PGCE Music

Entry requirements

English and Mathematics (GCSE grade C or equivalent).

An Honours degree, in Music. In the case of a combined Honours degree at least 50% shall be in the specialist subject. (N.B. The normal minimum offer standard is a 2:2 Honours).

All applicants normally need to provide evidence of knowledge, interest and experience in working with young people of post-primary age in a formal/informal education setting.

Applicants for the post-primary pathway also require:

Two supportive references.

Medical certificate of satisfactory health.

Applicants will be scrutinised by Access NI and must also satisfy the University and the Department of Education that nothing would prohibit them from working with children.

The application form will be examined for spelling, punctuation and use of English and general quality of presentation.

Applicants appearing to fulfil the above requirements will be shortlisted. In the event that the programme is oversubscribed, enhanced criteria (e.g. degree classification) will then be applied and candidates fulfilling these criteria will be interviewed to ascertain their suitability for the course.

An offer of a place will be conditional upon satisfying the Selection Committee on all of the above criteria. Applicants who are deemed suitable but for whom an immediate place is not available will be placed on a waiting list and offered a place if another applicant declines his/her place.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Applications will open on Monday 7th September 2026 and close on Monday 16th November 2026. Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the selection panel.

The aim of a PGCE is to prepare the student to become a competent teacher. This is achieved through a variety of teaching and learning methods which are summarised below:

• Lectures: plenary sessions on educational theory for all PGCE students.

• Tutorials: group or individually designed to advise in the preparation for school experience, curriculum projects and/or school based investigations.

• Practicals: involving simulations, role-play, practical activities and school experience.

• Workshops: designed primarily to allow students to examine the relationship between theoretical perspectives introduced in lectures and their main subject specialism.

Assessment
Performance on the course will be assessed through coursework and school experience.

Jurisdiction

The PGCE is a recognized teaching qualification in the UK. For those applicants wishing to teach in other jurisdictions we recommend that you contact the relevant authorities there to discuss their requirements for recognised teacher status.

Information for international students

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.