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Citizenship PGCE

London, Bloomsbury

The Citizenship PGCE offers you the opportunity to learn to teach at the leading edge of Citizenship education for the 11-16 age range, and to develop your knowledge and understanding of teaching a range of associated subjects at A level/post-16. These subjects include government and politics, humanities, economics, media literacy, climate/disaster education, international relations/affairs, peace education, philosophy, social sciences, law, personal development, active citizenship and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education.

UK students International students
Study mode
Full-time
UK tuition fees (2025/26)
£9,250
Overseas tuition fees (2025/26)
£27,500
Duration
1 academic year
Programme starts
September 2025
Applications accepted
All applicants: 08 Oct 2024 – Closing date to be confirmed

Applications not yet open

Early application is advised as programmes may close as soon as places are filled. Applicants should check the for the latest vacancy information.

Skills


This course will give you everything you need to face the classroom, both the pedagogical theory and the practical skills to be an inspiring teacher.

Support


Our gradual immersion approach will introduce you to the classroom progressively, from one pupil to the whole class.
A unique gradual approach to teaching

Experience


Placement in very diverse, carefully chosen schools will allow you to learn from different contexts and be prepared to teach in any school.
Read our placement guide

Start teaching


With a PGCE you can start teaching as soon as you complete the course and are recommended for Qualified Teacher Status.

IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, has been ranked 1st for Education in the QS World University Rankings by Subject since 2014.

Entry requirements

UK qualifications Equivalent qualifications

First degree

A minimum of a lower second-class UK Bachelor鈥檚 degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard in a related subject.

A levels

Not required (depending on degree experience) but A levels in one or more of the following are useful: Politics, Law, Sociology, Citizenship Studies, Psychology, History, Geography, Religious Studies, Economics, Business Studies, Anthropology.

GCSEs

English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4. We do not accept "applied" or "additional" GCSE subjects. Applicants who do not offer a GCSE in English Language or Mathematics may demonstrate an equivalent standard by completing a test via or and achieving at least a grade 4. For Mathematics, equivalency tests in Mathematics Foundation or Mathematics Higher with grade 4 are accepted. BTEC, Functional Skills or Access course qualifications are not accepted in place of GCSEs.

School experience

We recommend that you aim to gain some experience in a classroom prior to interview.

Skills tests

Trainees will be assured against a set of fundamental Mathematics and English skills by the end of their teacher training.

Relevant experience and background

Applicants whose degree qualifications are below a lower second-class standard may be admitted if they can demonstrate an appropriate academic background at Master's level and above and/or significant postgraduate experience in the relevant field.

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 2

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This programme is suitable for international students on a Student visa - study must be full-time, starting September.

DBS and occupational health

If you are made an offer you will be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks. The Occupational Health Check is 拢90, and depending on your DBS requirements, there may be an additional fee of 拢15.00 if you can submit your DBS Enhanced Disclosure check via a UK Post Office. These checks are required to ensure you meet the Department for Education鈥檚 requirements for physical and mental health to teach, as well as assessing your suitability for access to children and vulnerable adults. More details can be found on the Entry requirements page.

If you have lived, worked, studied or travelled in any single country outside of the UK for six continuous months or more, in the last five years, you will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct from the relevant country/countries. The cost of this check varies by country and is payable by the student. More information on how to obtain these can be found on gov.uk.

For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the UCL ITE Admissions team.

About this course

The Citizenship PGCE supports you to teach young people about the knowledge, skills and concepts they need to become a democratic and participatory citizen in society. 

On the course, you will learn how to teach children and young people about political, legal, economic and鈥痬edia, literacy. You will inspire them to think about the changing world, drawing on perspectives about rights, climate, sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion. You will also learn how to build criticality in young people so that they can develop clear evidence-based viewpoints bringing in intersectional and diverse ideas. 

You will learn how to plan for compelling and engaging learning in Citizenship education that both supports, inspires and challenges students as they prepare for qualifications and their wider life as citizens in society.

The Citizenship PGCE features four Intensive Teaching and Practice (ITAP) sequences designed to establish and develop your Citizenship teaching throughout the year.鈥疌losely linking theory and practice, and enabling you to observe, deconstruct, plan, practise and progress in specific areas of teaching, these focus on:

  1. Establishing positive learning environments.
  2. Planning and sequencing Citizenship knowledge, concepts and skills.
  3. Oracy and debate; complex discussions in a Citizenship classroom.
  4. Developing Active Citizenship.

Who this course is for

The course is suited to those wishing to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for teaching in a UK maintained (state-funded) school and who have fulfilled the appropriate entry requirements.

Backgrounds in areas such as youth work, teaching assistant work, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), NGO/charity work, campaigning and activism are advantageous (though you do not need to have this experience to apply). 

