PGCE
In-person Information Session, Thursday 25th September 5.30pm BST
Find out how to apply for a PGCE starting in September 2026 or subsequent academic years.
Pre-registration is required. Please register before 4pm on Wednesday 24th September 2025.
INITIAL TEACHER EDUCATION
The PGCE is broadly aligned with the Northern Ireland Curriculum, preparing graduates to teach across the 11-18 year age range.
You will gain a postgraduate qualification and 'Eligibility to Teach' (referred to in some other jurisdictions as 'qualified teacher status', QTS). The programme combines university-based tuition, consisting of taught sessions and directed independent study, with professional placements in schools.
Prize Winning Student talks about her International Placement
Prize winning PGCE Social Science graduate Aoife McConville (2024/25) discusses the highlights and challenges she faced on her journey completing the Social Science PGCE, including a fantastic alternative school experience placement in Toronto, Canada.
Choosing Teaching as a Career
Why did our PGCE students choose teaching as a career? From inspirational teachers to making a difference, you might be surprised at some of the reasons.
Apply Now on the Queen's PortalExtra places are reserved to prepare those who are interested in teaching their subject through the medium of Irish in Irish-medium schools. An additional certificate in Irish Medium Education (IME) is awarded in conjunction with St Mary's University College.
The PGCE is organised around three interdependent strands:
- Professional School-based Experience - focuses on developing practical teaching competence particularly through working closely with experienced teachers during periods of school placement.
- Subject Studies (eg English, Mathematics) - focuses on teaching and learning within your subject specialism (and cognate areas).
- Educational and Professional Studies - focuses on common aspects of teaching and the professional role of the teacher, bringing together relevant theory, policy and practice. This includes issues such as: the Northern Ireland education system, curriculum theory and policy, theories of learning and assessment, social class and educational disadvantage, special educational needs and barriers to learning, pastoral care and child protection/safeguarding, student voice, mental health and wellbeing of students, positive behaviour management, diversity and inclusion and whole school approaches to literacy, numeracy the social and emotional health of young people. Students are also offered a choice of elective course designed to enhance the subjects and skills they can offer to schools.
Subject Specialisms
The seven subjects offered are listed below with links to Course Finder for more information, entry requirements and a link to the application portal.
We are no longer accepting applications for 2025/26 entry.
If you are interested in applying for the 2026/27 intake, the application portal will open in mid-September with a closing date of 1 November 2026. We are holding an information session on Thursday 25 September at 5.30pm (BST) on the Queen's University main campus.
Find out more and register for the event
| Subject | Open/Closed (25/26 entry) |
|---|---|
| English | Closed |
| Mathematics | Closed |
| Computing, Digital Skills and Creative Enterprise | Closed |
| Modern Languages (you should offer at least one of French, Irish or Spanish. German is welcomed in combination with French and/or Spanish) |
Closed |
| Science (Biology, Chemistry or Physics) | Closed |
| Religious Education | Closed |
| Social Sciences (Health and Social Care, Politics or Sociology) | Closed |
Course Structure
After enrolment and an Induction week in early September, you will follow a six-week block devoted to university-based tuition (subject-specific taught sessions, Education and Professional Studies),before you commence your first period of professional placement based in a school (11 weeks) after a short mid-term break. At the beginning of February, you return to university-based tuition in preparation for your
second professional period in a school (11 weeks). An alternative two-week experience (e.g., in a primary school, Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) setting, science or international setting) is completed prior to a final week of university-based tuition at the beginning of June. (Students who, after joining the course, apply for and are successful in obtaining a place to complete additional upskilling in teaching in Special Schools and Specialist Provision in Mainstream Schools (SPiMS) will complete time teaching in such a setting in lieu of an alternative two-week experience).
Successful completion of the PGCE depends on achieving satisfactory standards in both practical teaching and in University-based modules, which are assessed through course work, as well as through satisfactory attendance.
The extended placements, which we arrange, are normally in two different school types. This ensures a varied experience of teaching in different schools and working with pupils from the whole ability range.
In the two post-primary schools you will work closely with members of each school’s staff. Your subject lecturer from Queen’s will also maintain close co-operative links with these teachers during your school placements.
PGCE Information Session (2025/26 entry)
Our annual PGCE information session provides the answers to many of the common questions applicants have about applying for an Initial Teacher Education programme at Queen's University.
Computing, Digital Skills and Creative Enterprise Overview
English Overview
Mathematics Overview
Modern Languages Overview
Religious Education Overview
Science Overview
Qualified teachers have found employment in secondary schools either locally or in the UK, or abroad. They have progressed through either a subject specialist or pastoral role or into middle and senior management.
Others go on to further study, training roles in industry or working in alternative education.
In our employability videos former students describe some of the different routes into finding a permanent teaching job.
The course combines university-based tuition covering topics such as learning barriers, classroom management, pastoral care, diversity and inclusion, along with school placements to put teaching into practice. Regular communication and observations whilst on placement provided support, constructive feedback and agreed areas for improvement for professional development. I thoroughly enjoyed my time on placement and building relationships with pupils, enabling them to develop and blossom within the classroom. Tori Coulter, PGCE Science
Science Teacher, Ballymena Academy
Contact Us
For more information please email the PGCE Admissions Team: sseswpgceadmissions@qub.ac.uk