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.
• Students will undertake 18 weeks of study at University and 18 weeks of school experience in our partner schools.
• 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 children.
• With an emphasis on reflective practice linked to professional standards, you will develop skills to become a reflective practitioner in the classroom.

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.

GTCS Qualification

You will have the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) 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 your 90 Masters-level credits from your PGDE into this programme. For further information, please see:

• Professional Practice with PGDE

MSc Enhanced Practice in Education, Dumfries Campus

This programme will provide you with the skills and confidence to apply principles of practitioner-based enquiry and make effective changes in your place of work. You will develop expertise to initiate and influence positive working relationships across your organisation and beyond.

• MSc Enhanced Practice in Education

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.

Academic entry

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

• Degree: 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.
• 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 see their application rejected. Pending degree qualifications are considered.

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 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 children should also be noted with preference given to those with recent experience shadowing a primary school classroom.

Interview

Interviews will be held from December and invitations will be updated on UCAS track 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 Primary Education (Dumfries campus): X121

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