Skip navigation

PGCE Primary Postgraduate Certificate in Education (3-7) (Taught)

Course details
  • PGCE
  • 10 Months
  • Full-time
  • September 2025
  • Postgraduate
Course location
London Road Campus

Course summary

Gain experience and knowledge of teaching in early years or Key Stage 1. Benefit from our outstanding facilities and well-managed placements, and qualify as an early years teacher with our PGCE Primary Education.

Our Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) Primary pathway leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), giving you the experience, the opportunity, and the knowledge to work in both Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) settings and infant/primary school settings.

The EYFS is a unique phase of education which involves learning through play and first-hand experiences both inside and outdoors. This phase leads into Key Stage 1, where children really start to engage with learning to read, applying their mathematical knowledge, and making sense of how the world works.

Your tutors are internationally or nationally renowned experts, and their research regularly has a direct impact on school curricula and learning techniques, both in the UK and abroad. As experts in their field, their research also directly informs the focus and content of your course.

Learning takes place through a series of lectures, practical seminars and workshops, where interactive and discussion-based techniques will encourage you to engage, reflect and challenge.

For more information, please visit our programme page: https://www.reading.ac.uk/ready-to-study/study/subject-area/education-pg/pgce-primary-early-years.

Modules

Sample modules may include:

  • The core subjects (English, mathematics and science)
  • Professional Studies
  • The Foundation Subjects

In addition, you will complete two master's level modules focusing on:

  • Special educational needs
  • Leadership

Please check our website for more details about the course structure.

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

To work as a teacher at a state school in England or Wales, you will need to achieve qualified teacher status (QTS). This is offered on this course for the following level:

  • Primary

Entry requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent)

Entry requirements: You are normally required to have at least a 2:2 honours degree, or equivalent from a university outside the UK.

You will need to have achieved Grade 4 (or C) or above in GCSE Mathematics, English Language and a Science subject, or equivalent qualifications.

As part of the application process for this programme, you will be required to attend an interview.

You will also need to demonstrate competence in Fundamental English and mathematics by the end of the course. This is a new DfE requirement which replaces the QTS skills tests in literacy and numeracy.

If you accept an offer with us you will also be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.

Like this page