Education (Primary) (Dumfries campus) PGDE
This Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) provides you with the skills, knowledge, and experience to develop a career in primary teaching. This GTCS-accredited qualification combines classroom learning with comprehensive placements throughout Dumfries & Galloway.
- Academic contact: elizabeth.foley@glasgow.ac.uk
- Teaching start: August
- Dumfries campus
- Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE): 10 months full-time
- Applications to PGDE must be made through UCAS
Why this programme
- This programme is accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), giving you the qualification to pursue teaching roles in schools across the UK.
- As an aspiring teacher, this programme will provide you with the knowledge, skills and values you need to become the committed professional necessary for today’s schools.
- Building on your subject-specific knowledge, you will be supported to develop creative ways to enthuse and educate children.
- With an emphasis on reflective practice linked to professional standards, you will develop skills to become a reflective practitioner in the classroom.
Programme structure
You will undertake 18 weeks of study at University and 18 weeks of school experience in our partner schools.
Core courses
The programme will prepare you to meet the demands of the profession through the following areas of study:
- Learning And Teaching In The Primary Curriculum
- PGDE with Teaching Qualification: School Experience
- Professional Enquiry
- Understanding Learning And Teaching
Programme alteration or discontinuation
The University of Glasgow endeavours
to run all programmes as advertised. In exceptional circumstances, however, the University may withdraw
or alter a programme. For more information, please see: Student contract.
Career prospects
Upon successful completion of the PGDE, you will have met the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) Standard for Provisional Registration, allowing you to begin working within a school(s) to achieve the Standard for Full Registration. Many of our graduates are teaching not only in Scotland’s primary and secondary schools, but throughout the UK and further abroad.
The School of Social & Environmental Sustainability has been in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Council since 2008 and many of our graduating MA Primary Education and PGDE Education teachers find employment in the region.
Find out more about careers paths and opportunities.
Fees & funding
Tuition fees for 2026-27
PGDE
International & EU
- Full-time fee: £26,460
Scotland
- Full-time fee: £1,820
Rest of UK
- Full-time fee: £9,535
In November 2024, the UK Government announced that it intends to bring in secondary legislation to increase the tuition fee cap. More information may be obtained from the undergraduate fee page.
Fee status
Additional fees
- Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
- Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
- Registration/exam only fee: £170
Funding opportunities
GREAT Scholarships 2026
In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT Britain Campaign, University of Glasgow is offering 5 scholarships to students in Greece, Spain, Pakistan, Kenya and Bangladesh applying for postgraduate courses in any subject (excluding MBA and MSc Research courses). All eligible courses can be viewed under the 'eligible programmes' tab on this webpage.
The scholarship offers financial support of £10,000 to students pursuing one-year postgraduate study in the UK. This discount cannot be combined with another University scholarship.
Chevening Scholarship
Please note that the Chevening Scholarships are now open for application for the 2026/27 academic year.
Chevening Scholarships are the UK government's global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. The scholarships are awarded to outstanding scholars with leadership potential. Awards are typically for a one year Master’s degree at universities across the UK. There are over 50,000 Chevening Alumni around the world who together comprise an influential and highly regarded global network.
For further information, please refer to the Chevening website.
Commonwealth Scholarship Schemes
Commonwealth Scholarships enable talented and motivated individuals to gain the knowledge and skills required for sustainable development, and are offered to citizens from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. The majority of Scholarships are funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), with the aim of contributing to the UK’s international development aims and wider overseas interests, supporting excellence in UK higher education, and sustaining the principles of the Commonwealth.
Colfuturo Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia
The University of Glasgow offer discounts to all successful Fundacion para el Futuro de Colombia (Colfuturo) scholars who enrol at the University of Glasgow to complete a postgraduate programme.
Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loans England only (PTFL)
If you’re an English student looking to study a taught Masters programme in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan. Students from England are able to apply for a non-means tested Postgraduate Master’s Loan of up to £11,570 to help with course fees and living costs. You have to repay your Postgraduate Master’s Loan at the same time as any other student loans you have. You’ll be charged interest from the day you get the first payment.
If you’re studying by distance learning, you can also apply.
Postgraduate Loans for Welsh Students
If you are a Welsh student looking to study a postgraduate programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a Welsh University.
* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes
For more information visit Student Finance Wales
Postgraduate Student Loan (Scotland and EU)
Eligible full-time and part-time students, undertaking an eligible postgraduate course, can apply for a tuition fee loan up to a maximum of £7,000 towards their course. Eligible full-time postgraduate students can apply for a living-cost loan of up to £4,500.
This support extends to online Masters or Postgraduate Diplomas, and not to the online Postgraduate Certificate courses.
For more information visit the SAAS website.
Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans
Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans are EU-guaranteed loans with favourable pay-back terms. They’re designed to help prospective students finance their Master’s courses in an Erasmus+ Programme country while leaving as little of a lasting economic footprint as possible.
The scheme is designed to provide postgraduate students with the means to pay their tuition and living expenses – thereby allowing individuals to focus on their degree instead of managing their bank balance. The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible, working under the following guidelines:
- No need for collateral from students or parents - ensuring equality of access
- Favourable, better-than-market interest rates
- Pay-back terms that allow graduates up to two years to find work before beginning repayment.
Please visit the Erasmus+ Master Degree Loans website for more information.
HESPAL Scholarship
The University has worked in partnership with the British Council in a scheme to provide Higher Education Scholarships for Palestinians (HESPAL), for the past decade.
Through the HESPAL scheme, we have been able to offer fee waivers to students from the Palestinian Territories, enhancing educational opportunities for deserving individuals.
Considering the current challenges and the significant obstacles faced by individuals impacted by the conflict in leaving the area, the University of Glasgow extends their support in the academic year 2025/2026 to offer up to 3 postgraduate taught scholarships and up to 2 postgraduate research scholarships.
This scholarship is offered as a full fee discount.
Postgraduate Student Loan (NI)
If you are a Northern Irish student looking to study a taught Masters programme* in Glasgow then you can apply for a student loan in exactly the same way as you would for a University in Northern Ireland.
Northern Irish students are able to apply for non-means-tested tuition fee loans of up to £5,500, to help with the costs of funding.
For more information visit www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/types-of-finance/postgraduate .
* does not apply to Erasmus Mundus programmes
DAAD-University of Glasgow 1-year Master’s grant
The University of Glasgow will offer a full tuition waiver to those students that successfully apply and are nominated by DAAD to the University. DAAD offers a monthly stipend and travel bursary, as well as health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage in addition to the full tuition fee waiver from the University of Glasgow.
Wichtige Hinweise zu DAAD-Stipendien - DAAD (general info on DAAD tuition fee reimbursement)
Current list of tuition reduction / waiving offers (not including U Glasgow yet) : Stipendien für ein Masterstudium im Ausland - DAAD - Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
Travel Bursary for Forced Migrants
The University of Glasgow is offering travel bursaries to assist with public transport travel costs, to support undergraduate and postgraduate students are currently asylum seekers and who could face financial difficulties in taking up their place to study at the University for 2025 entry. The value of the bursary is 50% of your monthly public transport travel costs to get to University, up to a maximum value of £50 per month.
Glasgow Highland Society Scholarship
The University of Glasgow is excited to promote this scholarship opportunity on behalf of the Glasgow Highland Society.
The Glasgow Highland Society is offering multiple grants of up to £500 for new and continuing students of Glasgow university who fit the eligibility requirements of the scholarship
The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database
Entry requirements
The programme is aimed at graduates with relevant subject content in their academic study, who have demonstrated an interest in teaching children through a range of experiences in both formal and informal settings.
Academic entry
The minimum academic entry requirements for admission to a teaching qualification are:
- Degree: This must be validated by a higher education institution in the United Kingdom or an undergraduate degree of an equivalent standard from a higher education institution outside the United Kingdom. All degree classifications are considered, however, priority is given to candidates with a 1st or 2:1 honours degree.
- English: National Qualifications in English at SCQF Level 6 (for example, Higher Grade) or an accepted alternative from the list below.
- Mathematics: National Qualifications in Mathematics at SCQF Level 5 (for example, National 5, Standard Grade or Intermediate 2) or an accepted alternative from the list below.
Please note: Applicants must have achieved their English and Maths qualifications PRIOR to application. Applicants who apply with a pending English or Maths qualification will see their application rejected. Pending degree qualifications are considered.
