Course description

The iPGCE is designed for teachers (either experienced or at the beginning of their career) in a range of educational settings, and enables them to develop their pedagogic expertise and enhance their career development potential. The programme supports teachers in developing research and evaluation skills that can be applied to their own practice and that of colleagues, so enabling them to contribute to school improvement initiatives.

The programme is distinctive because it offers the potential to work with local partners (schools and/or universities) to provide opportunities to align with local-delivered professional development. It is therefore both strongly student-centred and partnership-focused, so contributing to both students’ personal and professional career development and to the wider improvement priorities of the settings in which they work.

Students will have the opportunity to develop their skills in conducting school based research and analysis of teaching, learning and assessment of learning. The programme is founded on developing a critically reflective approach to teaching, and a deep understanding of pedagogic theory and the implications for practice.

The iPGCE offers an ideal foundation for students to progress to other School of Education programmes, carrying over 60 credits – such as the Masters in International Education (Campus-based or Distance Learning), MSc. Educational Leadership (Distance Learning), or Masters in Education (Campus-based).

Studying by supported distance learning allows you to choose when and where you study, meaning you do not have to take a career break. We pride ourselves on the level of support we provide our distance learning students. Our award-winning library has world class facilities for distance learning students. You will have full access to our other support services and will be assigned a personal tutor. Out virtual learning environment Blackboard offers a wide range of study support material, and you will have the opportunity to join an interactive web-based community of fellow students around the world.

Entry requirements

What our graduates say

Ghoorbin Pooshpanjulee (Sharon)

I have recently graduated from the University of Leicester with an international Post Graduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE). I completed my course in 2023 and attended my graduation ceremony in July 2024.

Studying at the University of Leicester as a distance learning student from Mauritius has been a wonderful experience and journey for me. I had a great support system throughout my course, from both my personal tutor and module lecturers. I really enjoyed the webinars and would recommend anyone doing this course to always attend lectures. I got to participate in the discussions, ask questions, be enlightened by listening to different perspectives from colleagues all over the world, and most importantly, built an amazing relationship with my lecturers and peers through these webinars. 

Over the duration of the iPGCE programme, I studied two different modules but I specifically enjoyed the second module, called the Classroom Research Project. Though the modules were pre-selected, I had the liberty of choosing a topic for my Research Project that I was passionate about. I conducted an Action Research Project whereby I applied knowledge acquired from the course into my day-to-day practice. The support was amazing, from my personal tutor Tim Peskett, and lecturers Dr Farhat Syyeda and Dr Palitha Edirisingha. 

I am very grateful to have been able to study the iPGCE at the University of Leicester; I was able to move forward in my career path from a Science Laboratory Technician to a Secondary Science Teacher. 

For anyone wishing to study at the University of Leicester, do so without any fear! And if you ever feel stuck, don’t be afraid to reach out to your tutors, lecturers, supervisors or peers, because in my experience, they would always be there for you as they were for me!

Shanker Dutt Bhatt

What I enjoyed most was the rich blend of theory and practice. The course was designed to systematically teach theory in ways that are learnt not only for assessments but for personal reflection and immediate applications. The support from the tutor was exceptional - providing guidance, encouragement, and up-to-date practical knowledge through webinars and personal tutoring when needed. The webinars allowed opportunities for a strong sense of collaboration among participants.

The community was supportive and inclusive. The students brought a range of experience from Early Years to Secondary, adding rich perspectives and depth to discussions. The most important aspect that I felt was that, although online, it was a place where everyone’s voice was heard and valued.

My favourite module was “Critical Reflections on Classroom Practice: how people learn and pedagogy”. This module introduced a great detail of theories and frameworks that I have been using, but had not had the opportunity to look at from deeper theoretical perspectives

For anyone considering studying at the University of Leicester, I would say go for it! The flexibility and the depth of the curriculum make it an excellent choice for anyone serious about advancing in the field of education. Moreover, I found the respect and trust unparalleled. I still remember the module instructor mentioned at the start of the course that they were not ‘masters’ and we were not just the followers. This kind of trust from practicing educators is in the spirit of being in education. 

Shanker is now Manging Director and Co-founder at Max Education Pvt Ltd. (Shanghai)