iPGCE with iQTS - International Postgraduate Certificate in Education with International Qualified Teacher Status

Study level: Postgraduate
A teacher and students in the classroom sat around a large table, with papers in front of them, all smiling at the camera.

Our iPGCE with iQTS is an Initial Teacher Training course for trainee teachers worldwide.

Start date

January
April
September

Location

In schools

Course code

See how to apply

Study mode

Work-based learning with online study

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Cost

£7,950 full-time
£3,975 per year part-time

Age phases

Primary
Secondary


Course overview

This course enables trainee teachers to gain International Qualified Teacher Status and study for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education while in employment or on placement in schools outside England.

The course is offered at primary level (for trainees teaching pupils aged 5-11) and in a range of subjects at secondary level (for trainees teaching pupils aged 11-16 or 11-18). The course is also offered for the 14-19 age range in subjects which are usually only taught in Key Stages 4 and 5.

  • Trainees train to teach 'on the job', learning with the support of expert practitioners in schools.
  • Academic learning takes place online with the support of experienced university lead mentors.
  • Flexible delivery approaches ensure the course is accessible to trainee teachers anywhere in the world.
  • Choice of 19 subject specialisms at secondary level (11-19 age range).

Accreditation and professional recognition

Department for Education

Department for Education

This course is accredited by the Department for Education (DfE) for the 2023/24 intake1.



Course details

The course maintains there is no one way to teach and encourages you to engage with a variety of teaching methods to develop your own best practice. It promotes the principle that continued professional development is fundamental to outstanding teaching and aims for its graduates to carry forward this belief throughout their careers.

There are four modules of study comprising Behaviour and Classroom Management, Curriculum Delivery and Assessment, Development of Teaching, and Practical Teaching Practice.

You will also undertake a second school placement to broaden your experience2.

The Practical Teaching Practice module runs throughout the course, and formative assessment informs your progress and helps you to develop your teaching. At the end of the course, a summative assessment of your teaching competency is made.

For part-time trainees, these modules are spread across Year 1 and Year 2.

Modules

  • This module develops your understanding of educational psychology, neuroscience and contemporary educational theory on behaviour. You will explore how children learn, what influences behaviour and what strategies and interventions are effective for promoting good teaching and learning.

    Compulsory

  • This module develops your knowledge of subject pedagogy, effective lesson planning and application of statutory codes for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), as well as principles of assessment and feedback practices.

    Compulsory

  • This module develops a reflective and self-critical approach to teaching. You will be required to demonstrate effective practice via critical evaluation and systematic analysis of your own teaching practice in line with The National Teachers’ Standards in England (Department for Education 2012).

    Compulsory

  • The Practical Teaching Practice module is practice-based and runs throughout the course. You will be encouraged to set, review and show you can meet targets related to your professional practice and demonstrate your teaching competency.

    Compulsory

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


Entry requirements

Applicants must:

  • Hold an undergraduate degree, or equivalent as assessed by UK ENIC.
  • Hold a standard equivalent to a GCSE Grade 4 in maths.
  • For trainees teaching children aged 3-11, hold a standard equivalent to a GCSE (Grade 4) in a science subject.

Equivalency tests

We also accept third party equivalency tests in place of GCSEs. The current providers that have been approved are:

You can view our full list of country-specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Visit our International Hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 or higher, with no component less than 5.5, (or equivalent), or TOEFL 600, or to have completed some of your education, for example, a degree, in English.

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the required level by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Coventry University will coordinate safeguarding checks. Applicants will be responsible for obtaining their own overseas checks/DBS equivalent (criminal record checks) required by the respective country5.

For more information about this course, entry requirements or your educational setting suitability, speak to our team.

Contact us

Applicants in England

People who live in England can apply for our PGCE with QTS.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
International £7,950   £3,975 per year

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees3 cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.


How to apply

  • Applications for this course should be made through our CU Apply portal. Below are the course codes, please note down the code that is related to the course you wish to apply for.

    Apply now

    Course codes

    Primary
    Employed full-time: TT01QTPGL
    Employed part-time: TT03QTPGL
    Non-employed full-time: TT02QTPGL
    Non-employed part-time: TT04QTPGL

    Secondary
    Employed full-time: TT01QTSGL
    Employed part-time: TT03QTSGL
    Non-employed full-time: TT02QTSGL
    Non-employed part-time: TT04QTSGL


Frequently asked questions

  • School-based
    You will be based in schools for the entirety of the course (5 days a week for full-time trainees and 2.5 days a week for part-time trainees). Teacher training is most effective ‘on the job’ in schools so the knowledge you gain can be instantly applied in real lessons.

    Online
    The course is delivered to you online through webinars, podcasts, videos, research, and tutorials. Our platforms are interactive and engaging, enabling both independent and peer learning. All course content and materials are available online, enabling you to study and revisit them as required.

    Worldwide
    As the course is delivered online, you can be employed or on placement in a school anywhere in the world, subject to the school meeting the required selection criteria to ensure it can offer you the right support.

