Frequently Asked Questions
- I haven't got my GCSEs yet - can I apply for the PGCE?
- Do you accept equivalency tests for English Language and Maths
- Are my Qualifications acceptable?
- Do you have to get a first class degree to study at Cambridge
- What happens if I get / have a 2(II) / Third?
- Do you hold Open Days?
- When is the closing dates for applications?
- What is college membership, and which colleges take PGCE students?
- When do I find out about my college membership?
- Can I apply directly to you?
- I’m filling in the GTTR form and….
- The GTTR track system has been updated with an offer, how do I know what the conditions are?
- When will I receive information about the interview?
- How often are interviews held? Are there specific dates?
- Do I have to attend an interview in person if I am overseas?
- Will I be able to park on site at my interview?
- What happens if I do not bring all of my certificates to the interview?
- I already have a CRB, do I need another?
- Do I need to send originals with my CRB?
- How much does the PGCE course cost?
- Do I get a bursary? How do I apply for one?
- Is there any other funding available?
- Can I defer my place?
- When does the PGCE start and finish?
- When will I find out about school placements? Where will they be? Can I arrange my own?
- Where can I live? Can I commute to complete the PGCE?
- What time do we start / finish each day?
Qualifications
Q. I haven't got my GCSEs yet - can I apply for the PGCE?
Q. Do you accept equivalency tests for English Language and Maths GCSEs?
A. No. You must hold GCSE passes (grade C or above) before you submit your GTTR application.
Q. Are my Qualifications acceptable?
A. The equivalence of overseas qualifications is determined by UK NARIC. If you are from overseas then you should contact UK NARIC, who deal with the equivalence of overseas qualifications to UK ones. The website address is http://www.naric.org.uk
If you are a UK applicant please contact us with regards to your qualifications.
Q.Do you have to get a first class degree to study at Cambridge?
A. No. We normally look for applicants who have, or expect to obtain, a degree class of 2.1 or above.
Q. What happens if I get / have a 2(II) / Third?
A. A 3rd Class degree would not be considered at Cambridge. A 2(II) degree will sometimes be considered. You should first contact the PGCE Office for further advice as each case is dealt with individually. If you receive a 2(II) after offer, an academic report would be requested from the tutor at the university you attended who can best comment on your academic work. It would then be considered by the Admissions tutor and the PGCE Senior Administrator whether a place could still be offered.
Applying
A. No. To ensure accesibility for all, we ensure all relevant PGCE information is available online.
Q. When is the closing dates for applications?
A. see: http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/courses/pgce/applying#closingdates
Q. What is college membership, and which colleges take PGCE students?
A. The PGCE is only offered by the Faculty of Education and not individual colleges of the university. However, it is a University regulation that everyone undertaking a course at the University is a member of a Cambridge college. see: http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/courses/pgce/applying#college
Q. When do I find out about my college membership?
A. After you are made an offer the College Membership Application is automatically sent to your first choice college for a decision. If this college cannot accept you as a member it is sent to the second choice. You will be informed both by the Faculty of Education and the college when membership of a college is confirmed.
Q. Can I apply directly to you?
A. No, all applications for the PGCE have to be made through the GTTR.
Q. I'm filling in the GTTR form and;
I can’t find Homerton in the list of institutions?
A. The PGCE course is run by the Faculty of Education, not Homerton College.
I can’t find the Campus code?
A. The Faculty of Education does not have a Campus code.
I’m applying for the General Primary (X100) PGCE and it asks for a main subject?
A. This is a generalist course and does not have a main subject.
Who should I put down as my referees?
A. see: http://www.gttr.ac.uk/referees/#aboutreferees
Q. The GTTR track system has been updated with an offer, how do I know what the conditions are?
A. You will receive a formal offer letter from the Faculty outlining the conditions of your offer about a week after the GTTR track system is updated.
Interviews
Q. When will I receive information about the interview?
A. Normally this is sent by e-mail around fourteen days before the interview
Q. How often are interviews held? Are there specific dates?
A. Interviews for Early Years and Primary PGCE courses run from December through to February. For Secondary PGCE courses one or two interview dates are arranged per month, depending upon the number of applications, until the course is filled.
Q. Do I have to attend an interview in person if I am overseas? Can you Skype interview me?
A. The interview process consists of a number of group activities as well as an individual interview, so must be attended in person in Cambridge.
Q. Will I be able to park on site at my interview?
A. There is no parking available at the Faculty of Education.
Q. What happens if I do not bring all of my certificates to the interview?
A. If you are offered a place after interview one of the conditions of the offer will be to supply the original certificates. If you have lost the certificate you will need to contact the appropriate exam board for a replacement certificate or a Certified Transcript of Results
CRB
Q. I already have a CRB, do I need another?
Q. Do I need to send originals with my CRB?
A. Yes. see: http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/courses/pgce/applying/crb.html
Finance
Q. How much does the PGCE course cost?
Q. Do I get a bursary? How do I apply for one?
A. see: http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/courses/pgce/applying/funding.html
Q. Is there any other funding available?
A. see:http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/courses/pgce/applying/funding.html or: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/cambridgebursary/
Course Information
A. No. You would need to reapply in the next admissions cycle.
Q. When does the PGCE start and finish?
A. The 2011-12 PGCE course runs from Monday 12th September to Friday 22nd June.
Q. When will I find out about school placements? Where will they be? Can I arrange my own?
A. The Faculty of Education works with a number of carefully selected partnership schools reflecting a diverse range of school types across the eastern region and you will be placed in at least two of these. Staff in these schools have undergone extensive training in supporting PGCE trainees.
- For PGCE Primary you will be informed in September. see: http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/courses/pgce/eyp/profplacements.html
- For PGCE Secondary courses you will normally be informed in July see:- http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/courses/pgce/secondary/placements.html
Q. Where can I live? Can I commute to complete the PGCE?
A. The Faculty of Education waives a University regulation to live within a specified distance of the Faculty. However due to the intensive nature of the PGCE course we recommend a maximum commuting length of an hour.
Q.What time do we start / finish each day?
A. You will generally be expected to be in the Faculty from 9-5 each day and when you are on school placement, you will be expected to work to school hours.