Features: PGCEs: What you need to know

Every nine minutes someone applies for postgraduate teacher training. A career in the classroom is proving increasingly popular with graduates due to its stability and job satisfaction. Find out how to pit yourself against the competition and come out on top...

Although several routes exist, taking a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) is the most popular way into teaching. Taking one year to complete full time and up to two years part time, a PGCE focuses on developing your teaching skills rather than improving your knowledge of the subject you wish to teach. With this in mind, it's important that you already have a good understanding of your subject - i.e. you've studied it at undergraduate level - before you apply to take a PGCE.

Requirements and applications

Applicants are expected to have a degree, preferably in the subject they wish to teach, and GCSEs at grade C or above are required in English and maths.

For those of you set on becoming primary school teachers, or even teaching students at key stage 2/3 (students aged 7-14), you'll also need a grade C or above in GCSE science. Don't panic if you're reading this and already feel like you don't fit the bill, as courses are available to get your qualifications up to scratch.

For example, if your degree is not in the subject you wish to teach, you may be able to take a subject knowledge enhancement course, which will boost your knowledge of your chosen subject and prepare you for the classroom. Usually, you will be expected to first apply for your PGCE, indicating on your application form that you are interested in taking a subject knowledge enhancement course.

PGCE courses can be taken at universities, colleges or through distance learning with providers such as The Open University. In England, students can opt to complete a School-Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme. SCITT courses are ideal for those who wish to spend more time putting theory into practice in the classroom.

As with the outcome of a PGCE, successful graduates will be given what is known as Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) - the accreditation which allows you to teach in state-maintained and special schools in England and Wales. Similar programmes are on offer in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

On the whole, applications are made through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry (GTTR). Submissions can be made from mid-September to June for courses starting the following September or October. However, certain courses such as those for primary teaching, PE and history are extremely popular and so applicants are advised to apply early (before the end of November) in order to help secure a place with your first choice course provider.

Give yourself an edge

'Taking a PGCE means embarking on a very demanding year, where a proportion of the time will be spent at your chosen course provider and the rest of the time will be spent on placement in schools. This is no mean feat – you will be undoubtedly juggling academic assignment deadlines with full-time lesson planning and teaching,' explains Sara Whittam, careers adviser at the University of Bristol.

For those of you up for the challenge, it pays to gain as much experience as possible before applying for a PGCE. This will help boost your application and enable you to gain a place on the course, as well as help to equip you for the demanding year ahead.

'Experience of volunteering or working with children and young people is essential in order to gain a place on a PGCE, so think about how you can gain this through volunteering. Perhaps you could work in an after school club, youth club or even take up tutoring. Most course providers will want to see some experience of being in a classroom, so try to tap any contacts that you might have for valuable work shadowing opportunities,' advises Sara.

'Being able to prove that you know what the realities of working in a school are is essential, so speaking to as many people as possible involved in education is a really good idea,' she adds.

Funding

With so much competition for courses, it's no surprise that graduates need to prepare themselves to face stiff competition for a teaching position. This applies to roles in primary schools, in particular. In recent years, the amount of funding on offer has dwindled, but some still exists for certain shortage subjects. 'The government is encouraging students to consider teaching in shortage subject areas in secondary schools by offering incentives to train in subjects such as science and maths,' says Sara.

Training bursaries are available for those of you choosing to teach the following: physics; chemistry; maths and modern foreign languages. For 2013/14, bursaries range from £4,000 to £20,000 depending on which subject you train to teach.

For those of you who don't qualify for a bursary, visit Student Finance England  to find out what loans are available and whether or not there are any maintenance grants you can apply for. For information on what's on offer to students in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland visit the websites below.