Course information
UK fee £9,250
International fee £18,950
Taught by Education
Secondary PGCE office
+44 (0)116 252 3676
EDenquiries@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
All of our PGCE courses are made up of both campus-based sessions - which will give you a grounding in the principles of good teaching practice - and school-based placements, giving you the chance to apply your knowledge and experience to a wide range of classroom situations. These placements will be in contrasting schools to provide you with a broad range of experience; they could be in city, suburban or rural schools, in the independent or state sector.
You will be taught by academics who are leaders in their field and have years of experience themselves as teachers. We believe that teaching inspired by research both within and beyond the School of Education, and backed up with extensive teaching experience, provides excellent opportunities for our trainees to grow as teachers and reflective practitioners.
You will choose a subject to specialise in over the course of the PGCE, usually related to the subject that you studied to degree level. At Leicester we offer the PGCE in the following subject areas:
- English
- History
- Mathematics
- Modern Languages
- Religious Education (French, French with Spanish, Spanish with French, French with German)
- Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Physics with Mathematics)
- Social Science
By the end of this course you will meet the required processional standards for Qualified Teacher Status, and will be awarded a University of Leicester PGCE. Our strong ethos of reflective practice will prepare you well for your future career in teaching.
New teachers have now become some of the best-paid postgraduates in England. From September 2023, once you have completed your one-year PGCE course - which awards you QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) - as a primary or secondary school teacher in England, you’ll start on a minimum salary of £30,000 (£36,745 in inner London). Your salary will be reviewed every year, with most teachers moving up the pay range annually. A typical teacher could earn at least £41,333 (or more in London) within 5 years.
Not sure which PGCE route is right for you? Have a look at our Routes into Teaching pages to find out more about PGCE, Lead Partners and SCITT routes.
Alongside this 'University-led' PGCE, we work in partnership with schools across the region to offer a Lead Partners Secondary PGCE.
We’re delighted that in 2024, Ofsted have graded our initial teacher training programmes as Outstanding. This means that both our primary and secondary teacher training adheres to the highest standards set by the Department for Education.
According to the report, “trainees are exceptionally positive about the high quality of training they receive. They benefit from an ambitious curriculum, delivered by experts, and supported by relevant, up-to-date research. Trainees have ample opportunities to integrate theory and practice. They learn to be instinctively reflective, and this helps them to decide the beliefs and values they will hold as a teacher.
Trainees gain rich experiences in schools with different contexts.”
Read the full report.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- 2:1 degree for English, Geography, History or Social Science
- 2:2 degreefor Maths, MFL, Sciences or RE
(We may, under exceptional circumstances, accept a Third if there are other very strong recommending features in your application.)
- GCSE Grade C or above in English Language and Maths.
- A-levels (or equivalent) in relevant subjects
- Although not essential, you may find it useful to have recent experience working with children and/or observing teaching in a school setting, ideally relating to the age range/subject you wish to teach. When writing your application you should try to reflect on your experience and tell us what you learnt.
Application Process
The application process for a PGCE is different from other postgraduate courses so please see our information on how to apply.
Additional requirements
Admission to the course is subject to a satisfactory medical report. The University will provide more information about this should you be offered a place.
All offers are subject to a satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure. We will provide instructions regarding the DBS application process once you have accepted an offer of a place on the course.
English Language Requirements
You must have a GCSE Grade C in English Language. Please see our entry requirements (left) for more information.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in September 2025
- £9,250
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
PGCE students can apply for loans from Student Finance England and may be entitled to a tax-free NCTL bursary.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Scholarship
Teacher Training Scholarships for Secondary Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Languages, History, Religious Education, English and Geography Trainees
Scholarships of up to £32,000 (depending on the subject) are awarded to the most talented trainees in place of the NCTL bursary.
To be awarded a Scholarship you will need outstanding subject knowledge and the potential to become an inspirational physics, chemistry, mathematics, languages or geography teacher. Each scholarship also includes a package of benefits including membership and early career mentoring.
