Guide to postgraduate teacher training

If you’re looking to train as a teacher after getting your undergraduate degree, the first thing to decide is what age range you’d like to teach. You can choose from early years, primary, secondary, or Further Education and Skills (FES). Primary and secondary teachers will work mainly in schools, while FES teachers work in colleges, sixth form colleges, or a range of adult education centres and training providers.

To teach at secondary or FES level, you’ll also need to choose a specific subject. And for primary teacher training, you may be able to narrow down your age specialism, depending on where you study.

Once you’ve chosen an age range and a subject (if applicable), you’ll be able to apply for a recognised teacher training programme. These allow you to gain recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) on completion, which is required to work as a teacher in the majority of schools in England and Wales.

PGCE

The most common postgraduate qualification for primary and secondary teaching is a PGCE, which is a Level 7 qualification awarded by universities. It’s possible to obtain QTS without a PGCE if you’ve done an undergraduate teacher training degree, but for postgraduate qualifications, the PGCE is the most well-recognised. Edge Hill University offers a range of PGCE courses, and we’ve been a recognised teacher training provider for over 140 years.

You can choose between a university-led and school-led PGCE course. Both options will give you practical experience in schools, but the support you receive, the way you apply, the funding you receive, and the time spent in schools will differ depending on the route you choose.

Completing a PGCE with a university will allow you to access a range of support, from personal tutors to placement mentors, and you’ll spend time in lectures, seminars and group sessions with other trainee teachers when you’re not out on school placements.

To find out more about school-based teacher training programmes, we’d recommend looking at the government’s website on training to be a teacher.

PGDiT or PGDE

If you’re training to teach in FES, you’ll usually need to complete a teacher training course in post-14 education, which will prepare you to pursue Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills Status (QTLS) when you begin your career. At Edge Hill University, we offer a Postgraduate Diploma in Further Education and Skills, which is an ideal first step towards training to teach in further education.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

At Edge Hill University, our PGCE and PGDiT courses cost £9,535 per year for home students and £17,000 for international students (2025/26), and this tends to be standard at most UK universities. If you’re domiciled in England, you can apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England in the same way as an undergraduate degree. Tuition fees and the way you pay for them can vary if you choose a school-based training route, so it’s best to look at these in detail on the government website to find out more.

Financial support

Each year, the government offers non-repayable bursaries for people training to teach in certain subject areas. The amounts vary depending on the subject, and usually they are offered at secondary and further education level. For 2025/26, government bursaries range from £5,000 to £29,000, and all are subject to eligibility criteria, which you can explore in more detail on the government website.

You can also apply for a maintenance loan with Student Finance England, which you’ll repay once you start earning over a certain amount each year – just like an undergraduate degree. This can seem a little confusing, but you do in fact apply for undergraduate student finance despite studying at postgraduate level. Maintenance loans are means tested based on household income, so the amount you can apply for will vary.

You might also be eligible for some extra financial support if you have children, caring responsibilities, or have a disability. Explore more about the government funding options for teacher training on their website.

How to apply

You’ll apply for your postgraduate teacher training course on the GOV.UK website, and applications usually open in October for courses starting the following September. It’s free to apply, and you can apply for up to four courses. Interviews are also a common part of the application process for teacher training courses, and you’ll need to pass a DBS check too – many universities, including Edge Hill, will help you with your application for this.

Personal statement

As part of your application, you’ll be asked to submit a personal statement, and this is your chance to explain the reasons you’ve chosen to become a teacher. What skills, qualities and experiences do you have that make you suitable to teach? Give thought to all of this, and try to gain some classroom experience too if possible. We’ve put together some great tips and advice on writing a personal statement for teacher training courses.

Getting involved in postgraduate student life

At Edge Hill, you’ll have the chance to get involved in student life right from the start. As a postgraduate teacher training student, you’ll be invited to exclusive pre-course events. These are on-campus and give you the opportunity to meet your peers and begin to build relationships before your course begins. And you’ll receive an induction timetable which will include activities for you to get to know your course mates. We’ll also send you information about our Student Life Portal, where you can explore events and find ways to connect with other students and find new friends. And you can find out more about Edge Hill and meet other students at our free events including Student Life Fest, Welcome Fair and postgraduate specific activities.

Postgraduate accommodation options and commuting

Postgraduate students usually live off-campus in Ormskirk or nearby and we’ve put together some helpful information about finding suitable private accommodation. Many of our postgraduate students commute to Edge Hill, you can find information about getting here, making connections at our commuter breakfasts and applying for your car share scheme on our dedicated commuter page.

Support for postgraduate students

We pride ourselves on our student support and have a range of services and specialist teams available to all students. From careers and money advice to wellbeing, we’ll make sure you have the best possible postgraduate university experience. Here a few of the teams you may have contact with during your time with us.

• Once you’re a student at Edge Hill, you’ll be allocated a Personal Tutor, who will provide you with support and advice throughout your course. They’ll be your ‘go to’ person for academic and personal support.
• From our UniSkills Team you can access resources on developing academic skills and managing your time to help you make the most of your studies, as you balance them with the rest of your life.
• If you’re looking for advice on topics such as banking, budgeting and student finance our Money Advice Team can offer tips, provide financial health checks and help if you’ve got money worries.
• And our Careers Team are available to support you with CVs, job applications and interviews. You’ll still have access to our Careers Portal as a graduate, so you can receive help and advice up to three years after your graduation.

April 8, 2025