This course is suitable for a wide range of subject knowledge backgrounds including applicants who have knowledge/experience of politics, media literacy, humanities subjects, law, international relations, youth studies/work, community studies/work, anthropology, human rights, political ideologies, democracy, peace work/studies, climate or environment studies or others 鈥� contact the course leader if you would like to check your eligibility.

Additionally, while visiting schools/or observing teaching is useful it is not necessary and we often have applications from candidates with strong knowledge, or motivation in the subject area but with less experience visiting schools. The most important thing for your application is that you show a keen willingness to develop in both the subject and your teaching practice.

Read more about the requirements for teacher training

What this course will give you

The Citizenship PGCE is led by an experienced and innovative Citizenship educator, . Hans has taught in Citizenship education for 20+ years and is involved in a range of Citizenship education activities and organisations that inform the development of the PGCE. As such, student teachers at IOE, UCL鈥檚 Faculty of Education and Society are at the forefront of the latest specialist teaching approaches.

IOE is fortunate to partner with some of the best schools for Citizenship, with many of our mentors being alumni of IOE's Citizenship PGCE course. Our partner schools guarantee at least 50% of a student teacher鈥檚 timetable are citizenship topics. We also provide opportunities for you to teach GCSE Citizenship in one or both schools and some schools have opportunities to teach A level or to have other post-16 experiences.

The course educates teachers in a dynamic, creative and innovative way, drawing in experts across the Citizenship education field to explore current affairs, controversial and sensitive issues and the teaching of community action. All of this knowledge, the concepts and the skill-based pedagogies can be successfully applied to Citizenship education and additional subjects that graduates go on to teach. Our approach to Intensive Training and Practice (ITAP) is proudly subject-specific.鈥疧ur ITAP sequences are embedded through the Citizenship course and will give you the opportunity to build your practice and confidence in pivotal areas of Citizenship pedagogy including around the teaching of controversial issues and active Citizenship.

The Citizenship PGCE has significant links with the subject association - the Association for Citizenship Teaching. These links help connect you to high-quality resources, continuous professional development and to a range of speakers and events.

All students who have completed this course went on to get a job or further study in their chosen field. 100% of students rate the Citizenship PGCE course good-outstanding for satisfaction each year (IOE Secondary PGCE student teacher survey, 2021-24).  

Read more about teacher training at the IOE

The teacher you want to be

Graduates of this course are currently working across a broad range of areas. Most graduates become teachers of Citizenship and related subjects, such as religious education, politics, humanities, psychology, sociology, philosophy, PSHE, health and social care, media studies, law, personal development and cultural studies. Graduates in this area can also be found working as education officers for charities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and museums, local authority education advisers and as researchers and writers for organisations such as the United Nations or the civil service. The upward career trajectory within schools is often rapid for Citizenship graduates, with many working as heads of department, heads of faculty, heads of year or as part of senior leadership teams in schools. Students often later in their careers go on to study for a Master鈥檚 or PhD degree.

鈥淭he lecturers were incredibly attentive and engaged and the school placements are a really valuable source of hands-on experience. The blend of theory-based learning at IOE and placement teaching allowed for a really dynamic process of bringing us new concepts and ideas and being able to test them in practice in a London school.鈥� 鈥� Liam Cadzow Webb, Citizenship PGCE, 2023

Read testimonials from our other students.

The Citizenship PGCE aims to provide a springboard into a rewarding career as a skilled teacher and future educational leader. The course is designed to help our graduates lead meaningful professional lives grounded in the contribution they make to young people's understanding of the world and their place in it.

The tools of a great educator

  • Understanding of theory and subject or phase pedagogy
  • Creating a successful climate for learning, including behaviour management
  • Planning and teaching classes that engage pupils
  • Using assessment to inform planning
  • Working with the wider school community, including parents

Employability

The Citizenship PGCE course is completed at one of the top ten best universities in the world and the world鈥檚 Number 1 in Education (QS 2024) for 11 consecutive years. The course prepares you for the world of teaching young people about鈥痶he political, legal, social and democratic experiences and challenges they face in today's world, including thinking about climate and sustainability, equality, diversity and inclusion, human rights and social justice.

Accreditation

When you successfully complete this course, 皇家华人ill recommend you for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). QTS is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency in England.

Structure

The course is taught through a mix of face-to-face and online sessions, (including keynote lectures and debates, presentations, discussions, and classroom group tasks), and a practical teaching element based in two schools. You are required to read widely and to carry out written assignments in your own time.

You will also take part in activities that provide the opportunity to focus on developing specific, pivotal areas of teaching through our ITAP sequences. These opportunities (totalling 20 days, 4 of which are school-based) will strengthen the link between theory and practice and provide you with specific feedback to support your progress in these pivotal areas.

Assessment is by practical teaching, assignments, portfolio tasks and through an oral presentation.

The PGCE is a full-time course, designed so you learn to teach in schools for approximately two-thirds of the course (124 days) and through IOE-based learning in the other third.

