Meet our Education students
One of the biggest draws for me was that I could do my degree in under a year here whereas in Canada a post-graduate degree in education is two years in nearly every university. I didn't want to go back to school for another two years, I felt my career was already underway and so Strathclyde's single year program was the only one that felt right to me.
The support from tutors on the PGDE was excellent. The rigorous, honest and constructive feedback during placements I found really supportive.
I was able to complete Masters credits as part of the PGDE and, from this, received a scholarship to continue my MEd Professional Practice, which was fantastic.
My main highlight from the course has definitely been the placements I have embarked on. Each year you feel yourself growing in strength and actually envisaging yourself as a teacher.
The PgCert gave me the opportunity to potentially work from anywhere in the world, giving me the freedom to choose who I want to be as a person. Moreover, it shaped my beliefs as an educator and made me a better teacher.
The BSc course has been fantastic for my development and I would recommend this pathway to anyone. My only reservations were over my own suitability for university-level education given that I had left school at just 17. I lacked confidence in myself but since entering the course I have never looked back, achieving highly during my first year.
There are many aspects that I like about the course, but the placement is one of the experiences that I will never forget. It provided me with the opportunity to put theories into practice, and to become more involved with all aspects of teaching including planning, preparing materials, teaching, and evaluating learning experiences.
I’ve been really lucky to learn from some fantastic tutors who have a vast range of experience in primary education and also in research. Teachers have provided immense support for all of us.
Online learning has helped me balance my life and study. It’s really easy to ask a question during the lecture. And I quite like the breakout room function on Zoom which allows the student to have a discussion on certain topics.
It won’t surprise you that there will be some challenges along the way, but just make the most of every moment and never give up! The level of maths is challenging but if you use the lecturers and the maths skills centre for help you will feel a lot better.
The best part is that we get to learn about the emotional wellbeing of the autistic individuals, and how we as a society can lessen the mental health challenges they face primarily by accepting them and making sure they feel belonged.
This course has shown me how I can look at education in a different perspective than other educators, people may think that education and learning can just be found in a formal school setting, but education can be found almost anywhere – if you know how to look for it.
For me, this course provides me an opportunity to learn more theories about the philosophy of education and explore broader thinking space. The MSc Education Studies guides me to revalue and re-think about education from a metaphysical point of view to the real world without limitations.
It may seem scary, and it is a big decision to make...but so worth it! Prepare for a difficult year, but with the level of support you'll get from your tutors and friends, you'll be sorted!
The course can prepare me to teach and/or enhance my career prospects of working in international school settings.
I also consider teaching an extraordinary opportunity to influence the world positively. There are more than enough physicists all around the world, but the lack of physics teachers is a problem almost everywhere.
I selected the University of Strathclyde as I believe that it has one of the best courses for aspiring PE teachers. With the outstanding brand new facilities in the centre of the city this was another tick in the box for me.
If you're looking to get into teaching, I'd say go for it. I feel it's prepared me well for my upcoming probation year.
I have personally enjoyed the philosophical input as it has given me the opportunity to explore other concepts in relation to the field of education (for example, my dissertation this year compares education with neutral enhancement technology.
My personal experience on placement was an overwhelmingly positive one. It's a 9-5 all-consuming experience and involves a lot of work both in school and at home. But it was a totally rewarding experience and confirmed my dream of wanting to become a teacher.
I chose to study Primary Education at Strathclyde University because the course sounded extremely appealing to me. The fact that you get to complete a placement on each year of your degree is amazing as you will gain so much experience.
My passion for teaching comes from my love to share my curiosity to explore philosophical, moral and religious questions with others. Moreover, I believe that educating children and young people is a very important and meaningful activity. It gives you the opportunity to inspire and shape the minds of the next generation and to work in a profession where every day is different and exciting.
A friend who I went through the first four years of my undergraduate with completed the PGDE course last year and told me how much he enjoyed the experience. This coupled with my own experience of the university meant that Strathclyde was my first choice.
One highlight has been meeting and working with fellow students from all walks of life: that in itself has been an educational experience as I have found out about many different cultures and met so many interesting people. We have been able to share our experiences of education in these different nations, which has helped us to see how the theory we have learned applies in the real world.
