iPGCE International Early Years
This course is open for applications
To apply, please visit the Entry section below.
Introduction
Study our flexible, practice-focused, online International PGCE Early Years, suitable for those working in international school settings around the world. Enhance your teaching career by studying a range of early years approaches and frameworks, including the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Why study an International Early Years PGCE?
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'll 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'll 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'll 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'll 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.
Successful completion of the course at level 7 gives you 60 credits towards a Master's.
Find out more about UWE Bristol's School of Education and Childhood.
Structure
Content
The course can be studied at level 7 (International Post Graduate Certificate in Education) or level 6 (International Professional Graduate Certificate in Education). Course content is the same for both but assignments are assessed at the appropriate level.
You'll study:
- Early Years Learning and Teaching (30 credits at level 6 or level 7)
- Contextual Inquiry in the Early Years (30 credits at level 6 or level 7).
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'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
This International Early Years PGCE 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'll have access to academic and technical support.
You'll 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
Youll study this international PGCE Early Years online, over a one-year duration, delivered in English.
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'll 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.
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
There is currently no published fee data for this course.
Supplementary fee information
See our funding pages for more information.
Entry
Entry requirements
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:
HE Level 7 Study (International Post Graduate Certificate in Education)
- An undergraduate degree or equivalent.
- Some experience of teaching and supporting learning, and be in work and teaching regularly.
- Agreement from their school/educational organisation to their engagement on the course and confirmation that they expect the student 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.
- Confirmation from their school/educational establishment, that the student has any safeguarding clearance required in that education system/context.
HE Level 6 study (International Professional Graduate Certificate in Education)
- 240 credits at level 4 and 5 of HE study (a Higher Diploma / Foundation degree or equivalent).
- Some experience of teaching and supporting learning, and be in work and teaching regularly.
- Agreement from their school/educational organisation to their engagement on the course and confirmation that they expect the student 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.
- Confirmation from the school/educational establishment, that the student has any safeguarding clearance required in that education system/context.
When applying, 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
We welcome applications from all countries.
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
- Apply to study IPGCE International Early Years (Masters Level 7) from April 2025.
- Apply to study IProfGCE International Early Years (Level 6) from April 2025.
- Apply to study IPGCE International Early Years (Masters Level 7) from September 2025.
- Apply to study IProfGCE International Early Years (Level 6) from September 2025.
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
- Email: Admissions@uwe.ac.uk
- Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 83333