Metadata
Title
Postgraduate study
Category
graduate
UUID
0f19155358dd4d97a987b76b55854094
Source URL
https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/educationsecondary/
Parent URL
https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/
Crawl Time
2026-03-11T06:37:25+00:00
Rendered Raw Markdown

Postgraduate study

Source: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/educationsecondary/ Parent: https://www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate/taught/

Postgraduate taught

Education (Secondary) PGDE

Postgraduate & PGDE Open Evening: 23 April 2026, 17:00 - 19:00

Come along to the School of Education Open Evening to find out more about our wide range of Masters programmes, and the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) teaching qualification.

If you are thinking about saying ‘yes’ to making a difference by becoming a teacher, the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Secondary is the first step on your journey. Successful completion of the this Masters-level qualification will take you to the General Teaching Council for Scotland’s Standard for Provisional Registration.

Register your interest for more information

Year of entry 2026 2027 2028

Country of residence

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Why this programme

Programme structure

The programme will prepare you as a beginning teacher through the following areas of study:

Secondary teaching qualifications are offered in the following subjects:

Catholic Teacher’s Certificate

In agreement with the Scottish Government, the School of Education, through the St Andrew’s Foundation, provides for the preparation of students to teach in Catholic Schools in Scotland. If you are eligible to do so, you may also study for the Catholic Teacher’s Certificate in Religious Education alongside your PGDE qualification. You can find out more about eligibility from the Scottish Catholic Education Service.

Programme alteration or discontinuation\ The University of Glasgow endeavours to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.

Career prospects

GTCS Standards for Registration

On successful completion of the programme, you will have achieved the General Teaching for Scotland (GTCS) Standard for Provisional Registration. Students from Scotland, the UK, the Republic of Ireland and those who are EU citizens with settled status are eligible for the one-year Teacher Induction Scheme, a guaranteed year of full-time employment to achieve the Standard for Full Registration (SFR), on a probationary salary of £32k. As fully-qualified teachers, having achieved the SFR, many of our graduates are teaching not only in Scotland’s primary and secondary schools, but throughout the UK and further abroad.

Those holding the Catholic Teacher’s Certificate can pursue posts which require qualification in teaching Religious Education in the denominational sector, subject to approval.

Professional Practice with PGDE, MEd

On successful completion of your PGDE you will have the opportunity to transfer your 90 Masters-level credits from your PGDE into this programme.

Career-Long Professional Learning (CLPL) for Teachers

The School of Education also provides an extensive range of career-long professional learning opportunities for teachers and others involved in education. Our CLPL is designed to be as flexible as possible, including daytime, twilight, weekend and vacation modes, and ranging from one-off courses to full programmes.

Fees & funding

Tuition fees for 2026-27

PGDE

International & EU

Scotland

Rest of UK

In November 2025, the UK Government announced that it intends to bring in secondary legislation to increase the tuition fee cap. More information may be obtained from the undergraduate fee page.

Fee status

Additional fees

Funding opportunities

The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship

The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship is accelerating exceptional Disabled Students through masters’ programmes into leadership positions to create change.

Do you have ambitions to change the world? Are you pioneering in your field? Are you creating change for Disabled People? Let us open some doors.

We are searching for individuals who choose to use their lived experience of disabling barriers to make a difference. To create change.

Please see Snowdon Trust, Investing in Disabled Students website for more details.

CONACyT (Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia) / FUNED Agreement

CONACYT offers a non-refundable scholarship, a monthly stipend and medical insurance of an approximate total of $20,000 USD (in the case of the UK, no medical insurance grant is given since students are already covered by the National Health System) The University of Glasgow offer a 30% discount to all successful CONACyT scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

ANID (la Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo)

The University of Glasgow offers a 25% discount to all successful ANID scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

(Please note that this scholarship was previously known as CONICyT)

India Excellence Award

This scholarship is now closed.

The India Excellence Award aims to support exceptional students from the country in their journey to become Future World Changers.  We are looking for students who wish to undertake Masters level study (postgraduate diploma or certificate programmes are not eligible for this scholarship), to further develop their knowledge and skills, in order to positively contribute to their community in the future. 

The University is offering up to 10 scholarships for International students from India, starting a one year postgraduate taught Masters programme, in any discipline for academic session 2026/27.  The scholarship is awarded as a tuition fee waiver of £12,500 for one year only.

