PGCE for International Trainees (fully online)
The PGCE for International Trainees offers teachers outside the UK, without formal training, a programme of professional development online.
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About the Course
“Although I had been teaching for 8 years previously, the PGCE had a significant impact on my practice, especially engaging with the weekly programme of readings. By the end of the course, the training hadn’t just impacted on me, it had improved practice in my department and the wider school!” – Ezzat AliPGCE for International Trainees (Secondary)
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education for International Trainees offers teachers based in schools outside the UK, who have not undergone a period of formal training, the opportunity to participate in a structured programme of professional development online. The course is adapted from our very popular Independent PGCE.
Course content
The PGCE for International Trainees is a 37-week school-based course, during which time you will work under the guidance of your in-school mentor. Each week you will reflect on your practice and have a one-to-one meeting with your mentor to review progress and set targets. There are eight online training days (including two induction days) which will complement the weekly programme of University online resources.
You will also be assigned a university tutor who will meet you regularly (approximately once a month) to assess your progress and guide your development.
“…the time and effort my University tutor) offered to my mentor and I was outstanding. She was a pleasure to work alongside and to have as a great support throughout..” Aishlin O’Rourke, PGCE for International Trainees (Primary).
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a Level 7 course where you will be assessed by three essays. If you complete the course successfully, you will gain 60 L7 credits. These can be put towards a Masters at a later date.
We are able to offer the course in most subjects and to all age levels. Your University tutor will be a subject specialist. Subjects that you can do your PGCE in include: Art, Music, Design Technology, Food Technology, Business Studies and Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Computer Science, English (not English as an additional language), Drama, Classics, Modern Languages, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Psychology, and Physical Education.
Training Sessions
Six one day ‘live’ training sessions plus two induction days (in late August), run by the University, will be delivered online. Typically these days run from 8.00am – 3.00pm UK time and take place in September, November, December, February, March and May.
Attendance at all these days is mandatory.
Entry Requirements
- You must have a university bachelor’s degree or equivalent; Please check on UK ENIC which provides advice on comparability & equivalency. We will need to see your original degree certificate.
- You must be employed as a teacher in an international school abroad that teaches English National Curriculum subjects or the International Baccalaureate (IB) and be in sole charge of a full-size class for a minimum of 10 hours a week.
- International applicants may need to demonstrate proficiency in English. Full details are available on our Postgraduate Language Requirements page.
In addition, you must:
- Obtain a commitment from your school to provide a suitable mentor.
- Show the physical and mental fitness to teach.
The employing school must be able to fully support a candidate through the course, enabling them to demonstrate all of the English Teachers’ Standards and releasing them for the compulsory live online training days (six per year + two induction).
Fees
The fees for this course are:
| Start | Type | Total cost |
|---|---|---|
Sep 2025 Full-time (37 Weeks) PGCE - International Trainees (Sep 2025) | UK | £4,500 |
| INT | £4,500 |
The University reserves the right to increase course fees annually in line with inflation linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI). If the University intends to increase your course fees it will notify you via email of this as soon as reasonably practicable.
Course fees do not include additional costs such as books, equipment, writing up fees and other ancillary charges. Where applicable, these additional costs will be made clear.
The fees for this course will be confirmed in due course.
Applicants must also pay a £300 non-refundable Registration Fee.
Fees are invoiced at the beginning of the course. Instalments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.
All staff at COBIS member schools get a 5% discount on course fees. To ensure the discount is applied please select ‘COBIS’ from the partnership box on your application form.
If you would like a tutor to travel from the UK to observe lessons in person, this is possible for an additional fee. Please contact: stephen.cook@buckingham.ac.uk
Applicants from China should apply through the Buckingham International School of Education, please click here: https://www.bise.org/find-a-course
How To Apply
Please use the ‘Apply Now’ button at the bottom of this page; or contact The Faculty of Education on +44 (0)1280 820222 or email: pgce-edu@buckingham.ac.uk
Before we can accept you, you will need to supply:
- a copy of passport photo page (and visa/work permit where necessary)
- copies of your qualification certificates – UK Bachelors Degree or equivalent (an ENIC statement of comparability will be required for all qualifications awarded outside of the UK)
- a head and shoulder style photo for your University identity card