Admission Policy and Entry Requirements

The Department of Education positively encourages applications from all sections of the community.  It is vital that the teaching profession fully reflects our diverse and pluralistic society.

For entry to the PGCE course you must have a degree awarded by a United Kingdom university or other institution empowered to make such awards, or recognised equivalent qualifications.

In certain cases, non-graduates may be considered for the course if they are “adequately qualified” and have what are considered “graduate equivalent” qualifications. Non-graduates should contact the PGCE Office for advice.

Candidates wishing to teach a particular subject in schools would normally be expected to have studied that subject, or a closely related one, to undergraduate degree level. However, applicants graduating in other subjects are not automatically rejected; each application is considered on its merits.

All interns must have obtained a GCSE (Grade C or above) or pass O level in English Language and Mathematics (or their equivalent) before commencing the course.  The University does not offer an equivalency test in English and Mathematics.

If you hold overseas qualifications, you can check with the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC) whether the qualifications you hold are considered to be equivalent to those required for entry to the PGCE.  UK NARIC is the National Agency for the Department for Children, Schools and Families and it the only official information provider on the comparability of international qualifications.  For more information please contact UK NARIC on + 44 (0) 870 990 4088 or visit their website www.naric.org.uk/  

Please note that if offered a PGCE place you will be asked to present the official certificates showing your qualifications and results before you start the course. 

The General Teaching Council for England (GTCE) requires that all trainee teachers must satisfactorily complete the GTCE Suitability Self Declaration, which assesses their suitability for registration with the GTCE, before starting the PGCE.  If you are invited to attend a PGCE interview you will be asked to complete a self declaration when you attend.  All successful students must meet the conditions of their PGCE place and be provisionally registered with the GTCE (by the PGCE Office) within 28 days of commencing the course.

Fitness to Teach: it is a Government requirement that all interns should be physically and mentally fit before embarking on a course which leads directly to the award of Qualified Teacher Status. If you are offered a place on the PGCE course you will have to complete a self-disclosure questionnaire. These medical questionnaires are scrutinized by Occupational Health professionals.

Working with Children – declaration of Criminal Convictions: All trainee teachers in England and Wales have to be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) before beginning a PGCE. For more information on the CRB and Enhanced Disclosure, please contact the CRB on + 44 (0) 870 90 90 811 or visit their website http://www.crb.gov.uk/

College Membership: Every student at Oxford, including PGCE students, must become a member of one of the colleges of the University. The college system gives you an opportunity to meet and mix with people outside the Department and colleges offer a wide range of academic and social activities, as well as catering for most sporting interests. 
Last modified by Mrs Barbara Rowan - 12 February 2008