Chevening Scholarship

Please note that the Chevening Scholarships are now closed for application for the 2026/27 academic year.

Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scholarships are awarded to outstanding scholars with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one year Master’s degree at universities across the UK. There are over 50,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who together comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.

For further information, please refer to the Chevening website.

575th Anniversary World-Changer Scholarship

For those ready to create the change the world needs

The University of Glasgow has been changing the world for 575 years. With 2026 marking the founding of the university in 1451, we are delighted to announce the 575th anniversary scholarship, empowering exceptional world-changers of tomorrow, at a pivotal moment in our history.

Established in 1451 in service of our people and our city, we have evolved from being the university for Glasgow, to the university for the world. During this landmark year, we are reflecting on centuries of impact locally, nationally and internationally, celebrating our achievements to inspire the world-changers of tomorrow.

Open to students looking to make positive change through their chosen area of study, successful 575th anniversary world-changers will join an international community that cross centuries and span continents, at a special time of celebration and reflection.

The University’s Principal and Vice Chancellor, Professor Andy Schofield, said:

“This milestone is not just about our past, it’s about the opportunities ahead and the future impact we can make together. Not only are we one of the oldest universities in the world, but one of the first to provide greater and fairer access to education. The 575th anniversary world-changer scholarships enable us to continue that legacy, while supporting students who will shape the world in the centuries to come.”

The scholarship offers at £15,000 discount to international students holding an offer for a PGT programme for the 2026-2027 year. Mphil 24-month Masters students can be awarded this scholarship for 1st year of study only.

Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes

Commonwealth Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are offered to citizens from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The majority of Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.

Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia

The University of Glasgow offer discounts to all successful Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia (Colfuturo) scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.

Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)

If you’re an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan. Students from England are able to apply for a non-means tested Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £11,570 to help with course fees and living costs. You have to repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.

If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.

Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students

If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.

* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes

For more information visit Student Finance Wales

Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)

Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.

This support extends to online Masters or Postgraduate Diplomas, and not to the online Postgraduate Certificate courses.

For more information visit the SAAS website.

Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans

Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms. They’re designed to help prospective students finance their Master’s courses in an Erasmus+ Programme country while leaving as little of a lasting economic footprint as possible.

The scheme is designed to provide postgraduate students with the means to pay their tuition and living expenses – thereby allowing individuals to focus on their degree instead of managing their bank balance. The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible, working under the following guidelines:

Please visit the Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans website for more information.

Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)

If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.

Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding.

For more information visit www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate .

* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes

DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant

The University of Glasgow will offer a full tuition waiver to those students that successfully apply and are nominated by DAAD to the University. DAAD offers a monthly stipend and travel bursary, as well as health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage in addition to the full tuition fee waiver from the University of Glasgow.

Wichtige Hinweise zu DAAD-Stipendien - DAAD (general info on DAAD tuition fee reimbursement)

Current list of tuition reduction / waiving offers (not including U Glasgow yet) : Stipendien für ein Masterstudium im Ausland - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst

Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship

The University of Glasgow is excited to promote this scholarship opportunity on behalf of the Glasgow Highland Society. 

The Glasgow Highland Society is offering multiple grants of up to £500 for new and continuing students of Glasgow university who fit the eligibility requirements of the scholarship

The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

Academic entry

The minimum academic entry requirements for admission to a teaching qualification are:

Accepted Alternative Qualifications in English and Mathematics

Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Secondary: English and Mathematics Entry Requirements

English

Accepted Alternative Qualifications in English

Maths

Accepted Alternative Qualifications in Mathematics

The minimum academic requirements are set by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). \ Further information can be found at: Memorandum on Entry Requirements to Programmes of Initial Teacher Education in Scotland September 2024.

Evidence of completed qualifications

When you submit your UCAS application form, you must include ALL of your qualifications. This includes your qualifications in English and Maths (see above). If you have omitted any qualifications, there may be a delay in processing your application. Upload of missing documents is permitted via the Applicant Self Service portal within 7 days of application submission.

Due to the competitive nature of the PGDE programme and the high volume of applications received, unfortunately if we do not receive the required documents within the 7-day timescale, your application will be rejected.

