Education - Music Education

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: plenary sessions on educational theory for all PGCE students.

• 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.

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



Work placement / study abroad

Students nominate three secondary schools and three grammar schools for the teaching practice placements. Every effort is made to accommodate student preferences.

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

English and Mathematics (GCSE grade C or equivalent).



An Honours degree, in Music. 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).



All applicants need to provide evidence of knowledge and interest in working with young people of post-primary age in a formal/informal education setting.



Applicants for the post-primary pathway also require:



Two supportive references.



Medical certificate of satisfactory health.



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.



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



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.



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



Piano skills will be assessed at the interview.



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 a 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 Music is a full time course. It is 37 weeks in length. Monday to Friday 9.30 to 17.00.

Start Date: September 2026.

Careers and Opportunities

The course prepares the student to teach their chosen subject 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.



Jurisdiction

The PGCE is a recognized teaching qualification in the UK. For those applicants wishing to teach in other jurisdictions we recommend that you contact the relevant authorities there to discuss their requirements for recognised teacher status.