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Religious Education PGCE

London, Bloomsbury

UCL's Religious Education (RE) PGCE gives you a cutting-edge education with all the benefits of being in the heart of London. You will attend seminars with leading RE professionals and scholars, visit diverse places of worship and faith communities, and learn how to use sacred art in your teaching through visits to museums and galleries. You will learn from expert colleagues and alumni working in partnership schools to develop as an RE subject specialist. The RE PGCE supports all student teachers to develop the subject knowledge and skills they need to help young people explore ultimate questions about their own lives and the lives of others across ages 11-19 and for GCSE and A level.

UK students International students

Study mode

Full-time

UK tuition fees (2026/27)

£9,790

Overseas tuition fees (2026/27)

£29,500

Duration

1 academic year

Programme starts

September 2026

Applications accepted

Applicants who require a visa: 07 Oct 2025 – 17 Jul 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

Applications open

Applicants who do not require a visa: 07 Oct 2025 – 31 Jul 2026

Applications close at 5pm UK time

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.

Apply for this course

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.

A unique gradual approach to teaching

Experience

Placement in very diverse, carefully chosen schools will allow you to learn from different contexts and be prepared to teach in any school.

Read our placement guide

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.

Entry requirements

First degree

A minimum of a lower second-class UK Bachelor’s degree or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

A levels

No specific subjects required.

GCSEs

English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4. We do not accept "applied" or "additional" GCSE subjects. Applicants who do not offer a GCSE in English Language or Mathematics may demonstrate an equivalent standard by completing a test via Equivalency Testing or A Star Equivalency and achieving at least a grade 4. For Mathematics, equivalency tests in Mathematics Foundation or Mathematics Higher with grade 4 are accepted. BTEC, Functional Skills or Access course qualifications are not accepted in place of GCSEs.

School experience

We recommend that you aim to gain some experience in a classroom prior to interview.

Skills tests

Trainees will be assured against a set of fundamental Mathematics and English skills by the end of their teacher training.

Relevant experience and background

Applicants whose degree qualifications are below a lower second-class standard may be admitted if they can demonstrate an appropriate academic background at Master's level and above and/or significant postgraduate experience in the relevant field.

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website.

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

The English language level for this course is: Level 2

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

This course is suitable for international students on a Student visa - study must be full-time, starting September.

DBS and occupational health

If you are made an offer you will be required to successfully complete Occupational Health and Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced Disclosure checks. The Occupational Health Check is £100 and, depending on your DBS requirements, there may be an additional fee between £12.75 to £25.50, depending on the number of documents checked, if you submit your DBS Enhanced Disclosure check via a UK Post Office. These checks are required to ensure you meet the Department for Education’s requirements for physical and mental health to teach, as well as assessing your suitability for access to children and vulnerable adults. More details can be found on the Entry requirements page.

If you have lived, worked, studied or travelled in any single country outside of the UK for six continuous months or more, in the last five years, you will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct from the relevant country/countries. The cost of this check varies by country and is payable by the student. More information on how to obtain these can be found on gov.uk.

For more information about the DBS application process, please contact the UCL ITE Admissions team.

About this course

The Religious Education PGCE at UCL's Institute of Education combines the practical and theoretical aspects of becoming an RE teacher. The course includes professional experiences of planning, teaching and reflecting on lessons with a mentor in school and an academic tutor at UCL to provide personal and pastoral support throughout the course. Critical perspectives about why and how RE is taught in schools allow you to develop an in-depth understanding of the subject and why it is crucial for a just society. Exploring international approaches to the subject prepares you for global outlooks and opportunities.

The RE PGCE team, alumni, visiting speakers and school partners work together to facilitate the development of expert teachers of RE who enable young people to critically engage in a religiously plural world. You are fully prepared to teach RE at Key Stage 3, Religious Studies and Philosophy at GCSE and A level, through teaching experience and specifically designed seminars with leading experts. There are also opportunities to develop experience and confidence in teaching Citizenship, Sociology, Psychology and personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education on placement and through taught seminars.

Our Intensive Teaching and Practice (ITAP) sequences bring key practical and theoretical aspects of the course together through taught seminars, observations, activities and experience in school, for you to develop subject expertise and confidence in the classroom.

These themes are subject-specific to support your development as a RE subject specialist:

Establishing positive learning environments.
Planning and sequencing RE lessons combining Religion and Worldviews, Philosophy and Ethics.
Knowledge and pedagogy in RE.
Working with communities and organisations for socially engaged and innovative RE.

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 RE PGCE course welcomes applications from candidates who are in their final year of, or already have, an undergraduate degree or Master’s degree.

