Additional requirements
- Your degree should have a significant proportion of the subject you wish to teach. Subject knowledge enhancement courses may be set as a condition in some cases, particularly when the degree is not clearly ‘in line’ with the subject you are applying to.
- GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at level 4 (grade C if taken before 2017) or above or equivalent. GCSE equivalents are offered by St Mary's University.
- Two appropriate references (from an academic tutor or line manager) supporting your suitability for teaching.
- Satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- Physical and mental fitness to teach.
School observation
At St Mary's, we would like all applicants to have made a fully informed decision about considering joining the teaching profession. As part of that decision making process, spending some time in school(s) observing what teachers do and beginning to give some consideration to how they manage learning can be really insightful and informative.
Your training is most likely to take place in mixed, state comprehensive school environments. If you are choosing to complete some school observation as part of making an informed decision about teaching then we would encourage you to do so in a similar school setting.
Skills tests
The Department for Education has announced that applicants for initial teacher training (ITT) courses from April 2020 will no longer need to take Skills Tests in numeracy and English. The responsibility for assuring trainee teachers have met an appropriate level of skill in these important areas has been passed to the ITT provider.
At St Mary's University we therefore require, that by the end of your teacher training programme, you can demonstrate you are competent in English and mathematics. For St Mary's to be assured of this, and as part of the recommendation for QTS, you will be able to seek guidance in developing these fundamental skills as required.
Irish applicants
Candidates applying from Northern Ireland and Ireland should check for upcoming events and interview dates that we will be hosting in Ireland.
International requirements
International students should check our country-specific pages for equivalents. If English is not your first language you will need to achieve an IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 in any section (or equivalent).
We have put together a step-by-step guide to applying for a PGCE as an international student. The gov.uk website also includes a 'Get into teaching' guide for overseas students.
Representatives from St Mary's will be visiting Ireland and Nothern Ireland in the coming weeks to interview applicants. Please email clive.woolger@stmarys.ac.uk for further information.
Further information
For more information about entry requirements please email apply@stmarys.ac.uk.