Courses of Initial Teacher Education in Northern Ireland

On this page you can find:

• A list of the providers
• Details of the provision
• Applications
• Tuition fees
• Vetting

Stranmillis University College

Telephone Local:  028 9038 4262
Telephone International:  +44 (0)28 9038 4262
Fax Local:  028 9066 4423
Fax International:  +44 (0)28 9066 4423
email:  m.watson@stran.ac.uk

St Mary’s University College

Telephone Local:  028 9032 7678
Telephone International:  +44 (0)28 9032 7678
Fax Local:  028 9033 3719
Fax International:  +44 (0)28 9033 3719
email:  admis@smucb.ac.uk

Queen’s University Belfast

Telephone Local:  028 9097 5953
Telephone International:  +44 (0)28 9097 5953
Fax Local:  028 9023 9263
Fax International:  +44 (0)28 9023 9263
email:  c.a.murphy@qub.ac.uk

University of Ulster - (Coleraine Campus)

Telephone Local:  028 7032 4719
Telephone International:  +44 (0)28 7032 4719
Fax Local:  028 7032 4918
Fax International:  +44 (0)28 7032 4918
email:  br.burgess@ulster.ac.uk

University of Ulster - (Jordanstown Campus)

Telephone Local:  028 9036 6197
Telephone International:  +44 (0)28 9036 6197
Fax Local:  028 9036 6825
Fax International:  +44 (0)28 9036 6825
email:  br.burgess@ulster.ac.uk

The Open University

Telephone Local:  028 9032 3722
Telephone International:  +44 (0)28 9032 3722
Fax Local:  028 9023 0565
Fax International:  +44 (0)28 9023 0565
email:  ireland@open.ac.uk

ITE is phase-related, ie both the professional studies and the school experience elements of the courses provided are directed at teaching in primary or secondary schools.

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You can view the minimum educational qualifications for admission to ITE Courses In Northern Ireland Institutions on our Minimum educational qualifications page.

Details of the provision are as follows:

1.    Stranmillis University College:  a College of Queen’s University Belfast

• a four year BEd (Hons) course directed at primary level teaching;
• four-year BEd (Hons) courses directed at secondary level teaching in Business Studies, Religious Studies, Technology and Design, Mathematics, Science; and
• one-year courses directed at primary level teaching for university graduates leading to the award of a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).  The subject specialism on offer is Early Years.

2.    St Mary’s University College:  a College of Queen’s University Belfast

• a four-year BEd (Hons) course directed at primary level teaching;
• four-year BEd (Hons) courses directed at secondary level teaching in Business Studies, Religious Studies, Technology and Design, Mathematics, Science; and
• a one-year course directed at primary level teaching in Irish Medium Education schools for university graduates leading to the award of a PGCE.

3.    Queen’s University Belfast

• A one-year course directed at secondary level teaching for university graduates leading to the award of a PGCE. The subject specialisms on offer are English, Mathematics, Computing/IT, Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics), Modern Languages, Religious Education, Social Sciences (Politics, Sociology).

4.    The University of Ulster

• at Coleraine Campus, a one-year course directed at primary level teaching for university graduates leading to the award of a PGCE;
• at Coleraine and Jordanstown Campuses, one-year PGCE courses directed at secondary level teaching for university graduates holding relevant degrees. The subject specialisms on offer are:
• Coleraine Campus – Art and Design, English with Drama and Media Studies, Geography, History, Home Economics, Music;
• Jordanstown Campus – Physical Education, Technology and Design.

5.    The Open University

• A part-time course directed at secondary level teaching for university graduates leading to the award of a PGCE. The subject specialisms on offer are Design and Technology, Geography, Mathematics, Modern Languages (French, German, Spanish), Music, Science.

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Applications

Applications forms and details of the entry requirements for admission to PGCE courses may be obtained from the Registrar/Admissions Officer of the College or University concerned.  Addresses are provided at the top of this document.  Applicants for the four-year BEd courses at Stranmillis University College must apply through UCAS, and directly to the College in the case of St Mary's University College.

Tuition fees

From September 2008, institutions in Northern Ireland can charge variable tuition fees of up to £3,145 to all new full-time ITE students, including graduates commencing PGCE courses.  All eligible students can choose to defer payment of their fees by taking out a fee loan which they will repay when they leave higher education and have an income of over £15,000.  Details may be obtained from the Education and Library Board which serves the area in which you normally reside or, in the case of candidates from a country with the European Union, the Student Loans Company in Darlington (Telephone:  0141 243 3570, Telephone International:  +44 (0)141 243 3570 or email:  EU_Team@slc.co.uk).

Addresses of the Education and Library Boards can be found on our types of school page.

Vetting

All candidates who are accepted for a place on a course of initial teacher education are subject to a police criminal records check.

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