Employability
93% of our graduates are in work or further study fifteen months after graduating (2018/19 Graduate Outcomes Survey).
Everything you need to know...
International/EU: £14,895 for the course
Course summary
- Develop and apply your knowledge and understanding of educational ideas and theories.
- Engage with the latest developments in the Post-16 and Further Education context.
- Complete this course to apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status for Post-16 and Further Education.
Gain the qualification you need to teach in the area of Post-16 and Further Education, previously known as Post-Compulsory Education and Training (PCET). This course is for anyone who is new to teaching and needs us to find them a placement, or who is already working as a teacher or trainer and wants to become qualified.
Student view

'I always knew I wanted to teach post-16 students. It's more of a two-way relationship at that level and you can find out more about the students' personal goals to really support their development. The course really throws you in at the deep end, but there's so much support from your tutors, course mates and your placement mentors to help you become a great teacher.'
Kebba Jenkins, PGCE Post-16 and Further Education
How you learn
All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.
Key areas you will learn about include planning and preparing to teach, assessment for learning, teaching strategies and approaches, behaviour for learning, using technology to enhance learning and progression against the Professional Standards. After successfully completing the course, you gain either a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education and Training, or a level 5 Professional Certificate in Education and Training. The level 7 qualification includes 60 credits at level 7 that can be used towards a masters course.
You learn through
- assessment of practical teaching
- presentations
- planning and evaluation exercises
- preparation of teaching materials
- written assignments
Course leaders and tutors
Applied learning
Work placements
You will complete at least 120 hours of teaching over one year, and will be assigned a workplace/placement mentor to support you. During the course, your teaching will be observed eight times by your placement or workplace mentor. Your University tutor will carry out a joint observation with your mentor for four of these observations.
Future careers
This course prepares you for a career in
- further education colleges
- school sixth forms
- higher education institutions
- adult and community learning providers
- private training companies
- public services
- sixth form colleges.
We have an excellent graduate employment record. Over 96% of our PGCE graduates are teaching or in further study within six months of graduating.
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | Campus facilities | Keeping safe on Campus

Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEntry requirements
All students
Typically you need
• a good degree or equivalent
• normally we require GCSE grade C, or Grade 4 in English Language and mathematics, or equivalent. Where applicants have achieved a GCSE grade 4 or above in English literature only we will look for further evidence of a breadth of achievement in English. We will consider applicants who are in the process of obtaining the relevant GCSEs.
• experience of a Post-16 / Further Education teaching environment, that enables you to demonstrate awareness of your subject or specialist context in Post-16.
• the skills and commitment to benefit from higher education.
In-service students must have evidence that they are already working as a teacher or tutor, will teach a minimum of 60 hours in each year of the course, and that their employer will provide a specialist mentor to support them.
Candidates who are successful will demonstrate a sound understanding of teaching and how children learn, where possible within a school setting. We encourage all candidates to evidence their understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools or other learning settings. Demonstrating an ability to make links between experience and knowledge, and their proposed career would be desirable.
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to a selection event and you should present a passport or photo driving license. You can present other forms of photo ID for the selection event, but if you do, you will still need to present valid identity documents required by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to starting your course.
You must also complete a declaration of criminal convictions and health check forms.
If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills. If your English language skill is currently below IELTS 7.0 we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University Pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
International and European entry qualifications
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
Course enrolment - professional requirements
Before enrolling you must complete all the professional checks that are required as part of entry for the course:
Suitability Declaration
You must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission suitability declaration form provided during the admissions process:
• unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
• involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
• involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
• if you have ever been removed from a teacher training programme as a result of your behaviour, or would have been removed if you had not left the programme
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
• you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
• you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the DBS application process
• if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
• where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Academic Administration Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
• In addition to this all those who are made an offer of a place will be checked against the DfE children’s barred list.
Occupational Health Screening
You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.
Other background checks
All applicants that have accepted an offer will also be checked against the prohibition list to ensure you are not:
• subject to a prohibition order issued by the Secretary of State
• prohibited to teach in another country of the European Economic Area (EEA)
If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please notify the Academic Administration team immediately by emailing tedss@shu.ac.uk.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page. You can also watch a video guide on how to apply.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Module and assessment information for future years is displayed as currently validated and may be liable to change. When selecting electives, your choices will be subject to the core requirements of the course. As a result, selections may be limited to a choice between one of two or more specified electives in some instances.
Module | Credits | Assessment |
---|---|---|
Module: Exploring Your Specialist Context | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Practical |
Module: Extending Teaching For Learning | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Introduction To Learning, Teaching And Assessment | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Professional Practice 1 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: Professional Practice 2 | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Module: The Learner Experience | Credits: 20 |
Assessment:
Coursework |
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2022/23 is £9,250 for the course. For part-time study the fee will be calculated pro-rata each year based on the number of credits studied.
† If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2022/23 is £14,895 for the course.
Additional course costs
This link allows you to view estimated costs associated with the main activities on specific courses. These are estimates and, as such, are only an indication of additional course costs. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
Additional costs for Teaching and education courses (PDF, 257.5KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.