PGCE (Secondary) Geography at University of Brighton

Programme overview

Geography teachers encourage students to think critically about the environment and society, and to understand the world around them – from physical landscapes to human cultures and global issues. Our Secondary Geography PGCE leads to QTS – the professional teaching qualification. With our Ofsted ‘outstanding’ rating, Brighton offers you the chance to learn from an expert team with practical classroom experience, and to benefit from facilities that are designed to replicate actual school environments.

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 course offers a number of features that are of enormous benefit to graduates and their continuing professional development. These include: active involvement with fieldwork, both locally and in a residential context; opportunities for involvement with RGS/IBG and GA seminars, conferences and exhibitions; access to the OS digital map information system Digimap through university registration; and the use of iPads in the geography classroom. Two-thirds of your year will be spent teaching under supervision in schools. Our tutors and mentors will advise and support you throughout each placement.

Career pathways

A (Secondary) Geography PGCE at Brighton prepares you for a career teaching geography in secondary schools. Leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), the course develops the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to help young people understand the world around them, from physical landscapes and environmental change to human cultures and global issues.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Degree. Normally an honours degree or equivalent qualification in the subject specialism or a subject that is directly relevant. GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4). At least English language and maths. 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. Interviews for this course are online. If we invite you to an interview, you’ll be able to choose a date that suits you best. Experience. While experience in a school is not a condition of entry for initial teacher education courses, we recommend that you take up opportunities to gain a realistic understanding of whether teaching is right for you. The Get Into Teaching School Experience Programme offers opportunities across the country to book a day’s worth of experience. Read the tips on applying for teacher training.

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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