Study mode and duration: 36 weeks full-time including 18 weeks of placement experience
Start date: August
Why this course?
PGDE Modern Languages at Strathclyde is held in high esteem by students, tutors and placement schools alike. You will benefit from an interactive learning experience comprising practical based learning and the exchange of wide-ranging ideas within the multi-lingual group. We welcome applications from talented linguists and enthusiastic individuals who are interested in teaching young people their specialism in French, German, Spanish, Italian or Mandarin.
Worldwide qualification
This course is a professional training course which qualifies you to teach secondary education. The qualification is recognised throughout the world and is regulated by :
the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS)
the Scottish Government
What you'll learn
As the course is equally split between University-based and school-based placements, you are exposed to a wide range of ideas, contexts and challenges. Students are encouraged to make connections between this theory and practice and to reflect critically on what kind of teacher they aspire to be. The course enables students to draw on a wide range of resources and undertake extensive professional learning in order to lay the foundations for a successful teaching career.
All students will undertake a subject-specific module called Creative Contexts for Learning (CCL) Within the Modern Languages subject area, these classes are led by tutors who are inspirational language teachers and who facilitate weekly interactive sessions for the multilingual group. Tasks include micro-teaching, demonstration lessons and carousel lessons. You will work with a wide range of teaching materials and methods to help you to engage and inspire the young people in your care. Modern Languages CCL time allows you to familiarise yourself with the curriculum and collaborate with fellow students as you begin to plan lessons, develop materials and to learn innovative and motivating ways to deliver the curriculum effectively.
Upon successful completion of school placements and observation lessons during the first three School Placements, Modern Languages students may be given the opportunity to apply to complete Placement 4 abroad; in France or Spain; for a period of four weeks to three months. This is suitable for students who wish to experience life in a foreign school and further upskill their linguistic competency in order to bring this to their teaching career in Scotland.
Placement
You'll spend 18 weeks of the course on placement in a school within Scotland. You'll be continually assessed while there to show you meet the requirements for the Standards for Provisional Registration.
You must attend your placement school throughout the full working day. You must also attend school on staff in-service days, unless told otherwise by your school.
Placement is your chance to put what you're learning into practice. You'll explore your own teaching style, learn new techniques and develop relationships with your pupils.
You must keep a portfolio of progress while on placement. This placement file will form part of the evidence of your meeting the Standards for Provisional registration and prepares you for the continuation of professional development during your professional teaching career.
Guaranteed employment for Scottish & EU students
If you're a Scottish or EU student, you're guaranteed a job for one year in a Scottish school after you graduate. This is part of the GTCS Teacher Induction Scheme.
Following graduation you should contact the GTCS for provisional registration. Once you complete your probationary year, you'll be awarded full registration.
Work anywhere in Scotland
As a newly qualified teacher, you can receive an additional £8,000 under the Preference Waiver Scheme if you agree to work anywhere in Scotland for your induction scheme.
Course content
As part of the course, you’ll have the opportunity to submit two of your assignments at Masters level. If you do this, you’ll be almost halfway towards a Masters in Education qualification. If you go on to do the Masters in Education, all you’ll have to do is complete two masters level classes, a research class, and a dissertation. You can do this on campus or by distance learning.
This class is taught both on campus and in schools. It'll help you become an effective teacher through learning about pedagogical theory, observing experienced teachers and applying your knowledge through teaching experience during the course.
This class will support you as you develop your approaches to curriculum, planning, learning, teaching and assessment, and includes cross-curricular approaches.
This class develops your understanding of key educational issues in a broader intellectual context. It 's taught in a cross- sector way, so that primary and secondary students can share opinions and learn from each other.
This is the companion class to Educational Perspective and Policies. It shares a focus on critical professional engagement informed by educational research and theory.
This class gives you the opportunity to gain experience and further study in something you're particularly interested in. You can attend classes on campus, or undertake alternative methods of learning/development based on your area of interest.
You must keep a personal portfolio of progress throughout the course. This prepares you for the continuation of professional development during your professional teaching career. This isn't a credit-rated class but it's crucial to your development on the course.
You have the opportunity to achieve up to 80 credits at Masters level which can be used towards further study following the course. This is fully supported by additional input during the programme.
Learning & teaching
The course encourages an active and participative style of learning in order to meet your professional needs, and to promote a commitment to continuing professional development.
Full-time course
The hours for the full-time course are 9am to 5pm. You’re expected to be working on course-related activity during those hours.
Part-time course
Detailed information on the week-by-week timetable for each year will be provided at the first meeting of part-time students.
Assessment
To be awarded the PGDE you must pass all course modules.
Course work
Each class includes course work that involves group or independent study on specified tasks. This may involve presentations and written reports.
Although these are not assessed formally they're essential learning experiences and are course requirements.
Entry requirements
The entry requirements for PGDE courses are set by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). All applicants must meet these minimum entry requirements before the course starts. There is no upper of lower age limit for a place on the teacher education programme.
