PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Intl)
12 months.
With workshops.
Tuition: AED 29,900
Paid Monthly: AED 2,580
Intakes: Oct 2026
Deadline: 30 July 2026
Course overview
The Nottingham PGCE in UAE – Postgraduate Certificate in Education (International) is a Level 7 academic qualification on the UK National Qualifications Framework and is relevant to all subjects, phases and curricula, applicable to teachers looking to refine their teaching skills on primary, secondary and high school subjects.
This University of Nottingham PGCE course comprises of face-to-face Teacher Training workshops held in the UAE, hosted by fly-in professors directly from the University of Nottingham UK. At the PGCEi workshop, teachers get the opportunity to meet their Nottingham tutor as well as fellow teachers studying in the same cohort.
The PGCE certificate focuses on improving individual teaching practice through research and critical reflection, and compares teaching approaches from different countries to evolve a global approach to teaching and education.
Learning outcomes of the PGCE course;
After completing the PGCE certificate, graduates will have improved their teaching methods by building new ideas and strategies tested out in their own classrooms. More specifically, the programme aims to train teachers by:
- helping teachers understand their education system from an international perspective
- enabling teachers to become conversant with the basic assumptions, concepts, and principles of a range of learning theories and to evaluate their usefulness in specific educational situations
- promoting a deeper understanding of a range of teaching strategies
- developing expertise in practitioner research, making appropriate use of professional and research literature
Why study the University of Nottingham PGCE course;
- The University of Nottingham PGCE certificate is one of the oldest, and most reputed, Postgraduate Certificate in Education, claiming thousands of teachers in the Middle East, and globally, as its graduates.
- This teaching degree is blended, with online study materials available 24/7, complemented by one face-to-face PGCE workshop in the UAE that provides a richer, more in-depth learning experience, followed
by two online workshops
- The PGCE workshops are taught directly by University of Nottingham professors, providing students a quality of teaching and education on par with the on-campus university degree.
- A Postgraduate Certificate in Education is a recommended degree for senior teaching roles, and is often a requirement for British and International schools.
- The Nottingham PGCE degree can be completed in one year and the final degree does not state ‘online’ on the certificate.
PGCE Course Structure
The PGCE certificate consists of three 20-credit core modules and one mandatory face-to-face teacher training workshops held in the UAE, and two mandatory online workshops.
1st PGCE workshop (face to face in UAE): 11 & 12 October 2025 <Saturday and Sunday>
2nd PGCE workshop (online): 31 January 2026 <Saturday>
3rd PGCE workshop (online): 25 April 2026 <Saturday>
The PGCE certificate has been designed for working teachers and educators, requiring a commitment of 14 hours of study time per week, approximately 2 hours of study time per day on the PGCE modules for the duration of the course.
Please note, that the PGCE (International) is an academic qualification. As it is not a teaching qualification, it does not confer the Qualified Teacher Status in the UK. Furthermore, it is the applicant’s responsibility to check with the relevant authorities in the country of study that this teaching degree meets the professional requirements of their Education Ministries.
PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Intl)
PGCE - Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Intl)
Accreditation
Teaching & Assessment
Each of the three PGCE modules will be assessed by coursework and a 4,000 – word assignment or equivalent.
PGCE course materials are made available through the dedicated virtual learning environment (VLE) and includes tutorial support and additional learning resources.
There is one face-to-face teacher training workshop held in the UAE during the PGCE course, followed by 2 online workshops all of which involves compulsory participation in sessions and activities. The workshops are hosted and taught by tutors and professors directly from the University of Nottingham UK.
The PGCE workshops helps to provide a practical, in-depth understanding of the modules, as well as providing students with the opportunity to meet their tutors from the University of Nottingham UK and fellow teachers. Following this, all modules are studied online, part-time. You will have access to regular tutorial support online.
It is compulsory to attend all PGCE workshops sessions, and the dates can be found in the cohort-specific information, which will be provided to you by your personal Stafford Academic Consultant before applying.
Benefits
The PGCE is a Teaching degree aimed at professional teachers and educators working in countries other than the UK.
- The course provides the education and skills to teachers on par with the UK National framework and British Education system.
