Northern Ireland: Everything You Need to Know about Studying a PGCE in England

Northern Ireland: Everything You Need to Know about Studying a PGCE in England.

Are you living in Northern Ireland and considering becoming a teacher or looking for a PGCE degree? Here is why you should study your PGCE with the University of Cumbria:

1. You’ll Graduate with QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) Our PGCE degrees provide you with the practical experience required to get you QTS qualified. In fact, over 50% of your course will be placement based so you’ll gain hands-on classroom experience as well as theoretical knowledge.

If your degree doesn’t include a QTS qualification, you will have to gain this separately to teach in mainstream schools.

2. You Don’t Have to Travel for Your Interview You can do your interview online, without needing to travel to the UK. Pending availability and following government guidelines, we might also offer interviews in Northern Ireland if you prefer to have your interview face to face.

3. You Can Do Your Final Placement at Home Over 50% of your course with us will be placement based and you can complete your final placement in Northern Ireland. This means you can spend 10 weeks of your course (and the summer!) on placement at a school in or near your hometown or city.

4. You Can Have the Catholic Certificate As a University of Cumbria student, you can opt to gain the Catholic Certifi cate in Religious Education during you PGCE with us at no extra cost to you if you complete the full certification. This will enhance your career options and opportunities once you graduate if you wish to teach in Catholic schools in Northern Ireland.

5. Accommodation Deals Northern Irish students are able to sign up for termly contracts with our on-campus accommodation, this means that you can go on placement or go home to visit without paying cancellation fees or being tied to a lengthy rental agreement. So you will only ever need to pay for accommodation when you need it. Find out more here: www.cumbria.ac.uk/student-life/accommodation

6. You’ll Be Away But Not Far Our Lancaster and Carlisle campuses are located across the water from Northern Ireland within easy access to 10 airports and 4 ferry terminals, so while you will be away for a few weeks during your course, going home is fairly straight forward if you need to.

edinburgh glasgow

NEWCASTLE belfast newry MANCHESTER dublin LIVERPOOL

Lancaster Campus Carlisle Fusehill Street Campus London Campus

7. Help with Funding Your Studies PGCE students qualify for “undergraduate” finance support. So there are a range of student loans and grants available to assist you whilst studying a full-time postgraduate teacher training course. The amount you receive will depend on your circumstances.

These include: • • •

help with tuition fee costs - this helps cover the costs charged by the university help with living costs - this is funding to help with general costs of living while you’re studying extra help - this includes funding to help with extra costs relating to childcare, care of another adult, a disability or long term health condition while you study

For more information, www.studentfinanceni.co.uk If you intend to study a full-time postgraduate teacher training course in England and are not currently employed as a teacher, you may also be eligible for a teacher training bursary. Bursary amounts vary depending on the subject and degree class or highest relevant academic qualification.

For more detailed information about the bursaries available in academic year 2021/22 and whether you are eligible to apply, please refer to: www.getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/funding-your-training

8. Why Train to Teach at the University of Cumbria • • • •

9 in 10 of our graduates are in work or further training within 15 months of graduating (HESA 2020), this makes us one of the top universities in the UK for graduate employment outcomes.

We are one of the largest providers of teacher training in the UK and joint first in the UK for students completing their PGCE Secondary programme.

In the last 10 years we have trained over 10,000 new teachers.

In fact, many schools in Northern Ireland employ a University of Cumbria teaching graduate and we are proud to have a great reputation locally for teacher training.

We are in the Top 10 in the World for our Quality of Education (THE Times Rankings, 2020)

9. But don’t take our word for it…

“

I chose to come to the University of Cumbria because from my very first open day in 2017, I knew the tutors would get to know me personally, I would be able to get to know them, and I’ve never been just another face in the crowd.

”

Rachel Malone (2020), Northern Ireland BA (Hons) Teaching and Learning graduate and PGCE Lower Primary student.

“

UoC was absolutely the right choice. Tutors are brilliant. From the first day they have tried to make things as easy as possible for me, going above and beyond their roles. It’s that connection with the tutors that will make you an effective teacher.

”

Steafan Deery (2019), Northern Ireland PGCE Primary with Physical Education Specialism graduate and PhD student

“

For me, Carlisle was quite like home in that it was a small city and not overwhelming. The university was really central and the town has a lovely vibe about it. I had to return home quite a few times that year as my father was ill and it’s really close to airports in Newcastle/Glasgow and the ferry in Cairnryan, so this made it possible. I really loved my time in Carlisle and I only wish it lasted a bit longer!

”

Bronagh Wallace (2019), Northern Ireland Primary Education with QTS graduate and school teacher at Holy Cross Boys’ Primary School in Belfast

TAKE THE NEXT STEP Attend one of our Open Days www.cumbria.ac.uk/open-events/ Choose your course and apply www.cumbria.ac.uk/teaching-courses/

0808 291 6945 enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk

Stay Focused. Go Far. We’ve got you