Primary (PGDE - Graduates only) (Taught)

For entry to the University of Aberdeen, all PGDE Primary applicants must have, by the time term commences, the following: 1. Degree; 2. English and 3. Maths (further details shown below). Preference may be given to those who have, by the date of entry, an honours degree. In addition, preference is most likely to be given to those holding the English and Mathematics qualifications at the time of application.

1. DEGREE: An undergraduate degree validated by a University in the United Kingdom or an undergraduate degree of an equivalent standard from a higher education system outside the United Kingdom.
2. ENGLISH - SCE Higher grade award in English at Grade C or above. Please note that Higher ESOL is NOT accepted for entry onto the PGDE Primary or MA Primary Education.
3. MATHS - National 5 Mathematics at Grade C or above - equivalencies for English and Maths are accepted and are detailed in the PGDE Primary Information Leaflet.
4. Language/Science
   In addressing the Scottish Government Languages Working Group report; Language Learning in Scotland A
   1+2 Approach (2012) and the STEM Education and Training Strategy, the General Teaching Council for
   Scotland (GTCS) encourage universities to expect at least one SCQF Level 5 (e.g. National 5) qualification in
   either a modern language and / or a science subject.
5. Educational Background
   Universities are required to ensure that an applicant’s educational background (including the content of the undergraduate degree), provides a good basis for becoming a primary teacher. The University of Aberdeen will therefore look for evidence that an applicant has studied at least two of the following areas (as well as English and Mathematics) – science, social studies, expressive arts, religious and moral education, technology and modern foreign languages. Therefore you should be prepared to provide a copy of the full TRANSCRIPT of your Undergraduate Degree once you have submitted your application through UCAS.

University of Aberdeen Online English and Mathematics
The University of Aberdeen has launched three online access courses, one in English at SCQF Level 6 and two in Mathematics, one at SCQF Level 6 and one at SCQF Level 5. All three are accepted by the University of Aberdeen for entry to teacher education. We ask for Grade C3 or better for English and Maths so this is Grade A1, A2, A3 or Grade B1, B2, B3 or Grade C1, C2, C3. Full information on the Online provision, including costs, can be found at www.abdn.ac.uk/study/online/accesscourses.php

Previous Initial Teacher Education Study
The University of Aberdeen requires that applicants who have failed the PGDE Programme, or any programme
of Initial Teacher Education at the University of Aberdeen, or elsewhere, or who have withdrawn from a
programme whilst making unsatisfactory progress, must wait 3 years before applying for PGDE study at
Aberdeen. If reapplying, candidates must provide evidence prior to interview that they have taken action to
address previously unsatisfactory performance.

In all cases, applicants are required to read our PGDE Primary Information Leaflet before submitting an application. https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/991/primary-education/

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) / Disclosure Scotland Check

A Protection of Vulnerable Group (PVG) check through Disclosure Scotland will be conducted by the University prior to final acceptance. This is required of all applicants who accept an offer of admission, even those who have been checked previously. For non UK applicants, or UK applicants who have lived outside the UK for any period of time, in accepting an offer of admission, an Enhanced criminal record check through Disclosure Scotland will be conducted and in addition, it will be necessary for the applicant to obtain a criminal record check from the country they are from/lived in.

Interview

Not all who apply will be invited for interview. Selected applicants are invited to attend an interview to gauge suitability for entry to initial teacher education. Following the interviews, and based on the number of places available, offers are made via UCAS. Offers will either be unconditional or conditional. All entrants to the PGDE programme must hold the relevant entry requirements prior to commencement of studies. Places available are set by the Scottish Government, through the Scottish Funding Council and Universities are advised of their allocated places, usually in the February of each year. Under the UCAS protocols, those who apply by the UCAS Equal Consideration Deadline in January, should receive a decision by May of the same year. Interviews, will generally be held online via Microsoft Teams. If you are invited to interview you will receiveadditional guidance about the process.

Other

Applicants for the PGDE programme must first demonstrate that they will be able to meet the minimum entry requirements. The University of Aberdeen expects to see in the Personal Statement reference to significant mainstream Primary classroom experience and that applicants reflect upon this as appropriate when they are applying for the Primary programme. The duration and length of each experience should be detailed in the Personal Statement. Consideration is then given to the content of the application and the skills and experience relevant to teaching. References: References for applications to the PGDE should be Academic or Professional in nature (for example a University Tutor or Employer). Where applicants have gained recent experience in a mainstream school setting, it is recommended that a reference is given from School Staff. The referee should have had contact with the applicant within the past 5 years. References will not be accepted from family, friends or acquaintances.