Personal statement, experience and reference

Applicants who meet or have the potential to meet the academic entry requirements will be considered for a place on the programme and their personal statement and reference will be reviewed.

Applicants should use the personal statement to demonstrate their suitability to join the teaching profession and to talk about their interests and wider achievements and the extent to which they match the skills and attributes desirable in a teacher. The GTCS advise that applicants should show that they have the capacity to meet the Standard for Provisional Registration which specifies what is expected of a student teacher at the end of Initial Teacher Education.

Relevant experience with young people should also be noted with preference given to those with recent experience shadowing a high school class in the subject they wish to teach. Applicants may also discuss their interest in the subject they wish to teach.

Interview

Interviews will be held from December and invitations will be updated on UCAS track where applicants can accept, decline or request a reschedule.  Reschedules are not guaranteed due to the number of suitable applicants available to attend. A communication will be sent out shortly after the UCAS invitation is received and will contain details of the interview structure. Please note that we will be unable to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at interview stage.

Catholic Teacher's Certificate

Working in partnership with the Scottish Government and the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland, the School of Education has the mandate to provide teachers to teach in Catholic schools in Scotland. The Catholic Teacher’s Certificate pathway provides support for, and emphasis on, the initial teacher education of those who intend to teach in Catholic schools, reflecting the denominational sector requirements. The School welcomes applications from all qualified candidates. In the selection procedures for interview, priority is given to those who meet the entry requirements and who indicated in their personal statement, their intention to teach in Catholic schools and to seek the Catholic Teacher's Certificate in Religious Education.

You can find out more about eligibility from the Scottish Catholic Education Service

Subject specific requirements

The degree requirements for the PGDE Secondary Education are based on SCQF credits – this is because credits are standard across all Scottish universities. A credit point is a measure of the amount of learning you have done. You will find your completed modules and the number of credits awarded for each module on your degree transcript. Please assess this to check if you have the desired number of credits in the correct subjects and at the correct SCQF level before you apply for the PGDE Secondary Education programme.

It is worth noting that 10 SCQF credits = 5 ECTS credits

The degree should contain 80 SCQF credit points overall in the subject which you intend to teach, of which 40 must be at Year 2 level or above. Please note that due to the high demand for places there is no guarantee that meeting the minimum academic qualifications will ensure an invite to interview or an offer of a place.

Priority will be  given to those with a 2:1 honours degree and the highest number of related credits.

Art & Design

A degree with 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 SCQF credit points should cover a range of courses in both Fine (or contemporary) Art and Design and come from a range of the following practical subjects: Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Textiles, Photography or Environmental Art.

Biology

A degree with 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credit points should cover a range of courses from Animal Biology, Biochemistry, Human Biology or Biomolecular Sciences.

Business Education(Applications have been closed for this programme in UCAS as it will not be running for 2026 entry)

A contemporary* Business related degree with 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these SCQF credit points must be at Year 2 Level. Your degree must have at least 20 credits in each of the following subjects: Accounting, Economics and Business Management. For each area you need to have covered the following detailed content: Economics - macro and micro economics theory. Accounting – financial accounting, management accounting and double entry book-keeping. Business Management - Marketing, Human Resources, Management Theory.

Applicants must  also provide evidence of Information Technology skills - Databases, Spreadsheets, Office IT. This can be from relevant degree/HNC/HND credits, Scottish Higher Administration and IT at grade B, a PDA Information Technology in Business or a completed ECDL qualification.

* graduated within the last 20 years

Chemistry

A degree with 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these SCQF credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credit points should cover a range of courses from organic, physical and inorganic chemistry.

Computing

A degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credit points should be from at least two of the following: Computer Systems, Software Development, Databases or Information Systems. You will also need 40 SCQF credits in a computing subject relevant to the Computing curriculum taught in Scottish schools.

English

A degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. At least 40 of these credit points must be in English or Scottish Literature. A maximum of 20 SCQF credit points in Media Studies will be accepted.

Geography

A degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credit points should cover a range of courses from Physical Geography, Human Geography and Environmental Geography.

History

A 2.2 Honours degree or above with at least 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credit points should be in British History, Scottish History, European History and World History. A maximum of 40 SCQF credits points in Ancient History will be accepted.

Mathematics

A degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credit points should be in maths related modules such as Algebra, Analysis, Calculus, Geometry, Statistics, Differential Equations or Probability.

