Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)

All PGDE Primary students must take and pass six required courses. These courses cover the nursery, early, middle primary and upper primary years.

• Professional Placement in schools - Three blocks of around six weeks each.
• Dimensions of Teaching - Students will develop critical awareness of social justice issues in Scottish education and practice. Further, students will engage with current policy developments as they relate to practice, with a particular view to exploring how play pedagogy is articulated in policy and practice.
• Making and Conceptualising Curriculum - This course helps students understand why and how educators build the curriculum. It also covers how to create appropriate, engaging learning opportunities and environments.
• Developing pedagogies - Students develop an informed understanding of pedagogy, with a specific focus on pedagogy through cultural, political and philosophical lenses. Developing reflective and reflexive practice, students will take a critical approach to practitioner inquiry, enhancing their understanding and teaching methods.

Course descriptions (2023-24)

Please note course names and details are currently under review and may be subject to change.

All PGDE secondary students must take six compulsory courses:

• Placement in schools - Three blocks of around six weeks each.
• Curriculum and Pedagogy: To develop critically informed and confident subject teachers to meet the needs of our children and young people in the 21st Century.
• Professional Studies: This course, taught in multidisciplinary groups, provides student teachers with a range of opportunities to critically engage with wider policy and educational research, in order to develop an understanding of their role as an inquiring teacher.
• Curriculum Plus course
  • Curriculum Plus 1 - For those specialising in Expressive Arts or Physical Education
  • Curriculum Plus 2 - For students not undertaking expressive arts or science courses. Students must choose one of the following options: Critical Literacy, Teaching in Multiliterate Classrooms, Learning in the Outdoors, Philosophy with Children
  • Curriculum Plus 3 - For students with a science-related degree

Graduates from Scotland, other parts of the UK, and Ireland who attended a Scottish Higher Education Institution can join the Teacher Induction Scheme (TIS). TIS is a guaranteed, paid, one-year probationary post organised by the GTCS.

Students from the European Union (EU) are also eligible if they: 

• hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) or 
• have applied for settled or pre-settled status but have not yet received a decision

The scheme is not compulsory; some may choose to follow the Flexible Route instead. The Flexible Route is a way to complete probationary service for teachers who:

• choose to opt out of the TIS
• are not eligible to join the TIS
• cannot commit to a full-time post
• wish to complete their probationary year somewhere other than a Scottish state school
• are already registered in one or more subjects and want to gain Professional Registration in another subject
• are from overseas countries who studied on a teacher education programme in Scotland and are able to remain in Scotland after their studies

The Flexible Route is less structured than the TIS and may better suit some people’s circumstances. Those using the Flexible Route are responsible for finding their own employment for their probationary year.

Learn more about the Flexible Route

Graduates may join the GTCS's Preference Waiver Payment Scheme. Those who join the scheme agree to work in any Scottish local authority for their induction post. In return, secondary teachers receive £8,000 and primary teachers receive £6,000. Only students who complete their TIS year in their allocated local authority receive this payment. 

Students from overseas can apply for a graduate visa once they successfully complete their PGDE programme. Visit the University's Graduate Visa page for more information.

Graduate visa information

It's important to note that PGDE graduates with a graduate visa must use the Flexible Route for their probationary period in order to teach in Scotland. Those using the Flexible Route are responsible for finding their own employment for their probationary year.

You may apply the masters-level credits (60 credits) earned on your PGDE towards our MEd Leadership and Learning masters degree. This degree consists of Postgraduate Certificates that enhance teachers' professional learning, inquiry, and research. These include an extended work-based project and a course for moving Into Headship.

• MEd Leadership and Learning