Postgraduate Certificate in Education International Early Years

Entry year
2024/25
Course code
X71A6
Application
University
Level
Postgraduate
School
School of Education and Childhood
Campus
Online
Duration
One year
Delivery
Distance learning; September and April start
Programme leader
Eleri John

This course is open for applications

Page last updated 27 March 2024

Introduction

Enhance your teaching career by studying a range of early years approaches and frameworks, including the Early Years Foundation Stage, on this flexible, practice-focused, online postgraduate course for those working in international contexts in any location.

Why study international early years education?

With a growing interest in international education, many early years educators are now keen to learn more about different best practice teaching approaches used internationally, and how to apply them in their own practice.

Teachers with an international qualification are increasingly sought after to teach and lead education provision in kindergartens and schools around the world.

Why UWE Bristol?

This one-year international Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE) from UWE Bristol is for early years teachers, or aspiring teachers, in international kindergartens, or schools with an international focus.

Supporting you to provide the best education for young learners, we will share different theories, models and curricula including the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

You will be supported to try out new ways of working, implement different strategies, and evaluate the impact of your teaching on learners' needs in your own setting.

Delivered as an online course, you will study at a distance, supported by UWE tutors, alongside your work.

Because this is a very practice-focused course, you need to be teaching during the course. You will try out different teaching strategies and ways of managing your classroom. We will support you to evaluate your practice and we will provide clear feedback. We will refer to a range of evidence to support this, including videos of your teaching, audio clips, transcripts, photographs, self-evaluation and feedback to monitor and support your practice and progress. Tutor feedback on your practice will refer to the appropriate English Teachers' Standards.

You will need the support of your kindergarten or school to enrol on the course.

The course is taught and assessed in English.

Please note: Qualified Teacher Status in England is awarded by the Teaching Regulation Agency on behalf of the government. It is not awarded by universities and so this course does not lead to QTS, or to the equivalent in any other country.

Where can it take me?

The insights and knowledge you gain by studying, applying and evaluating early years teaching approaches and frameworks used internationally, including the EYFS, will help to transform the way you teach.

You can position yourself as an internationally specialised early years teacher, which can support your progress into education management and leadership.

Taking what you have learnt into your school will add value to their education offer.

Find out more about UWE Bristol's School of Education and Childhood.

Studying a PGCE at UWE Bristol

PGCE students talk about the support they have received from the PGCE programme at UWE Bristol. This is the first of three talks. Find out more.

Structure

Content

You will study:

  • Early Years Learning and Teaching
  • Contextual Inquiry in the Early Years
  • Professional Practice.

The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we will inform you. 

Learning and Teaching

This course is delivered online in English, through a series of videos, readings, webinars and online tutorials. There will be regular study tasks and group input tasks.

We will organise students into groups, supported by a Study Tutor to share good practice and ideas, and to maintain the new professional connections and friendships you make through the course. Throughout the course you will have access to academic and technical support.

You will also receive feedback, on your teaching from a UWE tutor.

Find out more about our academic staff, their teaching expertise and research interests.

See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.

Study time

This is a one-year course, delivered online.

You'll decide when to study, but the course is structured to help keep you on track.

You'll need to create opportunities to try out different strategies with the children you work with, evaluating their impact and working out next steps.

You'll also need time to reflect on your journey through the course, and as a teacher.

Assessment

We use a range of assessments across the course designed to enhance your learning and support your future employability. We do not use written exams as part of our formal assessments.

Learn more about assessments

Features

Placements

You will usually complete at least 60 days of teaching and supporting learning during the course, comprising of at least 120 hours of direct teaching to groups of eight or more learners.

Study facilities

Your course materials and reading will all be available to you online.

You'll log onto our virtual learning environment to watch videos and webinars, take part in discussion activities and access your study tasks.

Technical and academic support will be available throughout the course.

Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources

Take a Virtual Tour of the Education and Teaching facilities and see what's on offer here for you.

Life

Postgraduate support

Our support includes access to fantastic facilities, study tools and career consultants, plus practical help to access everything from funding to childcare.

Bristol

A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.

Sports, societies and activities

There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.

Health and Wellbeing

We provide support in the way you need it.

Campus and facilities

Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.

Careers

Careers / Further study

Studying this course will help to transform the way you teach, with access to new ideas and approaches you can feed into your practice.

You can position yourself as an internationally specialised early years teacher, who is knowledgeable about the Early Years Foundation Stage, with the potential to progress in education management and leadership.

Taking what you have learnt into your school will also add value to the education offer they are able to provide to children and families.

Fees

Supplementary fee information

See our funding pages for more information. 

Entry

Entry requirements

We welcome applications from all countries.

The University's standard entry requirements apply. Students will need to show that they have, or are due to have at the time of starting the course:

  • An undergraduate degree or equivalent.
  • Some experience of teaching and supporting learning, and be in work and teaching regularly.
  • The student's school/educational organisation needs to agree to their engagement on the course and to confirm that they expect them to be able to complete at least 60 days of teaching and supporting learning during the course, with at least 120 hours of direct teaching to groups of eight or more learners, and be able to confirm that the student has any safeguarding clearance required in that education system/context. 

When applying to this course students should upload a personal statement which explains why they want to do this course and what they hope it will allow them to achieve once completed.

English Language Requirement

International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with no component below 5.5 (or approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International qualifications in place of IELTS. To find details of acceptable tests and the required grades, please visit English Language requirements.

How to apply

Applicants apply directly to the University by completing the formal application form.

Applicants linked to Council of British International Schools (COBIS) are eligible for a 5% discount on tuition fees. To apply with the discount, in your application please answer "Yes" when asked "Are you making an application through a partner institution which has an agreement with UWE Bristol?" and then select "Council of British International Schools" as a partner.

Check if your school is a COBIS member.

Read more about postgraduate applications.

Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.

For further information