Make sure you spend some time in a classroom before you start. For me, it underlined that the choice I was making was the right one for me.
I believe education is a gift and a privilege that everyone must have access to. As a teacher I facilitate that process and make learning accessible through ideas that are fun and engaging. When I relocated to Scotland from Singapore in 2017, it became apparent that I had to undergo a PGDE to continue doing what I loved doing.
I want to give students the confidence to create healthy and exciting meals and to find cooking inspiring as opposed to being a chore. Not enough young people know how and why food is so important to feeling content and living an active life and there's a definite apathy about how processed food impacts you in the long term with Scotland's obesity and heart disease issues.
To be honest, I heard great things about the teachers who run the modern languages department, Kandi, Gillian, and Alan. I also heard of the great reputation of the university, therefore when I was asked to go for interviews to other universities, once I knew I was accepted for Strathclyde there was no other option for me, my decision was made.
Something really great about the course is that University of Strathclyde have subject specific tutors. This isn't available at all universities. My tutor has so much knowledge on the curriculum - it's great to work together!
I started reflecting and realised that what I really like is to think philosophically about life and transmit this knowledge to others. This was evident in the way I train or teach newcomers in the companies that I was working. I felt that helping others acquire skills which they needed in order to succeed was meaningful. I felt like being their teacher.
Miss Gill, my Modern Languages teacher was my favourite teacher at school. If I can be half as good as her, or my mum, I will be happy with that!
For me, the best part of the PGDE was being able to gain real experience on placements. It could be quite challenging, especially at the beginning, but as the course progressed I gained experience and understood better what was expected and how I could achieve this.
If you can make just one child feel better each day, it becomes more worthwhile than any other job in the world.
My favourite teacher was my S3 Spanish teacher. I loved how excited she was about languages and travel, and she passed that excitement on to me. Her lessons were always so engaging and she made grammar learning a lot of fun. 14 years later and we are still in touch!
I was inspired to become a teacher by my own primary school teacher. He was a very nice teacher with a great sense of humour. He used to often make good use of games to facilitate learning, which is something that I found extremely effective.
It is hard work, you have to be extremely organised, and placements are tiring: but if you work hard and put in the effort, you will enjoy it...I would definitely recommend to do it if it's something you have a passion for.
When I was seriously considering all the hoops I had to jump through to go into teaching, there were points where I felt I was too far into my career to make the change. If you're passionate about young people, and inspiring the next generation, make the change. It is never too late to think about teaching! We all bring different talents, abilities, life experiences to the table.
If you are committed to being a great teacher Strathclyde is a good place to be. The PGDE offers a lot of support for its students and has a very experienced team of educators to help you navigate the course. The one piece of advice I have for anyone considering taking the course is to try and get as much classroom experience as you can before you start.
My first German teacher had a lasting impression on me. She was full of energy and enthusiasm; as well as being a master of her subject. I was utterly enthralled from start to finish: I aim to be equally as memorable!
The thing about teaching is that you really need to want to teach and have a love for your subject. The kids you teach pick up on this. When they have a teacher who really wants to be there, like mine did, it can create a huge change in their life and I want to help contribute to that change.
I have been extremely fortunate to have had two excellent placements. My mentors were so supportive which made all the difference. It is daunting going onto placement at first but the pupils make it worthwhile.
Teaching feels to me like a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of young people, and to be challenged every day.
The support I have received has been phenomenal. My supervisor is amazing and is always willing to answer any questions I may have, she is as excited about my research project as I am, which helps a lot. The support of the professional services has been amazing; they want to help all students achieve their degrees and will always help find a way to make it possible. They are here to support us all we need to do is ask for help.
Use the theory that you learn on campus when in the classroom, take the time to let it sink in. It makes you a better teacher.
There is a lot of work but if you plan it right, you can do it. I am a single mum, but I have sorted my routine so that I can get through the workload. It is definitely manageable!
The placements have definitely been the best part about the whole course. Getting to meet all the pupils and build relationships with them have cemented just how important it is for young people to get the best chance in education.
It can seem a bit overwhelming at first, but it’s not as hard as it seems. The instructors are supportive and understanding. Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Everyone wants to help and support you here!