1st in Scotland for research in Education in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise.
The Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) is the recognised teaching qualification for individuals who either currently work as lecturers in Further Education or who wish to pursue a career in the sector. It gives you the recognised teaching qualification for the FE sector, allows you to take the programme at your own pace, and provides opportunities to progress onto further qualifications.
Programme Objectives
The Teaching Qualification in Further Education (TQFE) is designed to meet the needs of the contemporary Scottish Further Education (FE) sector. The content is based on the professional standards for FE staff as laid down by the Scottish Executive, and is fully accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). The programme is suitable for:
- Pre-service: Individuals who wish to pursue a career in Further Education.
- In-service: Lecturers currently working in Further Education colleges.
- Individuals who work in other education and training contexts in post-compulsory education.
Entrance Requirements
If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum 6 in each skill), or TOEFL: Listening 23, Reading 23, Speaking 23, Writing 23.
English Language Requirements
If English is not your first language, you must provide evidence of your proficiency such as a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (minimum in each skill), or TOEFL: Listening 23, Reading 23, Speaking 23, Writing 23.
Funding
Pre-service and part-time, in-service students working a maximum of 15 hours per week may be eligible for the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SASS) funding.
information on possible sources of funding
Modes of Study
Full-time or part-time
Programme Start Date
September and February
All applicants should contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office to request an application form.
Application Enquiries
Student Recruitment and Admissions Service
Undergraduate Admissions Office
University of Stirling
Stirling FK9 4LA
Scotland UK
Tel: + 44 (0) 1786 467044
Fax: + 44 (0) 1786 466800
Email: admissions@stir.ac.uk
Structure and Content
You will complete the following three modules:
- Learner Identity and Diversity: Increase student’s capacity to respond positively to diversity; to understand the importance of learner identity in student engagement in learning and to critically evaluate policies and practices to that end. Students will critically evaluate evidence from the field of practice as well as research evidence.
- Teaching and Assessment: Provides a critical and reflective space for sharing and developing students’ knowledge, skills and awareness of the processes of teaching, facilitating and assessing learning in post-compulsory contexts.
- Professional Practice: Enables students to critically examine their role as a professional teacher in Further Education and to identify areas of their practice that could be changed to improve the learning experiences of their students. Students will be encouraged to examine various debates about professionalism within further education and the implications of these debates for their own professional practice. As part of this process of critical reflection students will be exposed to different frameworks of quality enhancement and will be supported in examining how they can contribute to these processes as individuals and team members.
In addition, Pre-Service students have to complete 120 hours of teaching practice in a college, plus additional inputs on campus.
Delivery and Assessment
The programme is taught using a combination of lectures, seminars and materials made available via the internet.
The attendance requirement for most modules is two days per module, with all programme materials available online in advance. Pre-service students are required to do additional work both on campus and in their college placement.
Timetable
Contact the School for information on your timetable and reading lists.
