Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship plus PGCE

Professionally Accredited Programmes
Apprenticeships

A male teacher helping a student using a laptop.

Our Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship plus PGCE is a nationally recognised work-based route into teaching and is available at primary and secondary level in England.

Location

In schools

Study mode

Work-based learning with online study

Duration

1 year full-time
2 years part-time

Course code

TT01QTSAP - Primary
TT01QTSAS - Secondary

Start date

January
April
September

Cost

Growth and Skills Levy funded

Age phases

Primary
Secondary

Course overview

Funded through a school’s Growth and Skills Levy (formerly the Apprenticeship levy), this course is an alternative route to traditional initial teacher training and offers a postgraduate-level qualification leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), no tuition fees, and the opportunity to earn while you learn.

Apprentices are employed by their school for the whole academic year (or two years for part-time trainees). This enables you to fully immerse yourself in school life and get practical experience of teaching in the classroom from the outset.

The course is offered at Primary level (5-11 age range) and across a range of subjects at Secondary level (11-16 and 11-18 age ranges). It's also offered for the 14-19 age range in subjects which are usually only taught in Key Stages 4 and 5.
You can start the course in January, April or September. This allows for an introductory element of the course to be studied before the start of a new school term.
As the course is online, you are able to study with us from anywhere in England. Your school will be required to meet our criteria, and we are able to support them through this process.
Your personal university lead mentor (ULM) will work closely with you throughout the course on a one-to-one basis and within a small group cohort. You will also have regular guidance from an experienced in-school mentor, who will receive initial and ongoing training and support from us.

Accreditation and professional recognition

Department for Education

This course is accredited by the Department for Education (DfE)¹.

Course details

The Level 6 Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeship course leads to QTS. Upon successful completion, trainees will also be awarded a Level 7 PGCE for no extra cost to the trainee or school.

Since August 2025, the End Point Assessment has been integrated.

The full-time route is one academic year (three terms).
The part-time route is two academic years (six terms).

There are two theoretical modules of study and three Professional Practice modules, helping you to put pedagogy into practice and solve problems in a classroom setting.

Modules

Behaviour and Classroom Management – 15 credits

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

Curriculum Delivery and Assessment – 15 credits

Development of Teaching – 15 credits

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

Practical Teaching Practice – 15 credits

This 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. Over time, you will build up your teaching timetable from around 50-70% in module 1, up to 80% in module 3.

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

You will have achieved the following minimum requirements to be eligible to apply for our QTS Apprenticeship Route plus PGCE:

A degree awarded by a UK higher education provider, or a recognised equivalent qualification.
A standard equivalent to grade C/4, or above, in GCSE English and mathematics examinations.

If you intend to train to teach primary aged pupils, you must also have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade C/4, or above, in a GCSE science subject examination.

Equivalency tests

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

In addition to these academic qualifications, you must also:

confirm with your employer that they can fund you for this apprenticeship provided by Coventry University before making your application.
demonstrate you hold the right to work and study in the UK and have been resident in the UK/EEA for the last 3 years. For exceptions to this please see the latest Apprenticeship funding rules .
not already be on a programme which is Government funded.

International applicants

Applicants outside England are eligible to apply for our international courses.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK	Growth and Skills Levy funded (formerly apprenticeship levy)	Growth and Skills Levy funded (formerly apprenticeship levy)

Levy-paying organisations in England can draw down funds from the Growth and Skills Levy to cover the full course fee. No course fees are paid by either the student or levy-paying schools. Applicants should confirm that their employer will support this course before applying

How to apply

UK students

Frequently asked questions

Who is eligible for this course?

You’ll be employed by a school in England as an unqualified teacher for the duration of the apprenticeship, training to teach on-the-job. In most cases, this will be a school you’re already working at, or have an existing relationship with. If you are a graduate, currently working as an unqualified teacher or teaching assistant, the course offers new opportunities for career progression and higher earning capacity.

How will I learn?

The course is designed to be highly practical to help trainee teachers develop their craft in schools under the supervision of an experienced teacher as your in-school mentor and a personal university lead mentor.

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 an in-school mentor trained by the university, weekly contact with your university lead mentor and you’ll be visited in school by a university assessor.

The modular structure of the course is blended in approach. It combines online 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 Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship will be delivered via online technologies and methods and utilise an online portfolio to evidence your professional development.

During your studies, you’ll have the opportunity to access an experienced team, including university tutors and mentors and in-school mentors who will support your studies through feedback and live tutorials.

How will I be assessed?

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

Assessment methods may include:

essays
presentations
observations.

The practical modules will be assessed on the evidence you collect, collate and upload to an electronic portfolio.

You will be observed by a Visiting Assessor (VA) at least three times. They will observe you teaching and meet with you and your school-based mentor to discuss and oversee the assessment of your overall progress. At the end of the course, a final assessment will decide whether you meet the Teachers’ Standards.

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.

I work in a SEND school; can I do this apprenticeship?

This apprenticeship is now available with a PGCE SEND. The Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship plus PGCE SEND has been created specifically for those employed in SEND schools or settings. Your second school placement must be hosted by a mainstream setting as the QTS award is not SEND specific. Please contact us for more information.

What career opportunities could I have after completing the course?

Our Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship plus PGCE is a formal Initial Teacher Training qualification for trainee teachers in England. The qualification accredits the teacher to teach in state-maintained schools in England. 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. Successful graduates are offered 15% discount on fees on our MA Education.

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.

Are there opportunities for further study?

I live in the UK, but not in England. Can I apply for this course?

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, 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 unpaid and/or 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, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any 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. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The current 2025/2026 contract applies to students starting between September 2025 and July 2026. Students starting between September 2026 and July 2027 will be covered by the 2026/2027 Student Contract. 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.

Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship plus PGCE

Location

Study mode

Duration

Course code

Start date

Cost

Age phases

Course overview

Accreditation and professional recognition

Department for Education

Course details

Modules

Entry requirements

Equivalency tests

International applicants

Fees and funding

How to apply

Frequently asked questions

¹Accreditations

²UK and international opportunities

³Tuition fees

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

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Course features

Location

Study mode

Duration

Course code

Start date

Cost

Age phases

Course overview

Accreditation and professional recognition

Department for Education

Course details

Modules

Entry requirements

Equivalency tests

International applicants

Fees and funding

How to apply

Frequently asked questions

You may also like

Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship: PGCE SEND

Teacher Degree Apprenticeship: Primary Education

PGCE with QTS (Tuition-fee Funded)

PGCE with QTS (Employed Route)