How to choose the best postgraduate teaching course for you

The PGCE is the most popular postgraduate route for secondary teachers, and for many primary teachers. This course may be university or school based (known as a SCITT: school-centred initial teacher training). If you undertake a PGCE with a SCITT, you're likely to be based in school but you'll have a good balance of training sessions outside the classroom, whereas a traditional PGCE will divide your time between university and school. Some distance learning PGCEs are also available. Full-time PGCEs take one, or, in special cases where extra subject knowledge is built into the programme, two years.

Employment-based routes include the graduate and registered teacher programmes (GTP and RTP) and are for people who want to change to a teaching career and need to earn while they train. Ideally applicants should have some prior teaching experience. On the GTP scheme applicants are employed by a school as an unqualified teacher and undertake on-the-job training to attain qualified teacher status (QTS). The RTP programme is similar, but applicants do not need to hold a full degree to apply. The GTP programme usually takes one year and the RTP two years.

The questions to consider if you're thinking about postgraduate routes into teaching

• What support and guidance will be available?  No course provider will launch you into the classroom at the beginning of your course without preparation and guidance, but even with several weeks of study behind you that first step into the classroom will test your nerves. Find out in advance what support you'll receive from tutors and school staff.
• Where do you want to study and eventually work? Many NQTs find their first post in the area where they complete their ITT course, particularly because teaching practice often brings up opportunities for permanent jobs.
• Do you want to work towards a masters level qualification? Technically a PCGE isn't a postgraduate level qualification, but a number of universities now offer masters level modules as part of their PCGE course.
• Have you planned ahead? Applications for PGCEs are accepted by the GTTR from late October. For primary and middle years the initial closing date is 1 December: your application will be sent to your first-choice provider if you submit it by this time. Secondary applications are accepted up to 30 June, after which applications will go through the clearing process. SCITT application deadlines vary, so check with individual course providers. If you want to undertake the GTP or RTP programmes you can apply all year round.
• What work experience do you have? You'll struggle to get a place on a PCGE if you don't have at least two weeks' work experience in a school - and the more commitment you can show to a career in teaching, the better. Consider voluntary work or university-backed tutoring schemes if you're still studying.

Postgraduate research in education

As mentioned above, it's also possible to take a research-based course in education - typically an MPhil, postgraduate certificate in research, MRes or EdD.

• Professional and postgraduate teaching courses: what's the difference?

Next steps: choosing the right postgraduate course in teaching and education

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