Key details

  • Duration

    12 months
  • Location

    online
  • Cost

    £3,600 plus VAT (as applicable)*
  • Funding

    self-funded
  • Level

    EYFS, primary, secondary and SEND

Course description

If you’re teaching in an international school and want to improve the quality of your classroom practice, develop effective subject knowledge and pedagogy within the context of international school systems, and gain a Master's level qualification, our iPGCE could be ideal for you.

Our iPGCE course will help you to:

  • Become an empowered, reflective practitioner and manager in education who can be an agent of change

  • Critically engage with a wide range of education issues from a multidisciplinary subject/phase perspective

  • Develop models of good practice by drawing on a range of literature and comparing your own teaching practice to existing good practice models

  • Build upon your professional experience to link theory with research, policy and practice in international education and development

You can learn more about this course by watching our on-demand webinar.

Entry requirements

To join our iPGCE course you must:

  • Be working or volunteering in a school by the time you start your course

  • You must teach a whole class or large group (8 pupils or more) for a minimum of 4 hours per week for the duration of your course

  • Our iPGCE is age phase specific. You must be teaching in the age phase that matches your iPGCE route

  • Have the full support of your school for the entirety of the course, who will need to appoint a suitable in-school mentor

  • Hold a degree awarded by a UK university or a recognised degree equivalent qualification

  • If English is not your first language, you must achieve IELTS 6.5 or equivalent (no less than 6.0 in any element)

  • Have day-to-day access to a computer and the internet and regular access to a classroom context

Course delivery

Our iPGCE course is delivered through our award-winning online platform, Tes Learn.

Provided in partnership with University of East London (UEL), the course consists of two core modules:

  1. Developing effective subject knowledge and pedagogy

  2. Investigating strategies for raising pupil learning and achievement

The modules blend applied teaching theory with practice and draw upon decades of practical, classroom-based teaching expertise and higher education provision. 

Throughout your course, you’ll be supported by your iPGCE pathway tutor and school mentor.

Successful completion of your course will lead to the award of International Postgraduate Certificate in Education by UEL.

The iPGCE is age phase specific and currently available in early years foundation stage (EYFS), primary, secondary, and special education needs and disabilities (SEND).

Please note for teachers in Hong Kong we only offer EYFS, primary and secondary.

We do not offer subject-specific iPGCE routes. You can teach any subject as long as the age phase you teach matches your iPGCE route.

As a reminder, the Tes Institute iPGCE does not lead to the award of qualified teacher status (QTS).

Course leader

Emma Cook Learner story image


Emma Cook

With over 25 years of experience in education, Emma has been a leader in various school settings, spanning both mainstream and specialist schools. Additionally, she has worked at the university level, lecturing on both PGCE and BA QTS programmes, specializing in SEND, professional studies, and primary English.

In her role as a director at Tes Institute, her focus is on delivering outstanding initial teacher training and apprenticeships in both mainstream and specialist settings. She was delighted to have led a successful bid to become a DfE-approved provider for iQTS, enabling Tes Institute to offer equitable training to teachers working across the globe.

Deputy course leader

Alison Lawton Blog image


Alison Lawton

After beginning my primary teaching career in the UK I moved to Dubai, UAE where I worked as a teacher and consultant for 10 years. While in Dubai I completed an MA in Education. I began working for Tes Institute in 2018 as an iPGCE, AO and S2T pathway tutor and QTS assessor. I found it incredibly rewarding visiting teachers across the UAE and supporting educators internationally as they studied online. On my return to the UK in 2021 I was appointed as SKE Deputy Director and enjoyed working with teachers as they enhanced their subject knowledge.

Now in the role of iPGCE Deputy Director, I enjoy supporting students located across the world as they strive to delve deeper into educational practice and theory to develop their criticality and become highly skilled and reflective practitioners. In all of the work that I do I think back to my own teacher training and endeavour to provide a robust structure of support for students as well as nurturing them as they enhance their professional practice.

Course fees and funding

Our iPGCE course costs £3,600 plus VAT (as applicable).

For learners in Hong Kong, the cost of our iPGCE is £5,600 plus VAT (as applicable), as you will undertake an additional module to support your teacher registration.

The Hong Kong Education Bureau (EDB) course registration number for this iPGCE course is 252988. It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognise any qualification to which this course may lead.

Course application and start dates

The application deadline is 5pm BST/GMT on the dates listed below.

Course start dates

International Post Graduate Certificate of Education (iPGCE) application deadline International Post Graduate Certificate of Education (iPGCE) start date
Monday 8th April 2024 Monday 22nd April 2024
Monday 2nd September 2024 Monday 16th September 2024

Andrew's story

MyTes picture - Andrew Hawley image
The reason I chose iPGCE from Tes Institute over other institutions was the flexibility of the part-time course so that I could balance family, work and study.
Andrew Hawley, Former iPGCE learner

Next steps

You can apply for our iPGCE online by clicking the 'Apply' button.

  • 1
    Apply
  • 2
    Application review and confirmation
  • 3
    Enrolment

Documents you will need

List of documents required

  • Confirmation of School Support form
    PDF, 53KB

Apply for our iPGCE

Need more information?
Contact us about this course.

FAQs