Geography PGCE
London, Bloomsbury
There has never been a better or more important time to train as a geography teacher in London, one of the most diverse and exciting cities in the world. The course provides a well-balanced experience in schools, university and fieldwork. You will develop the professional knowledge, skills and expertise for a rewarding career, joining a vibrant geography education community that is preparing young people for the changing world. The course includes knowledge of pedagogy and curriculum at A level (Key Stage 5), preparing you to teach at all levels of secondary education.
Study mode
UK tuition fees (2026/27)
Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)
Duration
Programme starts
Applications accepted
Applications open
Applications open
Early application is advised as courses may close as soon as places are filled. Applicants should check the government website for the latest vacancy information.
Skills
This course will give you everything you need to face the classroom, both the pedagogical theory and the practical skills to be an inspiring teacher.
Support
Our gradual immersion approach will introduce you to the classroom progressively, from one pupil to the whole class.
Experience
Placement in very diverse, carefully chosen schools will allow you to learn from different contexts and be prepared to teach in any school.
Start teaching
With a PGCE you can start teaching as soon as you complete the course and are recommended for Qualified Teacher Status.
IOE, UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, has been ranked 1st for Education in the QS World University Rankings by Subject since 2014.
About this course
On successful completion of the course, you will gain a PGCE and QTS (Qualified Teacher Status), equipping you to teach geography in secondary schools. During the PGCE, you will be supported to tackle the at once practical and conceptual questions such as: who are the children I teach? why teach geography? what geography should I teach? and how should I teach it? You will practise teaching in two placements selected from our partnership of schools who will welcome and support you. You will be mentored by experienced geography teachers in school and tutored by experienced academics who are researching and teaching in geography education at IOE. The course includes knowledge of pedagogy and curriculum at A Level (Key Stage 5), preparing you to teach at all levels of secondary education.
The Geography course also features four Intensive Teaching and Practice (ITAP) sequences designed to establish and develop your geography teaching through the year. Closely linking theory and practice, and enabling you to observe, deconstruct, plan, practise and progress in specific areas of teaching, these focus on:
- establishing positive learning environments
- teaching geographical concepts
- teaching Geographical Information Systems
- fieldwork
Who this course is for
The course is suited to those wishing to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for teaching in a UK maintained (state-funded) school and who have fulfilled the appropriate entry requirements.
The course will appeal to anyone who is interested in geography, teaching and young people's education. We welcome applicants from a range of academic, professional backgrounds and prior experience. You will need a degree in geography or a related subject, and demonstrate interest in young people's education.
What this course will give you
This course is distinctive in helping you engage in current debates, issues and ideas as well as practical strategies for school geography teaching, so you can develop critical thinking and leadership as a geography teacher who can shape change in a curriculum for the future. The course is an exciting mix of teaching practice in two school placements, and university sessions based in Bloomsbury - a vibrant and beautiful part of central London.
The majority of your time is spent in school, planning, teaching lessons, observing and meeting with other teachers. University teaching includes debates, lectures, seminars, workshops, your own presentations, tutorials, structured independent tasks and a mix of online and face-to-face teaching. This includes fieldwork in London and the Lake District and teaching using a Geographic Information System (GIS). The course connects the theory explored in university with practice on school teaching placements. New ideas are presented and discussed each week at university and then investigated, applied in school and reflected on back at university in a cycle that helps you make sense of your teaching and develop your expertise. The course encourages and supports your creativity and innovation in teaching geography with the close support of your university tutor, school mentor and your peers. In this way student teachers on IOE's Geography PGCE are engaged and active reflective practitioners, who are often advocates of exciting innovation and change within Geography Education.
Making an impact
Decolonising geography
What does ‘decolonising’ geography mean? Through studying at IOE, Charlotte explores how geography helps children imagine alternative futures by engaging with coloniality, racism, and resistance.
Structure
The course is taught through a mix of face-to-face and online sessions, (including keynote lectures and debates, presentations, discussions, and classroom group tasks), and a practical teaching element based in two schools. You are required to read widely and to carry out written assignments in your own time.
