Post Compulsory Education and Training (PCET) (Part-time) (ProfGCE)
The Professional Certificate in Education (PCET) is a valued qualification for those seeking to teach in post-compulsory education.
This course provides the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in settings such as vocational education, further education, and adult learning. Through a balance of teacher training and real-world teaching practice, you will learn to plan and deliver effective learning experiences.
Designed with flexible study options, the programme accommodates recent graduates, working professionals, and those returning to education. You will engage with modules on curriculum development, planning for learning, and assessing for learning to ensure a well-rounded teaching approach.
With an emphasis on mentorship and research-informed practice, this course helps develop your ability to support learners and reflect on your own teaching. It opens up a range of career paths in education and beyond, fostering professional development and preparing you for success in a dynamic teaching environment.
Course details
- On-campus
- Part-time
- English
- Welsh
Why choose this course?
What you will learn
At UWTSD, our philosophy centres on cultivating reflective, adaptable, and skilled educators who are prepared to inspire and engage learners in diverse post-compulsory education settings. Our teaching integrates theory and practice, encouraging professional growth through collaboration, critical thinking, and personalized support, ensuring you thrive in your educational journey.
The Teaching Toolkit 1 and 2
Gain foundational and advanced skills in pedagogy through courses focused on lesson planning, assessment strategies, and effective teaching methods. By exploring evidence-based practices, you will learn to create inclusive and engaging learning environments tailored to diverse learner needs. These modules emphasize reflective teaching to enhance your adaptability and effectiveness.
Managing Behaviour and Learner Engagement
Develop strategies to foster positive classroom environments and manage diverse behavioural challenges. This module equips you with practical approaches to promoting learner engagement and well-being, helping you address challenges with confidence and empathy, ensuring a productive learning atmosphere.
Digital Innovation and Professional Practice
Enhance your digital literacy and explore innovative technologies in education. This module prepares you to integrate digital tools into teaching, supporting learner accessibility and engagement in dynamic and modern educational environments.
Additional Learning Needs and Inclusive Practice
Build expertise in supporting learners with additional needs through inclusive teaching strategies. This module provides you with the skills to identify and address barriers to learning, fostering equity and opportunity for all students in the classroom.
Professional Development and the PCET Practitioner
Focus on continuous professional growth by reflecting on your experiences and exploring ethical practices in education. This module encourages you to develop as a confident and competent practitioner, ready to meet the demands of post-compulsory education.
Action Research Project
Undertake a research-driven exploration of a key educational challenge or innovation. This capstone project helps you apply theoretical insights to real-world issues, fostering critical analysis and problem-solving skills essential for effective teaching.
(20 credits)
(10 credits)
(10 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
(20 credits)
Ratings and Rankings
Staff
Our People
You will be taught and supported by a wide range of professional staff and teams here to help you get the university experience you are looking for. Our teaching staff were ranked 2nd in Wales for Teaching, Assessment and Feedback and Academic Support (NSS 2024) meaning that the support and feedback you get will help you learn and develop strong academic skills. Our students have placed us 1st in Wales for Learning Opportunities and Student Voice (NSS 2024) meaning that there are a wide range of opportunities available to enhance your studies and that students play an active role in shaping their learning experiences. Our commitment to your learning has seen our students place us as 1st in Wales and joint 3rd in the UK for student satisfaction (Times Higher Education, 2024, ‘Overall Positivity’ measure). Find out more about our academic staff who teach across our courses.
Further information
-
- For the Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PCET) applicants will require an undergraduate degree at grade 2.2 or higher.
- For the Professional Certificate in Education (PCET) a relevant level three qualification plus teaching and/or training experience is required.
- The Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PCET) is not an enrollable award and students are able to transfer to this from the Professional Graduate Certificate (PCET) in part two if they meet the criteria.
2:2 honours degree
-
or UWTSD recognised equivalent.
Alternative entry routes
-
Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCert). This is the first part of the full Master’s degree.
Once you have successfully completed your PGCert studies, you will be eligible to progress for the remainder of the Master’s degree.
These are ideal routes if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied this subject, or if you did not achieve the grades you need for a place on this degree.
Admissions Advice and Support
For specific advice and support you can contact our enquiries team for more information about entry requirements.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.
Visit the International Applications section of our website to find out more about our English Language Requirements and pre-sessional English Language Courses.
Visa and funding requirements
If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.
For courses of more than six months’ duration you will require a Student visa.
International students who require a Student visa should apply for our full-time courses as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship.
For full information read our visa application and guides.
Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.
-
Assessment for the programme is built on the principles of reflective practice and includes a variety of methods such as portfolios, written reflections, reports, blogs, formal observations of professional practice, and posters.
-
DBS enhanced checks are mandatory as part of the programme entry requirements and applicants are responsible for the additional costs of this.
Travelling to professional teaching experience placement settings may incur costs for the student and can vary depending on the location of the setting. Where placements are arranged on behalf of the student, every effort will be made to meet individual requirements (including location preferences) but cannot be guaranteed.
-
Some modules in this course are available to study through the medium of Welsh either fully or partially. In all cases students will be able to submit written assessments through the medium of Welsh.
If you choose to study your course either fully or partially through the medium of Welsh, you may be eligible to apply for scholarships and bursaries to support you with your studies.
We are continuously reviewing our Welsh medium provision, the precise availability of modules will vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Where your course offers modules available through the medium of Welsh this may vary from year to year, and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means the availability of specific Welsh medium modules cannot be guaranteed.
Extracurricular Welsh Opportunities
There are many ways to engage with Welsh culture and life at UWTSD, including joining clubs and societies for Welsh speakers and becoming a member of our vibrant Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol branch.
Opportunities to Learn Welsh
We also provide a variety of opportunities to learn and develop your Welsh language skills.
-
You may be eligible for funding to help support your study. To find out about scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities that are available, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships section.
-
Graduates from the programme are highly employable in a range of teaching and training sectors across a varied range of professions.