PG Study > All courses > Postgraduate Certificate Education (International) PGCert

2025

Postgraduate Certificate Education (International) PGCert

Full-time: Not available
Part-time: 12 months
Start date: Multiple available
UK fees: See cohort venues for fees
International fees: See cohort venues for fees
Entry requirements: 2:2

Course overview

About the course

If you love teaching, and want to get better at it, the PGCEi is for you. It focuses on improving professional practice for international educators through critical reflection and research.

Our course provides advanced study for educators working outside the UK. It is a Level 7 qualification on the UK National Qualifications Framework and carries 60 CATS points.

You will gain the core skills and knowledge to improve your teaching practice. You will compare teaching approaches in different countries and examine your education system from an international perspective. It does not matter what age or subject you teach – the PGCEi is relevant to all curricula and phases.

Offered in multiple locations, you can choose to study with a cohort from a country that suits you. The PGCEi is usually a blended course with elements of in-person teaching combined with asynchronous online learning, but we also have one cohort that is fully online.

You will interact with tutors and other students in an immersive digital environment throughout the course in groups and on a one-to-one basis. These meetings will support your engagement with expert-taught course content over the 12 months of this part-time programme.

Please note: the PGCEi is an academic qualification, not a teaching qualification. It therefore does not offer Qualified Teacher Status in the UK.

View our current cohort locations - this information includes start dates, fees and induction information.

Information sessions

Online session - Wednesday 18 December 2024, 2pm (GMT)
Our Director of Professional Education Courses and PGCEi Course Leader will be online giving a presentation on the course structure and how you will learn. You will then have the opportunity to ask questions. Please register attendance if you would like to attend.

Meet our East Africa PGCEi team in Nairobi
Friday 10 January 2025, 4pm at Braeburn School
Our teaching team will be in Nairobi in January for the face-to-face element of the 2024 cohort and will be holding an information session for anyone interested in applying for 2025. Event details and register attendance

Alumni profiles

View our PGCEi alumni profiles to find out more about the student experience and how the course has helped with professional development.

Why choose this course?

Multiple locations

Our course runs in 10 locations around the world

Top 50

in the world for education

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024

Over 100 years

of experience in the field of education

Experienced teachers

Taught by teacher educators, passionate about professional development

Course content

Our PGCEi aims to improve practice by building new ideas and strategies which are tested out in your own classrooms.

It is made up of three 20-credit modules. and typically takes 12 months to complete.

Our PGCEi course is a blended, distance learning course. You will begin with an intensive induction to your course - attendance is compulsory.

The rest of your studies will be completed online with individual tutor support, enabling you to develop your practice within your school.

Modules

Course structure

Core modules

Educational Aims and Values in International Contexts

This module considers international contexts for education and ideas from the philosophy of education and about the purposes of education in different settings. It introduces a philosophical, comparative and observational focus, which runs throughout the PGCEi course.

The aims of the module are to:

develop an understanding of education as a world-wide phenomenon
enable you to understand your own education system from an international perspective
develop appreciation of the philosophical basis of education
develop a range of frameworks for making sense of educational contexts
develop alternative perspectives on schools, classrooms and their purposes

Inquiring into Educational Practice in International Contexts

In this module, you will plan and undertake a small-scale investigation in your own educational context. The project is an investigation into an aspect of your students' learning. In preparation for the inquiry and data-gathering processes, the module supports you to develop your understanding of the principles and methodological and ethical considerations of practitioner research.

A research proposal in the form of a formative piece of coursework is submitted to the course tutor for comment at an early stage of work on this module. You are expected to undertake your own literature searches and carry out a literature review to support your inquiry. The completed assignment relates investigation findings to preparatory reading material.

The aims of this module are to:

understand the principles and practice of undertaking an educational inquiry into your own practice, at masters level
develop familiarity with educational research methodology and ethical requirements
promote critical reflection and professional learning
enable you to identify and make appropriate use of professional and academic literature

Understanding Learning and Teaching in International Contexts

This module focuses on the relationship between theories of learning and models of teaching and enables you to translate your developing understanding into your practice through critical reflection. You will be able to select from a choice of different learning theories and pedagogical approaches.

The aims of this module are to:

become conversant with the basic assumptions, concepts, and principles of a range of learning theories and pedagogical approaches
understand the practical implications of theories and pedagogical approaches
be able to compare and contrast theories and pedagogical approaches and their relative usefulness in specific educational settings
develop professional knowledge, skills, and understanding for teaching
review and develop existing personal theories of learning and models of teaching
improve the quality of reflective practice

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. Please refer to the module catalogue for information on available modules. This content was last updated on Wednesday 27 November 2024.

