Why this programme

• This programme is accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), giving you the qualification to pursue teaching roles in schools across the UK.
• With full-time and part-time study and placement options, this programme offers students a flexible model of learning.
• As an aspiring teacher, this programme will provide you with the knowledge, skills and values you need to become the committed professional necessary for today’s schools.
• Building on your subject-specific knowledge, you will be supported to develop creative ways to enthuse and educate young people.
• With an emphasis on reflective practice linked to professional standards, you will develop skills to become a reflective practitioner in the classroom.
• This programme offers the opportunity for dual qualification in two STEM subjects (dependent upon graduate qualifications of 80 SCQF credit points for each subject).

Career prospects

The School of Social & Environmental Sustainability has been in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council since 2008 and many of our graduating MA Primary Education and PGDE Education teachers find employment in the region.

To address the shortage of STEM teachers in secondary schools, not just in D&G but across Scotland, the PGDE Secondary Education in STEM Subjects has been developed as an innovative and flexible Initial Teacher Education programme to attract STEM career-changers as well as those graduating in a traditional STEM subject. 

GTCS Qualification

On successful completion you will be awarded the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) teaching qualification to pursue teaching roles in schools.

Professional Practice with PGDE (MEd)

On successful completion of your PGDE you will have the opportunity to transfer the 90 Masters-level credits from your PGDE into this programme. For further information, please see:

• Professional Practice with PGDE

Find out more about careers paths and opportunities.

Fees & funding

Additional fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
• Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

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

Entry requirements

The programme is aimed at graduates with relevant subject content in their academic study, who have demonstrated an interest in teaching children through a range of experiences in both formal and informal settings.

The programme is suited to candidates with a STEM degree but with a wide range of background experiences: some will be recent graduates choosing to teach as their initial career; some will be working in a STEM / non-STEM industry and want to change careers; some are primary trained teachers who want to teach in the secondary phase but would like a structured programme to enhance their skills; some are bringing up young families and want to pursue a career that allows flexibility.

Academic entry requirements

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

• Degree: An undergraduate degree in a recognised STEM subject. This must be validated by a higher education institution in the United Kingdom or an undergraduate degree of an equivalent standard from a higher education institution outside the United Kingdom. All degree classifications are considered, however, priority is given to candidates with a 1st or 2:1 honours degree or experience of working with young people.
• English: National Qualifications in English at SCQF Level 6 (for example, Higher Grade) or an accepted alternative from the list below.
• Mathematics: National Qualifications in Mathematics at SCQF Level 5 (for example, National 5, Standard Grade or Intermediate 2) or an accepted alternative from the list below.

PLEASE NOTE: Applicants must have achieved their English and Maths qualifications  PRIOR to application. Applicants who apply with a pending English or Maths qualification will be rejected. Pending degree qualifications are considered.

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Accepted alternative qualifications in English and Mathematics

Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Secondary: English and Mathematics entry requirements

English

• Scottish Higher English at Grade C or above

Accepted alternative qualifications in English

• Advanced Higher English at Grade C
• A Level English at Grade C
• GCSE/IGCSE English Language AND English Literature at Grade C / 4 (both qualifications must be achieved)
• International Baccalaureate English at HL 4 / SL 6
• Irish Leaving Certificate Higher English at Grade C2 / H4
• SQA National Units at Higher Level in both Communication (NC) and Literature 1
• SCQF Level 6 Online English Access Course offered by the University of Aberdeen
• University level modules (SCQF level 7 or above) that cover sufficient English Literature content.
• English of an equivalent academic standard from outside the UK - Study must have an English Literature element. We use UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre) to assess the equivalency of overseas qualifications.

All applicants must have achieved a MINIMUM of Scottish Higher English at Grade C or accepted alternative PRIOR to their application being considered.

Maths

• National 5 Maths (or Lifeskills Maths) at Grade C or above

Accepted alternative qualifications in Mathematics

• Intermediate Level 2 Mathematics at Grade C
• Standard Grade Credit Mathematics at Grade 2
• O Grade Mathematics at Grade A
• Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher Mathematics at Grade C
• A Level Mathematics at Grade C
• GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics at Grade C / 4
• International Baccalaureate Maths at HL 3 / SL 4
• Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Mathematics at Grade C3 / H5
• Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary Mathematics at Grade B3 / O3
• SCQF Level 5 or 6 Online Mathematics Access Course offered by the University of Aberdeen at Grade C
• Open University MU123 Discovering Mathematics – credits 30
• SQA National Units in BOTH Core Mathematics 4 (D11V) and Mathematics: Analysis/Algebra 1 (D11W)
• University level modules (SCQF level 7 or above) that cover sufficient Maths content
• Maths of an equivalent academic standard from outside the UK - We will always use UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre) to assess the equivalency of overseas qualifications.

All applicants must have achieved a MINIMUM of National 5 Mathematics (or Lifeskills Mathematics) Grade C or accepted alternative PRIOR to their application being considered.

Priority will be given to applicants who have exceeded the minimum requirements and in particular to applicants who have attained English at Higher Grade B (or above) and Higher Grade C (or above) in Mathematics. 

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The minimum academic requirements are set by the GTCS General Teaching Council for Scotland. Further info at: Memorandum on Entry Requirements to Programmes of Initial Teacher Education in Scotland September 2019

Evidence of completed qualifications

At the point of submitting your application, you must have listed all your qualifications at that time, including High School Maths and English on the UCAS application form. If you have omitted any qualifications, there may be a delay in processing your application. We do allow 7 days from submitting your application for you to forward missing documents by email to dumfries-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk

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 highlight 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 children should also be noted with preference given to those with recent experience of working with children and young people.

Interview

Interviews will be held from December and invitations will be updated on UCAS where applicants can accept, decline or request a reschedule.  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.

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. A copy of the Faculty Code of Professional Conduct and Fitness to Practise will be made available to students on the PGDE programme.

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community which attracts students and staff from over 140 different countries.

• Find out more about entry requirements and other country-specific information
• International student support & visas

How to apply

Programmes starting August 2025

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

This programme remains open after the UCAS deadline of 29 January 2025.

The University of Glasgow UCAS code (required for online UCAS application) is:

• PGDE Education (Secondary STEM subjects) (Dumfries campus): X124

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 Primary 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 on applying for a teaching degree, see our Teaching Admissions Guidance.