When you are not undertaking teaching and learning activities at IOE or in other forms outside of schools, you will spend at least 124 days of study and practice in a range of school settings 鈥� including two longer placements in IOE partnership schools. Because actual placement dates are determined by partner school term dates, the exact number of days spent in school for any given student may vary slightly.

Contact hours vary throughout the year depending on whether you are on placement or attending IOE.

University sessions typically run from 9.00am (earliest) to 5.30pm (latest). During school placements, you will be expected to attend according to the school鈥檚 policy. This will typically involve attending at least 30 minutes before the start of the school day and leaving at least 30 minutes after the school day ends (with additional time expected if there are particular departmental or other meetings you need to attend). You will have readings and additional self-directed study to complete in addition to these contact hours.

Studying at IOE was a transformative experience. Knowing that you are at the most recognisable institute for teacher training in the world gives you the confidence to know you will have the expertise to help you succeed in this challenging profession.

UCL Portico building with welcome sign between columns.

Luke Jenner

Citizenship PGCE

Q&A with Luke Jenner

Modules

You will undertake two modules at level 7 (Master鈥檚 level) of 30 credits each and one Professional Practice module at level 6.鈥疶he level 7 credits can be carried forward onto some full Master鈥檚 courses at IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society鈥�(check individual course requirements). You will be awarded a PGCE when you successfully complete all three modules.

Throughout the year, you will also participate in specific activities at IOE and in school that focus on important areas of our curriculum. Our ITAP sequences (totalling 20 days with at least 4 of these days in school) will help you to better understand links between theory and practice. They will also involve feedback from experts so that your progress is supported in these pivotal areas.

Compulsory modules





Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Upon successful completion of 60 credits and the Professional Practice module, you will be awarded a PGCE in Citizenship.

Fieldwork

You will take part in a few trips each year, such as to Parliament, and to other dynamic centres of learning. These opportunities help you learn how to develop and later lead school trips of your own.

School placements

You will spend most of your time in schools, working with Citizenship mentors who support you through your two school placements. We are fortunate to have an exceptionally strong choice of schools with whom we work, with many outstanding mentors and strong citizenship departments.

The Professional Practice module is assessed through these placements, associated tasks and a portfolio built up throughout the year.  

During placement periods, you will need to travel to and from each school placement. Please be aware that not all schools have parking and that there is variation in how accessible schools are. However, if you let us know of any particular accessibility needs you have, we will endeavour to accommodate them.

We ensure your placement will provide fulfilling and valuable experiences through:

  • A dedicated team who will identify the best schools for your placements
  • Support and guidance from your university tutor and your school-based mentor
  • School experience that allows you to progress at an appropriate pace for you
  • Reasonable travel times from your home to your school

Making the most of your placement

Teaching is a demanding profession and student teachers can feel nervous about school placements or anxious about the workload. Your tutor and school-based mentor will help you navigate your school experience, ensuring that you have the input you need. Empathetic feedback and discussion about your developing professional practice will support you to be successful.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services team.

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students
Fee description Full-time
Tuition fees (2025/26) £9,250
Tuition fees (2025/26) £27,500

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

Each year we typically secure an arrangement with the Association for Citizenship Teaching for our student teachers. We therefore recommend that you do not join the association until you start the course and we will provide this membership for you in your first year of teaching.

You are responsible for covering the costs of travel to and from placements (these are typically located within the M25) and travel costs for visits organised by the course.

The cost per day, as of July 2024, if you are using Oyster pay as you go varies between 拢8.50 (zones 1 and 2 only) and 拢22.30 (zones 1 to 9) based on current prices. Costs can be reduced by purchasing a weekly or monthly travelcard as well as applying for an Oyster Student photocard which allows up to 30% off travel when purchasing a travelcard.

The trips for the fieldwork鈥痑re within the London area so, other than expenses for travel and refreshments, there are no additional costs.

You also require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check plus an Occupational Health check prior to beginning the course. Information about costs is available on our entry requirements page for teacher training courses.

The Financial Assistance Funds provide support to UCL students who are in unexpected financial need.

UCL鈥檚 main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is 拢114.50. This price was published by TfL in 2024. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible to receive a training bursary for living costs. For Secondary, this depends on your PGCE subject (not all attract a bursary) and your degree classification or highest relevant academic qualification. Scholarships are available in some subjects.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at 皇家华人, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the UCL Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

Application and next steps

Students are advised to apply as early as possible due to competition for places. Those applying for scholarship funding (particularly overseas applicants) should take note of application deadlines.

When applying make sure to express in your personal statement why you wish to teach Citizenship education in particular.

We highly recommend that you get in touch with the subject leader - at h.svennevig@ucl.ac.uk - if you have any questions in advance of your application.

Got questions? Get in touch

Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment
Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment

h.svennevig@ucl.ac.uk

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