Secondary History PGCE

Key information

Duration:
10 months full time, 20 months part time
Start date:
August 2025
Apply by:
31 May (International) and August (UK).
  • 1st in the UK for our research impact in Education in REF 2021 (Times Higher Education)
  • Good for the Quality of Education and Training in the Secondary Age-Phase (Ofsted 2023)
  • Outstanding for Leadership and Management in the Secondary Age-Phase (Ofsted 2023)

This course prepares you to start your career as a new teacher and be successful. You’ll learn to teach in schools in East or West Sussex, Brighton & Hove, Surrey, Hampshire or Kent.

We will develop your skills as a reflective practitioner. We use an innovative range of assessment modes that enable you to succeed. School-led teacher education is run by experienced mentors and professional tutors. You'll be supported by University tutors throughout the year.

We have an excellent record of graduate employment. Our employability records surpass national benchmarks.

We understand that deciding where and what to study is a very important decision. We’ll make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the courses, services and facilities described in this prospectus. However, if we need to make material changes, for example due to government or regulatory requirements, or unanticipated staff changes, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

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Entry requirements

Degree requirements

You should normally have a lower second-class (2.2) undergraduate honours degree or above.

Subject-specific requirements

You will need:

  • a strong knowledge and understanding of History, and a sound awareness of how the subject is currently taught within Secondary state schools;
  • an undergraduate degree in History. Those with only History-related degrees (ie. Classics, Archaeology, Politics) will need to demonstrate that at least half of their degree was History-focused. Those without a History degree will need to undertake a Masters degree before applying. Your qualification must be from an approved Higher Education institution or validating body;
  • GCSE English and Mathematics at grade C (or equivalent). You must provide evidence of these qualifications at interview.

Please select your country from the list.

English language requirements

IELTS (Academic)

Advanced level (7.0 overall, including at least 6.5 in each component).

IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. You cannot combine scores from more than one sitting of the test. Your score must be valid when you begin your Sussex course. Find out more about IELTS

We accept IELTS One Skills Retake.

We accept IELTS Online.

 

Check full details of our English Language requirements and find out more about some of the alternative English language qualifications listed below

Alternative English language qualifications

Proficiency tests

English language qualifications

Country exceptions

English language support

If you don’t meet the English language requirements for your degree, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course

Visas and immigration

Find out how to apply for a student visa

Admissions information for applicants

Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced check

Yes. All candidates offered a place on the course will be required to satisfactorily complete an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a check of all cautions and warnings as well as convictions, before their place on the course is confirmed. International students will additionally be required to obtain a recent criminal record certificate from their home country. A list of admissible certificates can be found on the UK Government website: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.

How to apply

You must apply through GOV.UK Postgraduate Teacher Training.

You must provide a written reference on your application form. If you finished your studies in the last five years, your principal referee should be a tutor or lecturer who can comment on your academic achievements and your personal qualities.

If you finished your studies more than five years ago, your principal referee should be a responsible person, such as an employer.

No candidate will be offered a place without being interviewed. We are unable to reimburse travel and other expenses incurred when attending an interview.

Interviews by video platform or at the UniversityYes
Mental and physical fitness to teach assessment

Yes. All trainees must be screened for mental and physical fitness to teach by the Occupational Health Department at the University.  If you don’t receive a Government training bursary or scholarship, the University will pay the costs of these checks directly on your behalf.

Personal statement

Yes. You must submit a personal statement as part of your application. 

Find out how to write a personal statement

If your qualifications aren’t listed or you have a question about entry requirements, contact us

For details on any additional costs, check out the Fees and scholarships section.

Application deadlines

31 May (International) and August (UK).

We strongly recommend an earlier application where possible, as some courses are in high demand and may close before the above dates. Find out more at How to apply for a Masters course

There’s a big focus on general teaching strategies, but also the priority is how to make you a very good history teacher. Matthew Trinder
Secondary History PGCE

Modules

Full-time and part-time study

Choose to study this course full time or part time, to fit around your work and personal life. Modules for the full-time course are listed below. For details about the part-time course, contact us.

Core modules

Core modules are taken by all students on the course. They give you a solid grounding in your chosen subject and prepare you to explore the topics that interest you most.

