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PGDip Secondary Education (QTS) – Religious Education

The Secondary Education (QTS) – Religious Education programme from University of Birmingham leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and offers 120 credits towards our MA Teaching Studies. Our programme, which offers high quality training and support, will prepare you to teach in the 11-18 age range and is run in close partnership with schools.

Quick Facts

  
Full-Time Duration: 36 weeks
Starting in: September
Tuition Fee: £21,150 per full
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

On the Secondary Education (QTS) – Religious Education programme from University of Birmingham you will develop a deep understanding of issues and complexities which surround the teaching and learning of religious education, religious studies and philosophy education. We wish to develop you as a thinking teacher who can be aware of a variety of effective ways to teach Religious Education and make informed decisions about how you work with students. The programme was cited as an example of good practice by the PSHE Association as it embeds whole school issues into its curriculum.

The School of Education benefits from our unique collaboration with the University of Birmingham School as well as a wide range of partner schools, including mixed comprehensive, single sex, religious and selective schools and sixth form colleges. The diverse communities we serve will enrich your experience on the Religious Education course.

Programme Structure:

  • The programme includes the study of subject-based teaching methods as well as the study of broader whole school issues. The course will not pretend that teaching Religious Education is straightforward, because it is not!
  • Our sessions will rarely be of the form of a lecture, instead we use activities and discussion as the main way of working.
  • We will help you become aware of issues relating to planning lessons, assessment, the difference between telling students information and teaching students, how to provide learning experiences which meet the needs of students with different learning styles, how different approaches to teaching a topic can change the learning experience for students, how choice of teaching methods, resources and technology can change the sort of religious education with which students engage.

“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

Many local schools have a high regard for Birmingham Religious Education PGDipEd (QTS) students and we have an excellent record of students gaining jobs at the end of the course. Many of our ex-students are now Heads of Departments in our partnership schools.

Requirements

  • All applicants to the Religious Education Postgraduate Diploma Secondary Education (QTS) course must hold a degree from a UK Higher Education Institution. Normally this should be a minimum of 2:2 or equivalent qualification and this will be a condition of any offer where the degree has not already been awarded.
  • Your degree should normally have 50% Religious Studies, Philosophy or Theology content. Graduate with Sociology, Ancient or Modern History, Classics or Politics who also have a good pass in A level Religious Education, Religious Studies, Philosophy or Critical Thinking are also invited to apply.
  • You must also have a GCSE in Maths and English (grade 4 or above*) or an equivalent qualification which must be attained before you make an application.

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