The minimum entry requirements to qualify to teach Modern Languages are as follows:
A degree (preferably Honours) in the relevant modern language(s) and studied Modern Language up to A level or equivalent
A national qualification in English at SCQF Level 6 (Higher) or alternative
A national qualification in Maths at SCQF Level 5 (National 5) or alternative
First language
80 credits in the first language
must have six months residency before course starts
evidence of residency must be provided; transcript from year abroad; a statement from a University authority; British Council; Course Organiser; Employer or a Senior Family Member with whom they have lived, confirming dates of residency. The statement should normally be in the past tense specifying clearly the dates completed.
Second Language
80 credits in the second language
must have three months residency before course starts
evidence of residency must be provided; transcript from year abroad; a statement from a University authority; British Council; Course Organiser; Employer or a Senior Family Member with whom they have lived, confirming dates of residency. The statement should normally be in the past tense specifying clearly the dates completed.
Native speakers
degree in own language
Native speakers of a modern language who have finished a degree in their own language which meets the requirements for the first language offered outlined above may train to teach their native language. For example; a Chinese student with a degree in Chinese can train to teach Mandarin in Scotland.
Students who are native speakers of a modern foreign language and have a degree in a language other than their native tongue may train to teach that language plus their native tongue. For example; a French student with a degree in Spanish can train to teach French and Spanish in Scotland, presuming that the candidate meets the residency requirements for both languages.
English language requirements
You're required to have a suitable minimum level of competency in the English language if your first language is not English or if you have not been educated wholly or mainly in the medium of English.
For postgraduate studies, the University of Strathclyde requires a minimum overall score of IELTS 6.5 (no individual test score below 5.5) or equivalent. Tests are valid for two years.
Pre-sessional courses in English are available.
If you’re a national of an English speaking country recognised by UK Visa and Immigrations (please check most up-to-date list on the Home Office website) or you have successfully completed an academic qualification (at least equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree) in any of these countries, then you do not need to present any additional evidence.
If you are from a country not recognised as an English speaking country by the United Kingdom Vis and Immigration (UKVI), please before making your application.
Pre-Masters preparation course
The Pre-Masters Programme is a preparation course held at the University of Strathclyde International Study Centre, for international students (non EU/UK) who do not meet the entry
requirements for a Masters degree at University of Strathclyde. The Pre-Masters programme
provides progression to a number of degree options.
Upon successful completion, you will be able to progress to this degree course at the
University of Strathclyde.
Fees & funding
Fees
2018/19
All fees quoted are for full-time courses and per academic year unless stated otherwise.
Scotland/EU
£1,820
Rest of UK
£9,250
International
£14,050
Funding
Scottish & EU students
Scottish and EU students can apply to have the cost of their tuition fees paid for by the Scottish Government. Applications should be made online through the Students Award Agency Scotland (SAAS) website, the PGDE course falls under undergraduate study.
If you've already had funding for a postgraduate course from SAAS you'll only receive funding if you're applying for one of the following shortage subjects:
English
Physics
Mathematics
Technological Education
Full-time students who usually live in Scotland may also be eligible to apply to SAAS for a loan, bursary and living-cost grants. Living-cost grants include the Lone Parents’ Grants and the Disabled Students’ Allowance. The exact amount you can get depends on your household income.
We're offering students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland the opportunity of a £2,000 scholarship award towards the cost of tuition fees. This is applicable to the full-time taught programme beginning in August 2018.
The University of Strathclyde is delighted to offer international applicants the opportunity to receive a partial scholarship of between £2,000 and £3,000 towards the tuition fees for the Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) for our Primary and Secondary programmes.
A degree in education will equip you for a range of careers working with children and young people.
Most of our PGDE graduates go on to work as teachers in secondary schools across the country.
Secondary School Teachers in Scotland use the Curriculum for Excellence framework. They work with their class to develop skills and abilities, and encourage the pupils to expand their knowledge and understanding further.
Typical jobs
Jobs related to this degree include:
Secondary Teacher
Head Teacher
Further Education Lecturer
Special Educational Needs Teacher
Working hours
During term time, you'll officially work a 35 hour week but you may have to work more. You'll be in school before the school day starts and stay after the pupils leave. Most teachers take their marking and preparations home to do in the evening.
You'll also participate in parents evening, after school clubs and activities and school trips.
Holidays
A teacher's total working year is 195 days including five days for in-service training. Every year you'll get 40 days holiday at full pay*.
We select those candidates who best meet the following criteria:
Does the candidate have:
evidence that they are suitably qualified?
evidence of a suitable breadth of knowledge in their degree to cover the Secondary Curriculum?
sufficient interest in teaching?
experience of working with young people?
evidence of good written communication skills?
a good statement by their referee?
Interview process
If selected you’ll be asked to an interview with a number of other candidates who have applied for places either in your own subject or that are taught in the same division as your chosen subject.
A typical morning interview schedule is shown below:
Time
Event
9.15 - 9.30
Introduction to course
9.30 - 10.00
Presentation Groups
10.00 - 10.35
Coffee break
10.45 - 12.45
Individual interviews with subject panel (about 15 mins each)
Interview result
After the interview a panel will collate the grades from your presentation and the individual interview.
They will then make a decision as to your suitability for the course.
The possible results of the interview are:
Unconditional offer
Conditional offer (you still need to satisfy the entry qualifications in some way)
A rejection of your application
The subject coordinator will send the results to Registry who will in turn communicate the results to the UCAS.
