Northern Ireland Primary PGCE

STUDY IN ENGLAND,
TEACH IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Thinking about starting your PGCE Primary with QTS journey from Northern Ireland? At the University of Cumbria, we offer a flexible, supportive and rewarding teacher training experience designed to meet your needs. Our PGCE programmes are built to help you succeed. You’ll receive application support for teaching roles even before you finish your course, and can choose from a wide range of subject specialisms, meaning you’ll graduate ready to walk into any classroom with the confidence to lead and make a difference to the lives of the students you’ll teach.

WHAT IS QTS?

Qualified Teacher Status, also referred to as QTS, is a legal requirement for teaching in schools that are funded by local authorities across England and Northern Ireland, and is widely regarded as a valuable qualification for teachers in the UK and internationally.

Student teachers in a classroom Banner Image

Why choose Our PGCE programmes?

Final Placement in Northern Ireland

You can stay close to home while receiving support from University of Cumbria staff.

Reduced Accommodation Costs

You will only pay for two terms of rent if your final placement is in Northern Ireland.

Catholic Certificate in Religious Studies

You can complete two modules with costs fully covered as part of your PGCE with QTS.

Our Courses

Each course includes school-based placements, academic modules, and professional development support to prepare you for a successful teaching career. We offer a range of PGCE Primary with QTS programmes across our campuses in Carlisle, Lancaster, and London, including:

PGCE Lower Primary (3–7 Years) Education with QTS

Specialise in the early years, developing expertise in teaching foundation stage and Key Stage 1 pupils during their crucial first years of learning. You will:

Spend over half of your course on three school placements covering two age phases in at least two different settings. You'll be supported on placement by a mentor in school and by a member of staff from the university to enhance your professional development.
Complete our unique Cumbria Teacher of Reading programme, with units that focus on teaching children to read with an emphasis on systematic synthetic phonics.
Gain CPD-recognised qualifications in Child Exploitation and Online Protection, plus Prevent Awareness and Child Sexual Protection training.

Lower Primary Education

PGCE General Primary (5–11 Years) Education with QTS

Train to teach the full primary curriculum to learners aged 5–11, preparing you to work in any primary classroom. You will:

Spend over half of your course on three school placements covering two age phases in at least two different settings. You'll be supported on placement by a mentor in school and by a member of staff from the university to enhance your professional development.
Complete our unique Cumbria Teacher of Reading programme, with units that focus on teaching children to read with an emphasis on systematic synthetic phonics.
Gain CPD-recognised qualifications in Child Exploitation and Online Protection, plus Prevent Awareness and Child Sexual Protection training.

General Primary Education

PGCE General Primary (5–11 Years) with QTS: Environmental and Outdoor Learning

Combine core primary teaching skills with a specialism in environmental and outdoor education, equipping you to use the outdoors as a powerful learning environment. You will:

Spend over half of your course on three school placements covering two age phases in at least two different settings. You'll be supported on placement by a mentor in school and by a member of staff from the university to enhance your professional development.
Complete our unique Cumbria Teacher of Reading programme, with units that focus on teaching children to read with an emphasis on systematic synthetic phonics.
Gain CPD-recognised qualifications in Child Exploitation and Online Protection, plus Prevent Awareness and Child Sexual Protection training.

Environmental & Outdoor

PGCE General Primary (5–11 Years) with QTS: Inclusion/SEND

Develop the skills to support children of all abilities in mainstream and specialist settings. You will:

Spend over half of your course on three school placements covering two age phases in at least two different settings. You'll be supported on placement by a mentor in school and by a member of staff from the university to enhance your professional development.
Complete our unique Cumbria Teacher of Reading programme, with units that focus on teaching children to read with an emphasis on systematic synthetic phonics.
Gain CPD-recognised qualifications in Child Exploitation and Online Protection, plus Prevent Awareess and Child Sexual Protection training.

Inclusion/SEND

HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS

With a wife and three sons back home in Strabane, the youngest of which was just six months old when I was training, becoming a full-time student again took some thinking about. There's no denying it, the logistics took some sorting. Weekdays studying in Cumbria followed by weekends at home supporting my family, wasn't easy but it was absolutely the right decision.

Steafan Deery

PGCE Primary with Physical Education Specialism

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I had a brilliant experience overall with all 3 of my placements. The University of Cumbria sourced 2 of my placements and I sourced my placement in Northern Ireland, however, we were provided with a list of schools in Northern Ireland that the University of Cumbria is partnered with. My first placement was quite challenging as around half of the class of 19 children had a support need of some sort. I didn’t have any previous experience working with SEND children, but the class teachers, teaching assistant and my UPT were brilliant in offering support and guidance. It was such a rewarding placement, I learned so much and they were a great bunch of kids! I was in Year 2 (KS1) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Shannon Keys

PGCE General Primary (5-11yrs) with QTS

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university students seating outside building

PGCE Events

Join us at one of our upcoming PGCE information events to learn more about our courses, placements, and support for Northern Ireland students. You’ll have the chance to speak with tutors, current students, and admissions staff.

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