    Support
    Described by Ofsted as “excellent”, Coventry University’s online tutorial approach provides you with teaching and support, both 1-1 with your university tutor and in a tutor group. Tutorials deepen your understanding of topics, prompting you to think about what works best for you in your teaching. You will also be guided on a day-to-day basis by your in-school mentor, who will be an experienced teacher in your school.

    Multiple start dates
    You can choose to start the course in September, January, or April, according to your preferences.

    Employability
    You will gain internationally recognised teaching training and a qualification which could enhance your employability.

    Multiple routes
    You can choose to train in primary, or one of the following secondary subjects: Art and Design, Biology, Computing, Chemistry, Dance, Design and Technology, Drama, English, Geography, History, Mathematics, Music, Modern Foreign Languages, Physical Education, Physics and Religious Studies.

    For the 14-19 age range, Business Studies, Classics and Psychology are also available.

  • Trainees on all our teacher training programmes can be already employed by a school or hosted by a school on a non-employed basis. There are many similarities between our Employed and Non-employed routes; both involve trainees being in school 5-days a week (or 2.5 days per week part-time) and increasing time spent teaching whole classes as the course progresses.

    Employed trainees are salaried members of staff, perhaps working in an unqualified teacher role, or as a classroom assistant or teaching assistant.
    Employed trainees and their schools need to think carefully about whether their current role would enable them to have an increasing responsibility for teaching whole classes. Classroom-based teaching assistants working alongside a teacher in the same class may be able to begin to take on the required amount of teaching during the course. However, for teaching assistants who work as 1:1 support for individual children it may be harder to meet the requirements for whole class teaching. Most employed trainees will need to be released for 4 weeks (or 8 weeks part-time)* to complete a second school placement, usually around the middle of the course.

    Non-employed trainees have more flexibility but do need to find a school which can host them on a non-employed or voluntary basis for the duration of the course. They are also required to build up their teaching of whole classes and complete a second school placement. For non-employed trainees the second school placement is usually 6 weeks (or 12 weeks part-time)*.

    *Trainees based in a SEN setting for their main school placement need to have an extended second school placement in a mainstream setting.

  • The course is designed to be highly practical to help trainee teachers develop their craft in schools under the supervision of skilled school-based mentors and experienced university tutors.

    Underpinned by the best available evidence of ‘what works’ to improve teaching and learning, and designed to complement your teaching or placement role in school, our online course consists of webinars, podcasts, videos, research and tutorials. Our platforms are interactive and engaging and promote independent and peer learning. All the course content and materials are available online, enabling you to study and revisit them as required.

    The course comprises four modules and is typically studied over one year (three school terms) or two years (six school terms) if studying part-time. You’ll receive guidance from a school-based mentor trained by the university, weekly contact with your university tutor and you will be visited in school by a university assessor.

    The modular structure of the course is blended in approach. It combines online distance learning with practical in-school support.

    A 15-credit module consists of 150 hours of learning, which comprises a mix of teaching and independent study.

    The iPGCE with iQTS will be delivered via online technologies and methods and utilise an online portfolio to evidence your professional development.

    The course has three different start points throughout the year – September, January, and April.

    During your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to access an experienced team, including university tutors, progression coaches and student experience officers, who will support your studies through feedback and dedicated live seminars.

  • This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

    Assessment methods include:

    • Essays
    • Presentations
    • Vivas

    The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

  • Our iPGCE with iQTS course is a formal Initial Teacher Training qualification for trainee teachers outside England. Upon successful completion, the qualification will be approved by the DfE to certify trainees to teach in state-maintained schools in England as a qualified teacher. Many independent schools now also prefer their teachers to hold this award.

    The course also provides 60 Level 7 credits that may be transferred as prior learning credits for future study at master’s degree level.

    On successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

    • Teach effectively and skilfully to enable pupils in your lessons to progress in their learning.
    • Critically reflect on what impacts pupil learning, using relevant educational research and evidence from your own teaching to inform and improve your practice.
    • Reflect on and analyse your own teaching and research, into both teaching theory and practice, to identify improvements and increase your confidence and self-efficacy.
    • Synthesise, apply and critically evaluate pedagogical theory and literature to adopt relevant high-quality strategies and teaching methods within your individual context, wherever you are in the world.
  • The iPGCE with iQTS provides successful trainees with excellent preparation for master’s level study.

  • No, currently applicants for iQTS are not eligible for loans, bursaries or any other type of financial support from the UK government to help cover the costs of studying iQTS.

  • Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, National Institute of Teaching and Education (NITE) and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

    1Accreditations

    The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

    2UK and international opportunities

    Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

    3Tuition fees

    The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

    For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

    4Facilities

    Facilities are subject to availability. Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.

    5Placements

    Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure may be required. As part of the health clearance checks you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. You will also be required to provide information about your COVID-19 vaccination status. We therefore recommend that you are fully vaccinated including the COVID-19 vaccine. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is therefore unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.

    Student Contract

    By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.

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