- Teachers who graduate from this PGCE course can apply for senior teaching positions, or move to teaching roles in British and International schools.
- The PGCE is a recommended teaching degree, and is often a requirement to work in British and International schools, regardless of where they are located. It allows graduates to look globally for their employment prospects.
Career path
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education – PGCE (International) is often a mandatory requirement to be employed as a teacher in reputable schools and educational institutions. In some countries, it is also mandated by the local Education Ministry to be qualified as being fit to teach.
This course is ideal for Teaching Assistants wanting to become full-time teachers, educators and teachers looking to work abroad in international schools and teachers looking to up-skill their CV to apply for senior teaching roles.
Academic Progression
- PGCE graduates have the opportunity to further their studies through progression to a Master of Education (MEd)
Eligibility - Entry Requirements
- Be an established teacher or educator with day-to-day access to a computer and the internet and regular connections to an educational context (including online learning)
- Be committed to developing their teaching and learning skills in the field of education;
- Be graduates of an approved university or other institution of higher education;
- Hold at least a second-class Honours degree; or be holders of an approved professional qualification deemed equivalent to an Honours degree;
- Applicants for whom English is not their first language, nor the medium of instruction of their first degree in approved contexts, must have achieved a British Council IELTS average final score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in any element no more than two years prior to admission.
- Applicants with lesser qualifications may be considered for ‘exceptional entry’. If you do not meet these requirements you may enquire about a non-standard entry with your Stafford personal Academic Consultant.
Core modules
This module considers international contexts for education and ideas from the philosophy of education
and about the purposes of education in different settings. It introduces a philosophical, comparative and
observational focus, which runs throughout the PGCEi course.
The aims of the module are to:
- develop an understanding of education as a world-wide phenomenon
- enable you to understand your own education system from an international perspective
- develop appreciation of the philosophical basis of education
- develop a range of frameworks for making sense of educational contexts
- develop alternative perspectives on schools, classrooms and their purposes.
This module focuses on the relationship between theories of learning and models of teaching and
enables you to translate your developing understanding into your practice through critical reflection. You
will be able to select from a choice of different learning theories and pedagogical approaches.
The aims of this module are to:
- become conversant with the basic assumptions, concepts, and principles of a range of learning
theories and pedagogical approaches - understand the practical implications of theories and pedagogical approaches
- be able to compare and contrast theories and pedagogical approaches and their relative usefulness
in specific educational settings - develop professional knowledge, skills, and understanding for teaching
- review and develop existing personal theories of learning and models of teaching
- improve the quality of reflective practice
In this module, you will plan and undertake a small-scale investigation in your own educational context. The project is
an investigation into an aspect of your students’ learning. In preparation for the inquiry and data-gathering processes,
the module supports you to develop your understanding of the principles and methodological and ethical
considerations of practitioner research.
A research proposal in the form of a formative piece of coursework is submitted to the course tutor for comment at an
early stage of work on this module. You are expected to undertake your own literature searches and carry out a
literature review to support your inquiry. The completed assignment relates investigation findings to preparatory
reading material.
The aims of this module are to:
- understand the principles and practice of undertaking an educational inquiry into your own practice, at masters
level - develop familiarity with educational research methodology and ethical requirements
- promote critical reflection and professional learning
- enable you to identify and make appropriate use of professional and academic literature
Course fee
AED 1,000 Early bird offer for the first 30 students – spread over the instalment period if payment is made before the deadline: 26 Jan 2026
- Referral fee of AED 1,000. View the Refer-a-Friend Incentive to apply.
Note: Students are NOT limited to one discount. All offers mentioned on this page can be taken together if the requirements are met.
PGCE Course Fee Breakdown
- Course Fee: AED 29,900
- Monthly Fee**: AED 2,580
*Price is inclusive of VAT
Fees are determined by where applicants are currently working and residing
Academics
Refaat Kazoun
Philippe Riewer
Ajith Kumar
What our students say
Jassim Mohammad
University of Nottingham
PGCE (International)
My experience with the University of Nottingham application has been fascinating. Stafford Global provided excellent help and guidance throughout the application process. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Noel for his amazing support during registration.