Modern Foreign Languages

  1. Entry requirements for first language

  2. a degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points in the first language you want to teach

  3. before starting the course, you must have lived for sixmonths in a country where the language is spoken
  4. you will have to prove to the University that you are competent at speaking the language

The scope of your language degree must allow you to contribute to wider programmes of study in schools – such as literature, cultural studies, area studies or languages in work.

While you lived abroad, you must have taken full part in the language and culture of the country. You must normally have lived in the country for blocks of at least three months. So if you have spent one of your study years abroad, you will be fine.

  1. Entry requirements for second languages

  2. a degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points in the second language you want to teach

  3. before starting the course, you must have lived for at least threemonths in a country where the language is spoken
  4. you will have to prove to the university that you are competent at speaking the language

Of course, you will also meet all the requirements for your first foreign language.

The scope of your language degree must allow you to contribute to wider programmes of study in schools – such as literature, cultural studies, area studies or languages in work.

While living abroad the applicant must have fully taken part in the language and culture of the relevant country. The period of three months must either be consecutive or in blocks of at least four weeks.

While you lived abroad you must have taken full part in the language and culture of the relevant country. The period of three months must either be consecutive or in block of at least four weeks.

If you have any questions about the registration and residency requirements for second languages, get in touch with the GTCS.

  1. Native speakers of a modern foreign language

If you are a native speaker of a modern foreign language and you have a degree in your own language, you may be qualified to train to teach that language. Your degree must meet the requirements outlined above (entry requirements for first language).

If you are a native speaker and have a degree in an additional language which meets these requirements, you may train to teach that language as well as your mother tongue. For example, a French student with a degree in German can train to teach German and French.

Modern Studies

A 2.2 Honours degree or above with at least 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credit points should be from two separate subjects from the list below. At least 40 SCQF credit points must be from either Politics or Sociology.

Physics

A degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credit points should be from a range of the following subjects: Electricity and Magnetism, Electronics, Optics, Mechanics, Dynamics, Nuclear and Atomic Physics.

Religious Education

A degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points, 40 of these credit points must be at Year 2 Level. The 80 credits points should come from two or more of the areas listed below:

Applicants wishing specifically to teach Religious Education in Catholic schools must have an undergraduate degree with at least 80 SCQF credit points in:

which may include a maximum of 20 credit points in Philosophy related to religion.

Disclosure Scotland

If you are accepted to the PGDE you must undertake a Criminal Conviction check prior to enrolment. It is your responsibility to pay for the check.

Fitness to practise

Where a programme of study requires the student to act in the course of practical training in a quasi-professional role in relation to patients, children, clients or service-users or where the qualification provides a direct licence to practise, the University has a duty to ensure that the student is fit to practise. Fitness to Practise is assessed not only in terms of academic attainment but also in accordance with relevant professional standards and expectations. Students registered to study on initial teacher education degrees are subject to separate Fitness to Practise procedures and will be expected to familiarise themselves with the appropriate procedures and information upon enrolment.

English language requirements

For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)

Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme:

TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)

Tests taken up to 20 January 2026

Tests taken from 21 January 2026

Pearsons PTE Academic

Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)

Oxford English Test

LanguageCert Academic/ Academic Online

Password Skills Plus

Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II

Kaplan Test of English

University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses

Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.

Alternatives to English Language qualification

For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.

Pre-sessional courses

The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:

More information on our Pre-sessional courses.

We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:

For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

How to apply

Programmes starting August 2026

Whilst the PGDE programmes are only open to postgraduate students, unlike all other postgraduate degrees, all PGDE applications must be made online through the UCAS website.

Apply online at www.ucas.com

Most PGDE Secondary subjects remain open after the UCAS deadline of 29 January 2026. When a programme is closed, the list below will be updated to show this.

Open for 2026 entry:

Please note that degree level 'Undergraduate' must be selected, in order to locate the PGDE programmes on UCAS.

If your application is successful you will be invited for interview. If you would like further information please enquire online.

For the PGDE Secondary programmes, the University does not normally permit deferral of entry to a later term/year. However, you may request a deferral of entry, where unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances will prevent you from taking up your offer. Please enquire online.

For more information about applying for a teaching degree, see our Teaching Admissions Guidance.

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