will be stipulated in your offer letter).

Students from non-EU countries are not eligible to join the TIS, but you can follow the Flexible Route to complete your probationary service if you are able to remain in Scotland on the completion of your studies.

Can I progress into further study?

Upon successful completion of this course, you may progress directly to our MEd Critical Enquiry.

Is there more information available online?

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Apply for Secondary (English Medium) (Part-time) PGDE

I want to start in Aug/Sep 2024

We are delighted that you are thinking about studying at the University of the Highlands and Islands. We operate a fair and open admissions system committed to equality of opportunity and non-discrimination. We consider all applications on merit and on the basis of ability to achieve, without discrimination on grounds of gender, age, disability, ethnicity and socio-economic background. We welcome applications from all prospective students and aim to provide appropriate and efficient services to students with disabilities.