“Although I had been teaching for 8 years previously, the PGCE had a significant impact on my practice, especially engaging with the weekly programme of readings. By the end of the course, the training hadn’t just impacted on me, it had improved practice in my department and the wider school!” – Ezzat Ali, PGCE 2020.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education for International Trainees offers teachers based in schools outside the UK, who have not undergone a period of formal training, the opportunity to participate in a structured programme of professional development.
Starting every September, the International PGCE is a 37-week school-based course during which trainee teachers work under the guidance of a mentor (appointed by the school in which they work) who observes them teach and meets weekly to review progress and set targets. In addition, there is a weekly programme of readings and reflective tasks that the trainee engages in. Finally, trainees are allocated a University of Buckingham tutor who meets with them every month to track progress and support where necessary. The course is available in most subjects and age levels. It is also possible for Primary teachers to specialise in a subject area. Please note that trainees on the course must be employed as teachers in their school.
Six one day ‘live’ training sessions plus two induction days (in late August) run by the university will be delivered online. Attendance at all these days is mandatory.
“Who dares to teach must never cease to learn. Personally, this PGCE course through The University of Buckingham has enriched my teaching and was one of the best decisions I made to increase my professional development.” – Belinda Orlandini, 2020 International PGCE Students.
Course content
All International trainees will be assigned a University of Buckingham tutor who will meet online with trainee and mentor throughout the course, to assess their progress, guide their development and support the mentor. For example, the tutor will attend one mentor meeting per term and discuss a lesson plan with the trainee termly.
Your University tutor will be a subject specialist. Our subject specialists this year include: Art, Music, Design Technology, Food Technology, Business Studies and Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Computer Science, English, Drama, Classics, Modern Languages, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Psychology, and Physical Education.
There will also be some content specifically about working in international schools.
“…the time and effort she (University tutor) offers to my mentor and I is outstanding. She has been a pleasure to work alongside and to have as a supporting body throughout. Thanks to her lovely feedback during our meetings, I am at a stage where I feel confident and comfortable in my classroom.” Aishlin O’Rourke, PGCE for International Trainees (Primary)
Trainees are assessed in a number of ways:
- you will have a mentor in your school who will arrange for your lessons to be observed and assessed so that you can improve week by week.
- you will record evidence of your teaching on an online form.
- trainees are assigned a University of Buckingham tutor who will be in touch regularly. You will have termly calls to assess your progress and guide your development.
- you will write three academic essays.
For the additional QTS qualification (needed to teach in a state school in England), it is possible for a teacher who has been teaching for two or more years to apply for the Assessment Only to Qualified Teacher Status. A trainee may begin the application process in the term following the one-year International PGCE.
Training Sessions
Six one day ‘live’ training sessions plus two induction days (in late August) run by the University will be delivered online. Attendance at all these days is mandatory.
- Introductory day 1 (Compulsory for ALL): Thursday 24 August 2023
- Introductory day 2 (Compulsory for ALL): Friday 25 August 2023
- International PGCE Training day 1: Monday 25 September 2023, 7am – 2pm
- International PGCE Training day 2: Tuesday 31 October 2023, 7am – 2pm
- International PGCE Online Training day 3: Wednesday 29 November 2023, 7am – 2pm
- International PGCE Online Training day 4: Monday 5 February 2024, 7am – 2pm
- International PGCE Online Training day 5: Tuesday 26 March 2024, 7am – 2pm
- International PGCE Online Training day 6: Wednesday 22 May 2024, 7am – 2pm
- UK degree (2.2 or above). For equivalent qualifications, contact education@buckingham.ac.uk to confirm that your qualification meets the University entry requirements
- You must be employed as a teacher in an international school abroad that teaches English National Curriculum or the International Baccalaureate (IB) and be in sole charge of a full-size class for a minimum of 10 hours a week.
- International applicants may need to demonstrate proficiency in English. Full details are available on our Postgraduate Language Requirements page
In addition, you must:
- Obtain a commitment from your school to provide a suitable mentor.
- Show the physical and mental fitness to teach.
The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through the course, enabling them to demonstrate all of the English Teachers’ Standards and releasing them for the compulsory live online training days (six per year).
The fees for this course are:
| Start | Type | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
Sep 2023 Full-time (37 Weeks) | UK | N/A |
| INT | £4,200 |
The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) to take account of the University’s increased costs of delivering educational services. If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.
Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and so on. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.
Applicants must also pay a £275 non-refundable Registration Fee.
Fees are invoiced at the beginning of the course. Instalments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.
All staff at COBIS member schools get a 5% discount on course fees. To ensure the discount is applied please select ‘COBIS’ from the partnership box on your application form.
If you would like a tutor to travel from the UK to observe lessons in person, this is possible for an additional fee. Please contact: stephen.cook@buckingham.ac.uk
Applicants from China should apply through the Buckingham International School of Education, please click here: https://bise.openapply.cn/
Please use the ‘Apply Now’ button at the bottom of this page; or contact The Faculty of Education on +44 (0)1280 820222 or email: education@buckingham.ac.uk.
Before we can accept you, you will need to supply:
- a copy of passport photo page (and visa/work permit where necessary)
- copies of your qualification certificates
- a head and shoulder style photo for your University identity card
Closing date for applications: 24 July 2023