Accepted alternative qualifications in English and Mathematics
Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Primary: English and Mathematics entry requirements
English
- Scottish Higher English at Grade C or above
Accepted alternative qualifications in English
- Advanced Higher English at Grade C
- A Level English at Grade C
- GCSE/IGCSE English Language AND English Literature at Grade C / 4 (both qualifications must be achieved)
- International Baccalaureate English at HL 4 / SL 6
- Irish Leaving Certificate Higher English at Grade C2 / H4
- SQA National Units at Higher Level in both Communication (NC) and Literature 1
- SCQF Level 6 Online English Access Course offered by the University of Aberdeen
- University level modules (SCQF level 7 or above) that cover sufficient English Literature content.
- English of an equivalent academic standard from outside the UK - Study must have an English Literature element. We use UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre) to assess the equivalency of overseas qualifications.
All applicants must have achieved a MINIMUM of Scottish Higher English at Grade C or accepted alternative PRIOR to their application being considered.
Maths
- National 5 Maths (or Lifeskills Maths) at Grade C or above
Accepted alternative qualifications in Mathematics
- Intermediate Level 2 Mathematics at Grade C
- Standard Grade Credit Mathematics at Grade 2
- O Grade Mathematics at Grade A
- Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher Mathematics at Grade C
- A Level Mathematics at Grade C
- GCSE/IGCSE Mathematics at Grade C / 4
- International Baccalaureate Maths at HL 3 / SL 4
- Irish Leaving Certificate Higher Mathematics at Grade C3 / H5
- Irish Leaving Certificate Ordinary Mathematics at Grade B3 / O3
- SCQF Level 5 or 6 Online Mathematics Access Course offered by the University of Aberdeen at Grade C
- Open University MU123 Discovering Mathematics – credits 30
- SQA National Units in BOTH Core Mathematics 4 (D11V) and Mathematics: Analysis/Algebra 1 (D11W)
- University level modules (SCQF level 7 or above) that cover sufficient Maths content
- Maths of an equivalent academic standard from outside the UK - We will always use UK NARIC (National Recognition Information Centre) to assess the equivalency of overseas qualifications.
All applicants must have achieved a MINIMUM of National 5 Mathematics (or Lifeskills Mathematics) Grade C or accepted alternative PRIOR to their application being considered.
Priority will be given to applicants who have exceeded the minimum requirements and in particular to applicants who have attained English at Higher Grade B (or above) and Higher Grade C (or above) in Mathematics.
The minimum academic requirements are set by the GTCS General Teaching Council for Scotland. Further info at: Memorandum on Entry Requirements to Programmes of Initial Teacher Education in Scotland September 2024
Evidence of completed qualifications
At the point of submitting your application, you must have listed all your qualifications at that time, including High School Maths and English on the UCAS application form. If you have omitted any qualifications, there may be a delay in processing your application. We do allow 7 days from submitting your application for you to forward missing documents by email to dumfries-admissions@glasgow.ac.uk
Personal Statement, Experience and Reference
Applicants who meet or have the potential to meet the academic entry requirements will be considered for a place on the programme and their personal statement and reference will be reviewed.
Applicants should use the personal statement to demonstrate their suitability to join the teaching profession and to talk about their interests and wider achievements and the extent to which they match the skills and attributes desirable in a teacher. The GTCS advise that applicants should show that they have the capacity to meet the Standard for Provisional Registration which specifies what is expected of a student teacher at the end of Initial Teacher Education.
Relevant experience with children should also be noted with preference given to those with recent experience shadowing a primary school classroom.
Interview
Interviews will be held from December and invitations will be updated on UCAS track where applicants can accept, decline or request a reschedule. A communication will be sent out shortly after the UCAS invitation is received and will contain details of the interview structure. Please note that we will be unable to provide feedback to applicants who are unsuccessful at interview stage.
Disclosure Scotland
If you are accepted to the PGDE you must undertake a criminal conviction check prior to enrolment. It is your responsibility to pay for the check.
