Education - Geography

About

The aim of a PGCE is to prepare the student to become a competent teacher. This is achieved through a variety of teaching and learning methods which are summarised below:



• Lectures.

• Tutorials: group or individually designed to advise in the preparation for school experience, curriculum projects and/or school based investigations.

• Practicals: involving simulations, role-play, practical activities and school experience. There will be opportunities to be involved in geography fieldwork.

• Workshops: designed primarily to allow students to examine the relationship between theoretical perspectives introduced in lectures and their main subject specialism.

Year One

School Experience 1

School Experience 2

Foundation for Learning and Teaching

Developing Effective Learning and Teaching



Optional:

Principles of Religious Education

Improving Practice in Religious Education

a. English and Mathematics (GCSE grade C or equivalent).



b. An Honours normally in the specialist subject (Art and Design, English with Drama and Media Studies, Geography, History, Home Economics, Music Education, Physical Education, Technology and Design) in an appropriate NI curriculum subject. In the case of a combined Honours degree at least 50% shall be in the specialist subject. (N.B. The normal minimum offer standard is a 2:2 Honours).



c. Applicants for PGCE Physical Education should provide evidence of having worked with children and young people in a school setting for at least one year. d. All applicants need to provide evidence of knowledge, interest and experience in working with young people of post-primary age. Applicants for the post-primary pathway also require: a. Two supportive references. b. Medical certificate of satisfactory health. c. Applicants will be scrutinised by Access NI and must also satisfy the University and the Department of Education that nothing would prohibit them from working with children.



d. The application form will be examined for spelling, punctuation and use of English and general quality of presentation.



e. Evidence of knowledge, interest and experience in working with young people of post-primary age normally in a formal/informal education setting.



f. Applicants appearing to fulfil the above requirements will be shortlisted. In the event that the programme is oversubscribed, enhanced criteria (e.g. degree classification) will then be applied and candidates fulfilling these criteria will be interviewed to ascertain their suitability for the course.



g. An offer of a place will be conditional upon satisfying the Selection Committee on all of the above criteria.



h. Applicants who are deemed suitable but for whom an immediate place is not available will be placed on a waiting list and offered a place if another applicant declines his/her place.



Eligibility

PGCE Programmes at Ulster are only available to applicants from Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, and who meet all the requirements to be deemed a home fee payer. This means that if you are not a UK or Irish citizen (or have settled in the UK status), you will not be eligible to study this course.



English Language Requirements

For admission to any initial teacher education course, applicants must demonstrate an acceptable level of competence in English language and mathematics. In addition, all new entrants to primary level courses must demonstrate an acceptable level of competence in a science subject or subjects. An acceptable level of competence is defined as a GCSE level pass at Grade C or higher, or an equivalent qualification. Enquiries regarding equivalent qualifications should be made to the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).



• For English language requirements go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/english-language-requirements

• For Your country go to: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/global/apply/country



Exemptions and transferability

The PGCE is a complete programme and the student cannot be exempted from any part of the programme. Given the unique structure of the PGCE course in the University of Ulster it is not possible to transfer with exemption from another course or institution.

PGCE is a full time course. It is 36 weeks in length and includes a six week workshop practice in Belfast.



Attendance is Monday to Friday 9.30 to 17.00.

Start Date: September 2026.

Careers and Opportunities

The course prepares the student to teach Geography in a Post Primary school or college. Successful completion of this course qualifies the graduate to seek registration with the General Teaching Council of Northern Ireland.