Due to timetabling availability, there may be restrictions on some module combinations.

Learning and assessment

How you will learn

Group study
Tutorials
Seminars
Independent study
Small group learning
Presentations

After you have completed the induction session, you will commence the web-based study component of the course. This will take place in our dedicated virtual learning environment (VLE) including online course materials, learning resources and regular tutorial support.

Our course provides an interactive learning experience and allows you to study at your own pace. You will be encouraged to interact with other course participants, and each module will involve group activities.

How you will be assessed

Coursework
Presentations
Reflective review
Written work

Each module will be assessed by coursework and a comprehensive written assignment, video-based assessment or equivalent. You must pass each module with at least 50 marks to progress.

Contact time and study hours

You should aim to study for a total of 600 hours over the duration of the course (12 months). Coursework activities you will engage in via our virtual learning environment are presented to you within three modules. As a result, each module has a time allocation of 200 hours which includes induction, study, assignment preparation and tutorial support.

The scheduling of the induction event will vary according to your cohort. Please see the course venues website for further details.

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Undergraduate degree2:2 (or international equivalent). You must also be an established educator with day-to-day access to a computer and the internet and regular connections to an educational context (including online learning) for the duration of the programme. Please ensure you give details of the link you have to an educational context in your application. This can form part of your personal statement or can be detailed in a CV which you upload.

International and EU equivalentsWe accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world.

For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.

IELTS6.5 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

English language requirementsAs well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English.

Meeting our English language requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance

Visa restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

Alternative qualifications

We recognise that applicants have a variety of experiences and follow different pathways to postgraduate study.

We treat all applicants with alternative qualifications on an individual basis. We may also consider relevant work experience.

If you are unsure whether your qualifications or work experience are relevant, contact us.

Applying

Please view our course venues page and select your chosen cohort for information on how to apply and guidance for your personal statement.

Once you have applied, you will need to provide the following supporting documents:

copy of your degree certificate
copy of your degree transcript
copy of your English test certificate - if English is not your first language and you have one

We must have these documents by the 20th of the month previous to the month the course starts, for example if the course starts 1 July, we must have your documents by 20 June.

Where you will learn

Distance learning

Distance learning is designed to be flexible, so you can choose where and when you study. This allows you to fit your course around work or other commitments and study at your own pace.

Our online teaching is an interactive learning experience. You will receive support from your dedicated tutor, who will guide you through your studies and answer any questions.

Fees

Qualification	PGCert
Home / UK	See cohort venues for fees
International	See cohort venues for fees

Additional information for international students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) .

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You may incur travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for the in-person induction component of the course. The costs of these will be variable, depending on the location of the induction and your country of domicile.

You should be able to access all of the books and journal articles you’ll need through our libraries free of charge. Of course, you may choose to purchase your own copies or more specific titles and the costs of these will be variable.

Funding

We offer individual careers support for all postgraduate students.

Expert staff can help you research career options and job vacancies, build your CV or résumé, develop your interview skills and meet employers.

Each year 1,100 employers advertise graduate jobs and internships through our online vacancy service. We host regular careers fairs, including specialist fairs for different sectors.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Graduate destinations

Career destinations for School of Education graduates include education advisers, language tutors, primary/secondary teachers, vocational/industrial trainers and instructors and those working in the caring professions including counsellors.

A number of our graduates are already in employment while undertaking part-time study for professional development in their chosen career.

The PGCEi provides a great foundation for further study options. Successful completion of the course will give you 60-masters level credits which can be used towards a masters degree in education at the University of Nottingham. Or you can use 30 credits against a selection of other MA courses. Find out more about using PGCEi credits.

Career progression

95.2% of postgraduates from the School of Education secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £28,108.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2020/21 data published in 2023. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time, postgraduate, home graduates within the UK.

Two masters graduates proudly holding their certificates

" The course has helped me greatly in better understanding how to support my students with their academic growth, social development, and connection to their studies. After completing the course, I was able to transfer my role from teaching assistant to early years teacher. I have now been in the role of a teacher for almost a year and it is really great to apply what I have learnt during the course to my daily work with the students. "

Ying Cao, PGCEi 2022 graduate

Related courses

This content was last updated on Wednesday 27 November 2024. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur given the interval between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.