Fitness to practise
Where a programme of study requires the student to act in the course of practical training in a quasi-professional role in relation to patients, children, clients or service-users or where the qualification provides a direct licence to practise, the University has a duty to ensure that the student is fit to practise. Fitness to Practise is assessed not only in terms of academic attainment but also in accordance with relevant professional standards and expectations. Students registered to study on initial teacher education degrees are subject to separate Fitness to Practise procedures. A copy of the Faculty Code of Professional Conduct and Fitness to Practise will be made available to students on the PGDE programme.
English language requirements
For applicants from non-English speaking countries, as defined by the UK Government, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level.
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic and Academic Online (not General Training)
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- IELTS One Skill Retake Accepted
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Common equivalent English language qualifications accepted for entry to this programme:
TOEFL (ibt, mybest or athome)
- 90 overall with no subtest less than Reading 20; Listening 19; Speaking 19; Writing 21
- Only tests taken before January 2026 can be accepted for entry
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test, this includes TOEFL mybest.
Pearsons PTE Academic
- 65 overall with no subtest less than Reading 60; Listening 60; Speaking 65; Writing 60
- Online PTE not accepted for entry
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Cambridge Proficiency in English (CPE) and Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)
- 176 overall with no subtest less than 169
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Oxford English Test
- 7 overall with no subtest less than 6
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
LanguageCert Academic/ Academic Online
- 70 overall with no subtest less than 65
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Password Skills Plus
- 6.5 overall with no subtest less than 6.0
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Trinity College Integrated Skills in English II
- Two subtests at 96 or higher, and two subtests at 80 or higher
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
Kaplan Test of English
- Any two subtests at 480 or higher, and any two subtests at 450 or higher
- Tests must have been taken within 2 years 5 months of programme start date. Applicants must meet the overall and subtest requirements using a single test.
University of Glasgow Pre-sessional courses
Tests are accepted for 2 years following date of successful completion.
Alternatives to English Language qualification
- Degree from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have studied for a minimum of their final year at Undergraduate level, or 9 months at Master's level, and must have completed their degree in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
- Undergraduate 2+2 and 3+1 degrees from majority-English speaking country (as defined by the UKVI including Canada if taught in English)
- students must have completed their final year of study in that majority-English speaking country within the last 6 years.
For international students, the Home Office has confirmed that the University can choose to use these tests to make its own assessment of English language ability for visa applications to degree level programmes. The University is also able to accept UKVI approved Secure English Language Tests (SELT) but we do not require a specific UKVI SELT for degree level programmes. We therefore still accept any of the English tests listed for admission to this programme.
Pre-sessional courses
The University of Glasgow accepts evidence of the required language level from the English for Academic Study Unit Pre-sessional courses. We would strongly encourage you to consider the pre-sessional courses at the University of Glasgow's English for Academic Study (EAS) Unit. Our Pre-sessional courses are the best way to bring your English up to entry level for University study. Our courses give you:
- direct entry to your University programme for successful students (no need to take IELTS);
- essential academic skills to help you study effectively at University;
- flexible entry dates so you can join the right course for your level.
More information on our Pre-sessional courses.
We can also consider the pre-sessional courses accredited by the below BALEAP approved institutions to meet the language requirements for admission to our postgraduate taught degrees:
- Heriot Watt
- Kingston Upon Thames
- Middlesex University
- Manchester University
- Reading University
- Edinburgh University
- ST Andrews University
- UCL
- Durham
For further information about English language requirements, please contact the Recruitment and International Office using our enquiry form
International students
We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.
How to apply
Programmes starting August 2026
Whilst the PGDE programmes are only open to postgraduate students, unlike all other postgraduate degrees, all PGDE applications must be made online through the UCAS website.
Apply online at www.ucas.com
This programme remains open after the UCAS deadline of 14 January 2026.
The University of Glasgow UCAS code (required for online UCAS application) is:
- PGDE Primary Education (Dumfries campus): X121
Please note that degree level 'Undergraduate' must be selected, in order to locate the PGDE programmes on UCAS.
If your application is successful you will be invited for interview. If you would like further information please enquire online.
For the PGDE Primary programmes, the University does not normally permit deferral of entry to a later term/year. However, you may request a deferral of entry, where unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances will prevent you from taking up your offer. Please enquire online.
For more about information on applying for a teaching degree, see our Teaching Admissions Guidance.
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