Read more about the requirements for teacher training

What this course will give you

Current research at UCL informs the RE PGCE curriculum to support students' engagement with contemporary issues, debates and scholarship in this field and highlights the significance of theology, philosophy and social sciences for the subject. Tutors and contributors to the Religious Education PGCE are skilled classroom practitioners with extensive experience in secondary schools and colleges, school leadership, teacher education and research. You will benefit from developing strong peer networks on the course which last into your career and provide collegial support throughout the year. There are many opportunities to collaborate across subjects, both on placements and at UCL, to embrace cross-curricular approaches to tackling challenging questions that RE raises, from controversial issues to the significance of worldviews for social justice.

Read more about teacher training at the IOE

The teacher you want to be

IOE's excellent reputation helps ensure that graduates of the RE PGCE are highly employable and sought after by schools and colleges in London and further afield. Many of our RE PGCE graduates have leading roles in schools and contribute to the course as mentors in school and visiting experts.

Almost all RE PGCE graduates secure their first teaching post by the time they finish the course. Our graduates also have great career prospects in the long term. Many become Head of Department or Head of Year within 2-5 years, often acting, in their schools, as mentors to new PGCE student teachers and later becoming senior leaders and indeed headteachers. Others have developed their careers as subject specialist teachers and educators, both becoming lead teachers in the classroom and researching, writing and advising other teachers.

The RE PGCE aims to provide a springboard into a rewarding career as a skilled teacher and future educational leader. The course is designed to help our graduates lead meaningful professional lives grounded in the contribution they make to young people's understanding of the world and their place in it.

The tools of a great educator

Understanding of theory and subject or phase pedagogy
Creating a successful climate for learning, including behaviour management
Planning and teaching classes that engage pupils
Using assessment to inform planning
Working with the wider school community, including parents

Employability

Graduates of this course are currently working in schools across London and around the UK as RE teachers, heads of departments, curriculum leaders and heads of year. Some graduates also teach other subjects alongside RE, such as Citizenship, PSHE, Psychology, Sociology and Humanities. A number of alumni continue with their Master's level study on completion of the PGCE and find funding through the RE Subject Networks that support leadership in postgraduate study.

Accreditation

When you successfully complete this course, UCL will recommend you for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). QTS is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency in England.

Structure

The RE PGCE brings together the theoretical lenses of theology, philosophy, ethics and social sciences with the academic and social aims for the subject as part of a just and critically engaged education. Taught sessions and workshops with a range of experts introduce you to key ideas, scholars and literature through seminars and practical activities that build confidence through collaboration and reflective practice.

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 are allocated a UCL personal tutor and school-based mentor for each placement.

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.

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.

Modules

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 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

Secondary - Professional Practice

Subject Studies - Religious Education

Wider Educational Studies - Religious Education

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 Religious Education.

Fieldwork

Visits to places of worship and faith communities, along with study days in museums and art galleries, are key aspects of the RE PGCE course. These experiences support your subject knowledge and develop your connections and confidence in working with faith communities and arts organisations to enrich the RE curriculum and organise RE trips in the future.

School placements

You will spend most of your time in schools, working with Religious Education mentors who provide support through the two school placements. We are fortunate to have an excellent choice of partnership schools, with many outstanding mentors and strong Religious Education 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.

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The Secondary PGCE Overview session helps you to discover UCL’s world-leading Teacher Training courses in Secondary and explore the various routes into teaching.

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Fees and funding

Fees for this course

UK students International students

Fee description	Full-time
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£9,790
Tuition fees (2026/27)	£29,500

UK Teacher Training fees for 2026/27 entry are to be confirmed and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases.

International Teacher Training students benefit from a cohort guarantee, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees.

Additional costs

You are responsible for covering the costs of travel to and from placements (these are typically located within the M25) and travel costs for visits organised by the course.

The cost per day, as of July 2025, if you are using Oyster pay as you go varies between £8.90 (zones 1 and 2 only) and £23.30 (zones 1 to 9) based on current prices. Costs can be reduced by purchasing a weekly or monthly travelcard as well as applying for an Oyster Student photocard which allows up to 30% off travel when purchasing a travelcard.

The trips for the fieldwork are within the London area so, other than expenses for travel and refreshments, there are no additional costs.

You also require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check plus an Occupational Health check prior to beginning the course. Information about costs is available on our entry requirements page for teacher training courses.

The Financial Assistance Funds provide support to UCL students who are in unexpected financial need.

For in-person teaching, UCL’s main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1-2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2025. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide.

Funding your studies

You may be eligible to receive a training bursary for living costs. For Secondary, this depends on your PGCE subject (not all attract a bursary) and your degree classification or highest relevant academic qualification. Scholarships are available in some subjects.

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the UCL Scholarships and Funding website.

See all the ways you can fund your studies

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