Further information regarding these scholarships can be found on the DfE website. To view the full eligibility criteria and submit an application, please visit the website of the appropriate organisation:
- Institute of Physics (Physics and Physics with Maths)
- Institute of Mathematics and its Applications (Maths)
- Royal Society of Chemistry (Chemistry)
- Royal Geographical Society (Geography)
International Students
Starting in September 2025
- £18,950
You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Please note that International Students will not be eligible for bursaries offered by the Department for Education. For more information, please visit the Get into Teaching website.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
We will support you in applying for teaching posts. The mock interviews we include as part of the course have directly resulted in job offers for our students.
New teachers have now become some of the best-paid postgraduates in England. From September 2023, once you have completed your one-year PGCE course - which awards you QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) - as a primary or secondary school teacher in England, you’ll start on a minimum salary of £30,000 (£36,745 in inner London). Your salary will be reviewed every year, with most teachers moving up the pay range annually. A typical teacher could earn at least £41,333 (or more in London) within 5 years.
We foster your continued relationship with Education at Leicester once you become an NQT by supporting your career development in a number of ways.
We offer a range of professional development opportunities for practicing teachers, and we offer Masters courses with a focus on Learning and Teaching, Educational Leadership, TESOL and Applied Linguistics.
Our PhD opportunities are very popular with those wishing to pursue a particular research interest at doctoral level. We are committed to training excellent teachers during the PGCE and beyond, and we are proud that so many of our students return to Education at Leicester for further study once qualified.
Our Careers and Employability Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Course structure
Professional Studies Programme
Professional Studies Programme
The Professional Studies programme runs throughout the academic year and forms the core of the PGCE Secondary programme. It is compulsory for student teachers from all subject areas.
The Professional Studies programme will introduce you to a wide range of generic professional issues, including:
- Reflective Practice
- Career Development
- Professional Values
- Academic Skills Development
In addition to the compulsory programme, you will have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of optional sessions. This allows you to tailor your training to meet your own needs as you develop as a teacher. Previous optional sessions have included:
- Working with students with Special Education Needs and Disabilities
- English as an Additional Language
- Technology-Enhanced Learning
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
School Placements
School Placements
You will undertake two secondary teaching placements in our Partnership Schools. You will have the opportunity to work in diverse inner city and rural environments, with learners from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds. We try to place students in contrasting schools to ensure you have a rich and varied experience in your initial training year.
The placements are referred to as 'Phase A' and 'Phase B' placements.
Phase A
Your first placement is the 'Phase A' placement. After induction you will then spend about 10 weeks in this school. You will build on existing experience and develop new skills with support from the school's Co-ordinator for Initial Teacher Training and the subject mentor who will oversee your professional development during the placement.
Phase B
During your 'Phase B' placement you will spend about 12 weeks in your second placement school. The Phase B school has a Co-ordinator and mentor who have similar roles and responsibilities as those in the 'Phase A' School.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
You'll have access to the very best, and most inspiring, practising teachers – participating in their seminars, observing them in the classroom, or being guided by them during your placements.
We work with over 200 primary and secondary schools in city, suburban and rural settings, in both the State and independent sectors.
Ofsted (2024) have graded our initial teacher training programmes as 'Outstanding'. This means our programmes adhere to the highest standards set by the Department for Education.
Teaching and learning
Your learning will consist of a combination of university-based classes and school-based teaching placements where you will get hands-on experience of teaching a class. Our course has been praised by external examiners for its focus on reflection. You will be encouraged to evaluate your own teaching and share your learning with your peers.
Throughout your PGCE course you’ll have the support of a range of tutors and the confidence this brings. We’ll make sure you have the right support at the right time – whether that’s at university, in school or within your own specific discipline.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Secondary Education | Qualification PGCE | Duration 1 year full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
The lecturers are incredibly supportive and allow you the freedom to research and explore your own interests from day one, making us stand out from the crowd as confident, active members of the research community.