Higher Education

Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PCET)

This course is consistent with the new Diploma in Teaching (Further Education and Skills) qualification framework.

Course Overview

Fee disclaimer

  • Course fees listed below are the cost per year
  • You may be eligible for a HE Loan
  • Student loans can include a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan to help with your living costs. Help and advice is available at www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance

Entry requirements

Applicants will need to:

  • Hold an honours degree or equivalent
  • Have GCSE English and Maths at Grade 4 (C) or above or equivalent Level 2 qualifications
  • Demonstrate professional suitability in motivation and enthusiasm for the subject and their career
  • Attend an interview and complete a successful entry assessment with the programme team
  • Enhanced DBS

Course information

Teaching in the learning and skills sector, or post-compulsory sector, is demanding but also very rewarding. The sector is continually evolving for all stakeholders, and this is an interesting and exciting time for all who are active in the sector, trainees or experienced educational professionals.

As teacher educators our aim is to help you to meet the challenges presented. The programme is designed to provide you with the knowledge and practical skills you will need to teach diverse learners, who may be young adults aged 16-19, mature learners returning to study or 14+ learners.

We will help you to facilitate the learning of others in pursuit of their educational and vocational goals. We will encourage you to become confident teachers who are committed to raising the achievements of your students. You will learn how to improve your own teaching through reflection and self-evaluation.

We expect that as teachers in training you will maintain high professional standards in all areas of your work. Since the nature of the full-time provision is pre-service you will currently be on placement alongside undertaking this training programme.

All trainees will have a placement of at least 250 hours. At least 150 hours of this will be teaching practice, with a minimum of 100 in your specialist subject. You will gain experience in a minimum of two teaching locations, to ensure a breadth of teaching practice experience. The second placement will be for at least 20 hours in a different location or teaching a different subject.

There are four compulsory modules, totalling 120 credits:

  • Effective Teaching, Learning and Assessment in subject specialism (20 credits)
  • Supporting learners in the lifelong learning sector (20 credits)
  • Portfolio of Practice (40 credits)
  • Practitioner Research (40 credits)

Key topics

 

  • How you are assessed

    Higher Education programmes are taught and assessed using learning outcomes and QAA Benchmarks (where available) to enable you to demonstrate learning and achievement for modules, levels and programmes.

    All learning outcomes have to be successfully addressed in the assessment process. All of our teaching staff are experienced professionals in the field of education. All students are allocated a personal tutor who will be your first point of communication should you have any queries or concerns. Regular 1:1 sessions will take place within the classroom where there will be the opportunity to discuss your course and progress.

    You will also be supported by a mentor within your placement who will work alongside your tutor and classroom observer.

  • Next steps

    For further information about application please email Customer Services customerservices.hfe@ncclondon.ac.uk

    You can apply for the ‘Student loan’. Student loans can include a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan to help with your living costs. Help and advice is available at https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

Available Campuses

Dates Schedule Max. fee per year
Start: 17/09/2025
End: 03/07/2026
Wed to Fri (09:00 - 16:00)
£9250.00

What Can This Course Lead To

On completion of the programme, you will be able to meet and evidence the professional standards as well as to teach effectively in the lifelong learning sector, while demonstrating secure subject and/or vocational knowledge in teaching.

Life At NCC

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Facilities for Students

At New City College we have a range of world-class facilities across our campuses.

Financial Support

There are several ways we can help you cover the cost of your studies.

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