You will also take part in activities that provide the opportunity to focus on developing specific, pivotal areas of teaching through our ITAP sequences. These opportunities (totalling 20 days, 4 of which are school-based) will strengthen the link between theory and practice and provide you with specific feedback to support your progress in these pivotal areas.
Assessment is by practical teaching, assignments and portfolio tasks.
Throughout, you have excellent support to succeed from your school mentors and university tutor. There is no written exam but you will undertake two Master's-level modules. These assignments draw on your practice giving scope for you to be creative, choose the exact focus, follow your interests in geography, education and tailor the work to the classes you teach on placements. The assignments help your reflection and evaluation of practice become critical and informed. In this way, you learn not just 'what works' in teaching in a particular school, but to understand how to apply your knowledge and skills to different schools, and classrooms. This makes you a deeper thinking, more independent and resilient teacher.
The PGCE is a full-time course, designed so you learn to teach in schools for approximately two-thirds of the course (124 days) and through IOE-based learning in the other third.
When you are not undertaking teaching and learning activities at IOE or in other forms outside of schools, you will spend at least 124 days of study and practice in a range of school settings – including two longer placements in IOE partnership schools. Because actual placement dates are determined by partner school term dates, the exact number of days spent in school for any given student may vary slightly.
Contact hours vary throughout the year depending on whether you are on placement or attending IOE.
University sessions typically run from 9.00am (earliest) to 5.30pm (latest). During school placements, you will be expected to attend according to the school’s policy. This will typically involve attending at least 30 minutes before the start of the school day and leaving at least 30 minutes after the school day ends (with additional time expected if there are particular departmental or other meetings you need to attend). You will have readings and additional self-directed study to complete in addition to these contact hours.
I found my time at IOE to be a very enriching experience in which I acquired in-depth knowledge of a range of educational philosophies, issues, and perspectives.
Modules
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You will undertake two modules at level 7 (Master’s level) of 30 credits each and one Professional Practice module at level 6. The level 7 credits can be carried forward onto some full Master’s courses at UCL Institute of Education (IOE) (check individual course requirements). You will be awarded a PGCE when you successfully complete all three modules.
Throughout the year, you will also participate in specific activities at IOE and in school that focus on important areas of our curriculum. Our ITAP sequences (totalling 20 days with at least 4 of these days in school) will help you to better understand links between theory and practice. They will also involve feedback from experts so that your progress is supported in these pivotal areas.
Compulsory modules
Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.
Upon successful completion of 60 credits and the Professional Practice module, you will be awarded a PGCE in Geography.
Fieldwork
The fieldwork experience will empower you to teach in real-world settings and develop essential fieldwork-leading skills. You will have the opportunity to engage in practical, hands-on learning by visiting Kew Gardens. You will also attend a three-day residential stay in the Lake District, where you will learn how to lead geographical fieldwork activities at Key Stage 4 and 5.
School placements
You will spend most of your time in two placement schools, working with geography mentors who provide strong support. We are fortunate to have a superb range of excellent schools with whom we work, across the region, with many outstanding mentors and strong geography departments.
The Professional Practice module is assessed through these placements, associated tasks and a portfolio built up throughout the year.
During placement periods, you will need to travel to and from each school placement. Please be aware that not all schools have parking and that there is variation in how accessible schools are. However, if you let us know of any particular accessibility needs you have, we will endeavour to accommodate them.
We ensure your placement will provide fulfilling and valuable experiences through:
- A dedicated team who will identify the best schools for your placements
- Support and guidance from your university tutor and your school-based mentor
- School experience that allows you to progress at an appropriate pace for you
- Reasonable travel times from your home to your school
Making the most of your placement
Teaching is a demanding profession and student teachers can feel nervous about school placements or anxious about the workload. Your tutor and school-based mentor will help you navigate your school experience, ensuring that you have the input you need. Empathetic feedback and discussion about your developing professional practice will support you to be successful.
Accessibility
The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you're unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.
Where you'll study
The Department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment brings together world-leading research, teaching and learning, which reflects our expertise in and contributes to high quality education, teaching and teacher development. We specialise in geography, economics, business, mathematics, history, religious education, citizenship, science, assessment and curriculum studies in education.
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