The Future: PGCE and Post Graduate Courses
- Apr 13, 2019
- 3 min read
Postgraduate study falls under three general types: taught, professional and research.
Taught
These include Masters programmes, such as Master of Arts, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Science. These courses usually take 12 months of intensive full time study. Alternatively, there are part-time or e-learning options that take two years of study.
Professional Qualifications
Postgraduate courses that facilitate development or entrance into a particular profession. These courses are recognized by official bodies within a particular industry. Examples include the BVC (Bar Vocational Course) for law, PGCE for teaching, and qualifications within such fields as accounting, journalism and marketing. Your employer may be willing to assist you financially for professional postgraduate.
Research
These courses are more subject-intensive than taught courses, and allow you greater independence academically. Research courses usually lead to PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or MPhil (Master of Philosophy) status. Typically, PhD research is carried out over three years, while an ensuing fourth year is spent writing up a thesis. Home students may be able to secure funding for research courses from government grants and other sources, although international students generally have to fund themselves, which can be costly.
The Postgraduate Certificate in Education, commonly known as the PGCE, is one of the most popular academic qualifications for teaching.
What is a PGCE?
A Level 7 (NQF) qualification, a PGCE combines substantial school placements with studying the theory behind teaching and learning. Most courses run from early September to July and take nine months to complete if studied full time. Some longer part-time and distance learning options are available.
PGCE courses can either be university or school-led and the majority of programmes lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), making you eligible to teach in a variety of countries. Scottish PGDE courses, and Welsh and Northern Irish PGCEs, are similar in structure to university-based programmes.
There is a shortage of teachers in some subjects - making securing a place on these particular PGCE courses relatively easy, while other programmes are more competitive. You should research this with the provider you're interested in and be prepared to look in other areas of the UK for places.
If your undergraduate degree doesn't link closely to the subject you intend to teach you may be offered a subject knowledge enhancement course as part of your application. This is taken before the PGCE so you'd be studying for a little longer.
Different types of PGCE include:
Primary - prepares you to teach children up to age 11. Programmes focus on the core curriculum, although some may allow you to specialise in a certain subject. This is the most popular PGCE and demand for places is high.
Secondary - focuses on a particular subject and prepares you to teach children between the ages of 11 and 16.
Further/Adult education - if you want to teach in colleges or conduct adult education classes, completing one of these PGCEs means you can apply for Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS) status rather than QTS.
All types include placements for a minimum of 24 weeks in at least two key stages and schools.
Why Post Graduate?
Increase your knowledge and gain a qualification
Give you the opportunity to obtain a postgraduate qualification without the same financial or time commitments of a full Masters degree
Give you specialist knowledge, for example to progress to a PhD
Enhance your career prospects by deepening your knowledge and gaining skills in a new area
Some roles don't require a degree or HND, as job offers may be based on the standard of portfolio work and not on educational qualifications. However, progress without formal training is extremely difficult, and the vast majority of graphic designers have higher qualifications.
Increase earning potential
Starting salaries for junior graphic designers can be in the region of £15,000 to £19,000. Once you've gained some experience, this can rise to £27,000.
At a middle level, you can expect to earn £25,000 to £35,000.
Salaries for senior graphic designers or creative leads range from £35,000 to £55,000. A creative director can make £60,000+ a year.
If you work as a freelancer, you can earn anything between £200 and £400 a day with experience. You'll be able to charge more once you have an impressive track record and recommendations.
Salaries vary widely depending on the sector of employment, location and your experience and reputation. The best paid jobs are usually in London and other large cities. In-house design teams tend to offer higher salaries than in design agencies. (Source: https://www.prospects.ac.uk)
Comments