PGCE for International Trainees

Next start date

September 2026

Location

Online, part-time

Course duration

37 weeks

Fees

£4,800

Our PGCE for International Trainees is a fully online course, which offers teachers around the world the chance to gain an internationally-recognised postgraduate teaching qualification.

Join one of our upcoming webinars to find out more about our courses.

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Course Overview

The Postgraduate Certificate in Education for International Trainees programme aims to develop critically aware teachers who have a clear understanding of child development and how children learn so that they can reflect on the impact on pupil learning and inform their practice as teachers. 

By the end of the course, students will cover all aspects of teaching and learning, including:

  • Child development and learning
  • Educational theory
  • Curriculum and assessment frameworks and delivery
  • Applying subject-specific pedagogy
  • Practical solutions to teaching and learning problems
  • Classroom management

Teachers do not need to have undergone a period of formal training to take this course.

By taking the Post Graduate Certificate in Education, you will undertake a Level 7 (Master’s level) qualification that, if you complete successfully, will award you 60 Master's credits, which you can put towards a full Master's 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.

 

Course Content

Course Content

The PGCE programme consists of 3 modules. All modules are practice based and aim to enable trainees to develop and refine their ability to teach and play a full part in the life of a school. The practical aims will be supplemented by the learning of key aspects of educational theory and policy together with fundamental aspects of assessment and teaching practice.

Module 1: Educational Principles –The Fundamentals of Teaching and Learning (20 credits)

Trainees will be required to demonstrate awareness of how children learn, basic philosophical principles underlying educational theory and teaching practice.

Module 2: Development of Effective Practice (20 credits)

Trainees will be required to demonstrate understanding of the complexities and diversity required in teaching and assessment for learning.

Module 3: Consolidating and Reflection (20 credits)

Trainees will be required to reflect on their learning as well as professional development and show how educational theory is linked to teaching practice.

Academic learning for modules 1-3 is assessed with written assignments and classroom observation.

Course Delivery

Course Delivery

The PGCE for International Trainees is a 37-week school-based course. All applicants must be employed by a school for the duration of the course and be able to put into practice knowledge and skills gained from the course content.

Trainees will be guided through each stage of the course:

  • Two online induction sessions will introduce you to how the course will run. 
  • You will work under the guidance of a mentor (appointed by the school in which you work), who will organise lesson observations and meet with you weekly to review progress and set targets. 
  • You are allocated a University of Buckingham tutor who will meet you and your mentor regularly (approximately once a month) online to track progress and guide your development.
  • You will participate in regular live lectures, which occur on Thursdays (14 weeks), which are important to attend as a condition of the course. Dates of the Training Days can be found below.
  • All resources for the course are provided online and there will be a weekly programme of readings and reflective tasks to engage in.

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

  1. You must have a university bachelor’s degree. If your degree was not awarded by a UK university, you will need a statement of comparability from UK ENIC. Please refer to our guidance here.
  2. 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.
  3. You will need to have IELTS 6.5 (with 6.0 or above in each component) or an equivalent English level qualification as per the University’s English Language Requirements.
  4. Your school must be happy to support you doing the PGCE course and release you for the compulsory live online lectures on Thursdays.
  5. Your school must commit to providing an experienced member of staff in the school to act as your mentor, observing your lessons, providing feedback and discussing the weekly tasks set by the University of Buckingham.

Fees

Fees

Registration Fee: £300 (non-refundable)

PGCE: £4,800

We also offer the International Qualified Teacher Status qualification with the option of adding a PGCE qualification. For more details see the iQTS page.

Fees are invoiced for in September, at the beginning of the course, and can be paid in termly instalments or in one lump sum. Termly instalments can be arranged directly with the Finance department upon receipt of the invoice.

All fees are charged directly by the University of Buckingham, BISE will not add any additional charges for our services.

How To Apply

How To Apply

Click Apply Now below to apply online through Buckingham International School of Education. We will support you to complete your application before submitting it directly to the University of Buckingham.

If you have any queries, click Ask a Question and our admissions team members will endeavour to reply to your enquiry within 24 hours.

Our admissions staff are based in Mainland China and Hong Kong and our hours of business are 10am to 7pm (GMT+7), Mon-Fri.

Admissions for September 2026 intake will close on 15 July 2026.

FAQ's

What’s the difference between iQTS and PGCE?

The PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) is an academic postgraduate qualification that awards 60 master’s-level credits. These credits can often be transferred towards a related master’s degree, covering up to one-third of the programme. iQTS (International Qualified Teacher Status) is a professional teaching qualification that results in a teaching licence issued by England’s Department for Education. It’s widely recognised by international schools globally and can sometimes be converted into a local teaching licence in other countries.

What is the iQTS with PGCE?

The iQTS and PGCE courses have overlapping content, so we have created a combined course of iQTS with PGCE. This enables you to gain a UK teaching licence (Qualified Teacher Status), which is widely recognised in many international schools, as well as a strong academic foundation with 60 Master's level credits, giving you the option to progress to a master’s degree in the future.

When can I apply?

You can apply throughout the year up to your course's individual application deadline. If your application deadline has passed, do get in touch with us as the university may be able to accommodate late applications, provided all the required documentation can be provided before the course start date. We do, however, recommend that you apply as early as possible – you can even apply before your first degree or other entry qualification has been awarded.