PGCE Primary 3-7 years at University of Brighton

Programme overview

Teachers in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 play a central role in developing a love for reading, writing and numeracy in children as well as supporting their social, emotional and physical development. Our Primary Education (3–7 years) PGCE leads to QTS – the professional teaching qualification. Practical sessions and placements will ensure you graduate with the skills and knowledge to become a confident primary teacher.

Faculty: School of Education | Department: Teaching (postgraduate) | Duration: full-time: 1 year | Study mode: full-time | Location: Brighton, England, United Kingdom

What you will study

This is an intensive year, with two-thirds of the course based in partnership schools and the remainder in lectures, seminars and independent study. Inherent to this programme are the government’s national priorities, and we will give you support whilst thoroughly addressing these issues. In line with government requirements, you will spend the majority of your course gaining experience in schools, where you will spend 24 weeks teaching under supervision.

Career pathways

A Primary Education (3–7 years) PGCE at Brighton prepares you for a career teaching children in the Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the course develops the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to support children's learning, development and wellbeing during some of the most important years of their education.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

This is a highly successful postgraduate route into teaching. We strongly encourage applications from candidates with the potential to become outstanding teachers in this intensive and mainly school-based programme. The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course. They should be used as a general guide. Degree and experience. Normally an honours degree or equivalent qualification. Experience. A realistic awareness of the teaching profession with the capacity to thrive in a demanding and fast moving environment. When applying, please use your personal statement to illustrate this. GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4). At least English language, maths and a science. If you don’t have the required GCSEs, an equivalency test demonstrates that you have achieved the same standard as a traditional GCSE grade C or level 4. At Brighton, we accept equivalency tests from A Star Equivalency. If you have equivalency test results from another provider, contact us at [email protected] to see if we can accept them. We cannot accept Functional Skills for teaching courses. International student application deadline. The deadline for international applicants is late May. This deadline is in place to ensure sufficient time for the visa process to be completed before the course starts in early September. Interviews.

Domestic applicants: GBP 9,790 a year (2026/27). First-year tuition fee, full-time; fees may rise in later years. Source

International applicants: GBP 18,108 a year (2026/27). First-year tuition fee, full-time; fees may rise in later years. Source

Duration: full-time: 1 year

Apply through the official page: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-teacher-training

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