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PGCert Primary Education (5-11 years)

The University of Birmingham Dubai has been appointed by the DfE as an accredited pilot provider for the new iQTS Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme. Learn more with the Primary Education (5 – 11 years) programme from University of Birmingham.

Quick Facts

  
Full-Time Duration: 1 year
Starting in: September
Tuition Fee: £15,931 per year
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Designed for those who are new to education and want to teach pupils aged 5-11, our full time Primary PGCE with iQTS is the only in-person ITT (Initial Teacher Training) programme in the UAE in line with UK Teacher Standards, incorporting two teaching experience placements across our established partner schools.

The School of Education at the University of Birmingham has a long-standing reputation as a centre of excellence for teacher training and research in a wide range of areas of educational practice and policy. The University of Birmingham Dubai Education staff have been working closely with the UK Department of Education on the development of this high-quality, teacher training programme which leads to the award of the Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Education (PGCE) with iQTS.

The one year full-time PGCE with iQTS in Primary Education will prepare you for entry into the teaching profession as a reflective and critically aware practitioner through a significant emphasis on research-led teacher education. The programme will include key elements delivered by staff from the University of Birmingham in Dubai supported by senior teachers in schools. It is designed to help you plan, teach and develop your classroom skills within the primary age range. Time within our teacher training programme will be spent developing necessary subject knowledge in English, Mathematics and Science alongside consideration of whole school issues such as supporting classroom behaviour.

Programme Structure:

  • As the only in-person iQTS pilot provider from 2022, students of the Primary programme with iQTS will benefit from face to face sessions at our new campus in Dubai international academic city. University based sessions will include lectures, small group seminars and workshops, school-based work with pupils and teachers, and work undertaken individually or with other groups of students.
  • The Primary PGCE with iQTS will mirror the experience of the UK PGCE QTS programme, providing a mixture of assessed practical input and experience, Masters level academic input and a portfolio record of teaching experience, assesed through competency accross the UK Teachers’ Standards and Core Content Framework. The 60 credit M-level teaching qualification is composed of three 20 credit modules, including a Teaching Experience module.

“The transition from undergrad to postgrad can be a big step up in terms of workload and what is expected of you, but there is so much support available to you as a postgrad student, from academic writing support (if you’ve been out of education for a few years or just want a bit of extra help) to mental health and wellbeing services. The careers support is fantastic – the uni puts on employer fairs throughout the year and you have access to one on one support from the Careers Network team, who can help you develop your skills ready for your next step!”

Emma Sutton // PhD Psychology

Careers

The Primary Education (5 – 11 years) programme from University of Birmingham is suited to those living outside of the UK and resident in the UAE, including:

  • UK citizens currently working abroad who wish to start teacher training or develop their teaching career.
  • Non-UK citizens who wish to begin teacher training or build on existing teaching experience.
  • UK and non-UK teachers without QTS who wish to improve their employability in England and internationally with a UK government-backed and approved professional qualification.

The iQTS is recognised as equivalent to QTS by the DfE, meaning that anyone who is awarded the iQTS qualification by the end of the programme will be eligible to apply for professional QTS status through the DfE.

Requirements

To apply for the PGCE Primary with iQTS (5-11) programme you must submit evidence of:

  • a bachelor’s degree at grade 2.2, or equivalent, from a UK or non-UK university
  • achieving a standard equivalent to grade 4/C in GCSE mathematics
  • achieving a standard equivalent to grade 4/C in a GCSE science (biology, chemistry or physics) subject
  • achieving a standard equivalent to grade 4/C GCSE English
  • demonstrate proficiency in the English language (you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher, the equivalent score in another English language testing system, or to have completed some of your education in English, for example, a degree studied in English)
  • deemed suitable to train to teach in England and in the country in which you will train to teach (passing a range of relevant background checks including an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service ‘DBS’ check in the UK).
  • Two references

Learn more