Autumn and spring teaching
Spring teaching

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2025/26. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

We’ll do our best to provide as much optional choice as we can, but timetabling constraints mean it may not be possible to take some module combinations. The structure of a small number of courses means that the order of modules or the streams you choose may determine whether modules are core or optional. This means that your core modules or options may differ from what’s shown here.

American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

Please note that Certificate and Diploma programs at the University of Sussex are not eligible for USA federal Direct Loans. Find out more about American Student Loans and Federal Student Aid

I’m glad I trained at Sussex. My placements were very supportive. Also, having skilled tutors who genuinely care about your progress and wellbeing was invaluable.”Leo Bryant
Secondary History PGCE

We’re delighted to offer our Initial Teacher Education courses in partnership with the University of Chichester as the accredited provider for the Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) element of the course. On successful completion of the course, you’ll be awarded a University of Sussex PGCE. The course is designed, managed and delivered by expert faculty from our School of Education and Social Work.  All teaching takes place on our beautiful campus and in the classrooms of trusted partnership schools across Sussex.

Our experts

Richard McFahn is our Secondary History PGCE Course Leader.

Clare Stenning, Head of Secondary Teacher Education, and Karen Sturgess, Secondary PGCE Leader, support our Secondary PGCE subject tutor team.
 
On this PGCE, you’ll be taught by enthusiastic, experienced and research-active course tutors. They are expert teachers, teacher educators and subject leaders. Our team includes tutors who combine teacher education with teaching in partnership secondary schools. This means they can offer perspectives fresh from the classroom.
 

Fees and scholarships

How much does it cost?

Fees

Home students:
£9,535 per year for full-time students
Channel Islands and Isle of Man students:
£9,535 per year for full-time students
International students:
£18,500 per year for full-time students

If you’re a self-funded international student, you’re required to pay a tuition fee deposit. Find out more about Masters tuition fee deposits

Additional costs

Note about additional costs

Please note that all costs are best estimates based on current market values. Activities may be subject to unavoidable change in response to Government advice. We’ll let you know at the earliest opportunity. We review estimates every year and they may vary with inflation. Find out how to budget for student life.

DBS check and health assessment

When you register at Sussex, you’re charged fees for mandatory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and health assessments. If you get a bursary, you pay for your DBS, it costs around £40. You also pay for your health assessment which costs between £6 to £90 though this may vary if, for example, clinical supervision is required. If you don’t get a bursary, DBS and health assessments are subsidised.

Travel to and from placements

This course has mandatory placements. If you receive a bursary for your studies, you pay for some or all of your travel. Reasonable travel costs are subsidised for some students without access to bursaries.

Criminal record certificate

International students will be required to obtain a recent criminal record certificate from their home country. A list of admissible certificates can be found on the UK Government website: Criminal records checks for overseas applicants

Living costs

Find out typical living costs for studying at Sussex

Find out about our terms and conditions

How can I fund my course?

Working while you study

Our Careers and Employability Centre can help you find part-time work while you study. Find out more about career development and part-time work

Careers

On graduation, you’ll have the skills and expertise to successfully start as a new teacher. We offer a support package to newly qualified teachers during their first year of teaching.

In addition, successful candidates can transfer up to 90 Masters-level credits on to the MA in Education.

 

Choosing Sussex as my first step towards becoming a teacher is one of the best career decisions I have made. The history course an enriching and positive experience.”Hannah Gardner
Secondary History PGCE

Design your future at Sussex

Taking the next step in your career can feel daunting, but we’ll help you to explore, connect and flourish throughout your studies and beyond.

As a Sussex student, you’ll learn how to tackle real-world challenges and have access to tailored programmes of careers support:

  • our Career Lab helps you to explore your options, build key skills and connect with employers. Take part in internships, community consultancy projects and insight visits, where you can learn about life at organisations including Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, Gatwick Airport and the Knepp Rewilding Project
  • one-to-one coaching with your Faculty Careers Consultant can enable you to identify your career goals, write an effective CV and prepare for future interviews
  • entrepreneurship initiatives like StartUp Sussex and Ideas Lab can empower you to turn your concepts into reality.

Explore how our Careers and Entrepreneurship team can support you

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services logo

Winner
Supporting Student and Graduate Employability Award
AGCAS Awards for Excellence 2024

National Enterprise Educator Awards logo

Winner
Entrepreneurship Catalyst Award
National Enterprise Educator Awards 2024

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