Regulations for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

These Regulations govern the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Education at Aberystwyth University: henceforth the University. Except where otherwise stated, they apply to programmes starting from September 2021. Students registered on programmes prior to that date will be governed by the regulations in force at the time of admission.

Entry

1. Candidates must have attained the age of 17 years or over at the time of entry and hold:

(a) an initial degree of the University;

(b) an initial degree awarded by another approved degree awarding body;

(c) a non-graduate qualification or successful completion of postgraduate level modules which the University has deemed to be of a satisfactory standard for the purpose of postgraduate admission.

2. Irrespective of a candidate’s entry qualifications, the institution must satisfy itself that they are of the required academic standard to complete the scheme of study proposed.

3. All candidates must register as students of the University at the commencement of the programme and pay the appropriate tuition fees.

4. Candidates must meet the entry criteria for becoming a Qualified Teacher, as required by the Education Workforce Council for Wales.

Scheme Structure and Awards

5. Candidates shall follow a modular scheme of study, commencing at the appropriate starting date approved for the scheme.

6. Candidates must attend all teaching sessions within the School of Education.

7. Candidates must complete a professional practice placement within a school setting.

8. Candidates may qualify for the award of Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) with Qualifying Teacher Status upon successful completion of the following:

(a) 60 credits at CQFW Level 6 and 60 credits at CQFW Level 7 in an approved modular scheme of study provided on a full-time basis.

(b) Professional practice placements, demonstrating achievement against the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership as required of newly qualified teachers as specified by the Education Workforce Council for Wales.

Credit Transfer

9. A transfer of credits and recognition of prior experiential learning (RPEL) is not permitted and will not be considered as part of the admission process.

Assessment

10. Modules shall be assessed individually, according to the approved methods of assessment.

11. Candidates shall be required to complete professional practice placements, demonstrating achievement against the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership as required of newly qualified teachers as specified by the Education Workforce Council for Wales.

12. Students must pass all 120 credits to qualify for the award of PGCE.

13. The modular pass-mark shall be 40% for modules at level 6.

14. The modular pass-mark shall be 50% for modules at level 7.                    

Registration Period and Time Limit

15. The time limit for completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Education on a full-time basis shall be one academic session.

16. An additional twelve month period will be available to allow students to resit any failed modules and to be re-examined in the professional practice placement.

17. Extensions to these time limits based on exceptional special circumstances may be granted by the Pro Vice-Chancellor on submission of a request supported by evidence of the special circumstances and a strong and reasoned case showing that completion can reasonably be expected within a further 12 month period.

Failure and Retrieval

18. Candidates may not re-sit any module for which a pass-mark has been attained previously.

19. Candidates who obtain less than 40% in a Level 6 module or 50% in a Level 7 module may be re-examined in that module on two subsequent occasions within the overall time-limit prescribed for the scheme. Candidates who are re-examined in a module shall be eligible for the bare pass-mark only (i.e. 40% for a Level 6 module and 50% for a Level 7 module). Where special circumstances are accepted to have affected performance, additional resits for the full mark may be permitted. Further information on resit policy is contained within the Examination Conventions for the Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

20. Examination boards may require candidates who do not demonstrate achievement against the Professional Standards on the basis of professional practice placements to be re-examined on one occasion only.

21. The re-examination of professional practice placements will be conditional upon the availability of a suitable school approved by the Examining Board.

Recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status

22. In order to be eligible to be recommended for Qualified Teaching Status (QTS) to the Education Workforce Council for Wales, student shall have:

(a) Pursued and passed all elements of the PGCE programme;

(b) Met the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership required for recommendation of QTS;

(c) Met the attendance requirements of the professional practice setting.

23. Registration for Qualified Teacher Status can only be confirmed by the Education Workforce Council for Wales.

 

Updated:  July 2021