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Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Early Years) Top Up

Part Time

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Primary) Top Up

Part Time

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Secondary) Top Up

Part Time
The PGCE Top-up course enables you to achieve award of Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) if you have already successfully completed a Graduate Teacher Programme.
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PGCE (Top-Up) Primary/Early Years/Secondary

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Key Facts

  • Level

    PostgraduatePG PGCert

  • Duration

    1 year part time

  • Starting

    October

    OCT

Updated 09/04/2025

Open Days

Updated 09/04/2025

Get in touch

For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:

UK STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ENQUIRIES

international@northampton.ac.uk
44 (0)1604 892134

Overview

The PGCE Top-up course enables you to achieve the academic award of Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) if you have already successfully gained QTS through the Graduate Teacher Programme, School Direct or similar. This PGCE is accredited by the General Teaching Council Scotland which means on successful completion you will have met the requirement to be eligible to apply for registration as a teacher in Scotland.

If you are interested in doing this, information about the rest of the requirements for registration can be found on the GTCS website. In addition, QTS holders in the UK and internationally will benefit from this one year programme, designed to meet the needs of practicing teachers and increase your employability around the world.

Highlights

  • Flexible schedule to fit around work schedules.
  • Course is accredited by the General Teaching Council Scotland.
  • Achieve PGCE status if you have already completed the required credits.
Aerial view of University of Northampton, Waterside campus featuring multiple modern buildings, a river, and surrounding greenery and open fields. Car parks and residential areas are visible in the background.

Waterside campus has everything students needs from: Learning Hub featuring 24/7 library, Creative Hub, on-site shop, restaurant, cafes and food outlets, multi-faith chaplaincy, student village hall, Students' Union and more. With only a short walk over the bridge into the town centre.

Internal view of the Learning Hub, showing barriers towards elevators and in the background the student information desk. There is a large clock on the wall. A person is walking through the spacious lobby.

The Learning Hub and Student Information Desk would be a student's first point of call when needing support.

Two floors of the Learning Hub library, showing a spacious, modern interior with rows of bookshelves, a mezzanine level, and several students studying on couches and tables below.

Our library covers three floors of the Learning Hub, with IT rich learning environments, including silent and group study spaces, physical books. Don't forget there are plenty more resources available online!

University of Northampton Student Information Desk area with digital screens, staff computers, and a sign reading

The Student Information Desk is the first place a student should go if they need any help. Here the team can direct you to academic support, mental health support, financial support, IT support, and more.

Spacious modern building lobby, the Learning Hub, with high ceilings, circular ceiling panels, staircase, and staff and students working at yellow seating areas.

The Learning Hub is where every student will go for library support and classes, as well as food outlets and social events.

External view of the Learning Hub, with large windows and vertical pillars housing, adjacent to a green lawn with benches and an outdoor seating area with an umbrella.

The Learning Hub also has lots of outdoor space for meeting with friends or finding some silent time between classes.

External view of the Learning Hub at the University of Northampton. The building features large glass windows, metal panelling, and pavements.

The Learning Hub is the biggest building on campus, home to our Student Information Desk, 24/7 library, teaching spaces, cafes, and more.

External view of Senate building at the University of Northampton, which is a modern building with cream features and grey roads surrounding it.

The big and spacious modern Senate building has various types of learning spaces, teaching rooms, our Bloomberg suite, Morley Room lecture hall, and cafes.

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to have a minimum of 2:2 classification from their First Degree from a UK university of equivalent.

You must have QTS status through the Graduate Teacher Programme, School Direct route or similar and have recent teaching experience. We are happy to discuss this with individuals.

For more more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

Course Content

  • This course enables academic study alongside full-time teaching. It consists of formal taught sessions with tutors held at weekends or during the mid-term breaks. We also deliver teaching through online sources, which you can access anywhere, at your convenience through our Virtual Learning Environment, NILE. You will also have access to the library and a tutor, who will be available to help in person or online, and we hold regular webinars to support your studies.

    This course is designed to support your professional development, embedding academic studies in the context of your work. You will enhance your QTS by studying modules at Masters’ level to gain the PGCE qualification. It will give you a deeper understanding of teaching and learning to enhance your practice and help you on your way to a Masters’ degree and beyond if you wish to progress this further.

    Module information can be found on the Award Map.

  • How will I be assessed?

    You will have a variety of assessments, submitted throughout the year. They will include reflective pieces of writing, essays and a small-scale research project.

    How will I learn?

    The entire course consists of interactive, taught sessions, involving activities and discussions plus some independent study. This course is run over two terms between October and June. You should also expect to do six to 10 hours of private study each week.

    The structure of this online course has been created to accommodate practicing teachers, wherever they are based. There is no necessity to visit Northampton.

Fees and Funding

2025/26 Tuition Fees

Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Years 25/26 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • £2,830 (60 credits)

For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

  • There are currently no additional costs anticipated for this course for 2025 entry.

  • Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Years 24/25 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

    • £2,760 (60 credits)

Staff

Eunice Lumsden, Head of Childhood, Youth & Families and Professor

Head of Childhood, Youth & Families and Professor
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Eunice Lumsden
Helen Caldwell, Associate Professor in Education

Associate Professor in Education
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Helen Caldwell
Joanne Barrow, Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)

Senior Lecturer in Education (CYF)
Faculty of Health, Education and Society

Joanne Barrow

Careers and Employability

Most PGCE top-up students will already be professional teachers, however this qualification will allow you to teach in other countries, subject to their own regulations, and opens up opportunities for career progression such as leadership and management.

We would encourage you to check visa requirements if you are intending to use the course to enable you to teach in a different country.

Is this course for you?

Open Days

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