Program Overview
The Secondary Design and Technology (Food Technology) at Birmingham City University is a Postgraduate Certificate programme in Arts & Design over 12 months, delivered On-campus. This programme equips graduates with advanced knowledge and practical skills for professional and academic careers in the field.
Students gain a rigorous grounding in both the theoretical foundations and applied dimensions of arts & design. The programme combines coursework, research components, and practical projects that develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and specialist expertise relevant to industry and research needs.
Graduates of the Secondary Design and Technology (Food Technology) programme are well-prepared for careers in academia, industry, government, and the private sector across United Kingdom and internationally. The programme provides an internationally recognised qualification within the Bologna higher education framework.
Key Program Features
- Duration: 12 months
- Language of instruction: English
- Study mode: On-campus
- Tuition: GBP 12,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,250 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
- Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the Secondary Design and Technology (Food Technology) programme are prepared for diverse careers in arts & design:
- Creative Director
- Graphic / UX Designer
- Art Director
- Curator
- Visual Artist
- Media Producer
Program Curriculum
This postgraduate course takes place over one year full-time. Note that all PGCE with QTS courses commence teaching in the first week of September.
The PGCE Secondary design and technology with food and nutrition course aims to explore, and develop the links between designs; materials, science, nutrition, needs of the user and the place of technology in the modern world.
Through educational theory linked to creativity and its practice, we explore how products are designed to promote the needs of sustainable manufacturing processes and food provenance.
The University workshops and seminars facilitate a space for learners to explore both technical understanding, skills related to manufacture and the teaching of design capability.
Our well-developed partnerships with schools and application of the design and food association’s principles in teaching methodologies support you in applying this gained knowledge in the pedagogy of teaching methodologies in schools.
The course enables you to experience working in all materials irrelevant of your specialism. School experience is varied and supports the development of your knowledge across the range of subjects taught in technology departments this approach ensures that you are offered a well-rounded teacher education. We believe that we are training teachers to work in any school setting.
Your course will feature a range of modules and the opportunity to get plenty of hands-on practice in local schools with support from colleagues in the school partnership and experienced University tutors.
You will be expected to spend two thirds of your course in schools with the other third taking place in a University setting.
Lead school partners
The lead school partner approach enables multi-academy trusts, or groups of schools, to offer teacher education courses offered in collaboration with a university partner. You may prefer to apply to a lead school partner if, for example, the range of schools where you could be placed for your teaching practice, better suits your circumstances. You spend the same amount of time on school placements and will study on campus with us for most if not all your taught sessions. You will also have the same access to a personal development tutor and all the resources we offer.
Our lead school partners for this PGCE Secondary course are (see links for details such as location maps and contact details):
Placement locations
Our students are asked to complete some forms for placements around whether they will be living, access to private transport etc., however, you must be prepared to travel around 90 minutes. Where you have one placement that is around this 90-minute mark, we will always try to make your other placement much closer for you, depending on availability.
For PGCE Secondary courses, we have over 100 placement providers across 14 local authorities including:
- Birmingham
- City of Wolverhampton
- Coventry
- Derby City
- Derbyshire
- Dudley
- Leicester City
- Sandwell
- Solihull
- Staffordshire
- Telford and Wrekin
- Walsall
- Warwickshire
- Worcestershire
Admission Requirements
Academic Requirements
UK students
EssentialYou will need to have a good degree (minimum 2:2 but 2:1 or 1st preferred) from a UK higher education institution or equivalent, at least 50 per cent of which is in a food, textiles-related or product design-related subject.
You must have a GCSE grade C or above (or equivalent) in both English language and mathematics prior to enrolment\xc2\xa0and if you are offered an interview you will take a written test to assess your standard of English.
If you do not already have GCSEs in English language and mathematics, or their equivalent, and are not registered to take them, you should visit\xc2\xa0Equivalency Testing.
It should be noted that applicants taking the equivalency tests need to have passed prior to\xc2\xa0enrolment.
For entry onto a teaching course from September 2014 you will also be required to pass the\xc2\xa0Skills Tests in Literacy and Numeracy
Pre-Interview School Experience
For secondary teacher training there is an expectation that you will have had some general experience of working with secondary age students in a school setting.
In preparation for the selection interview stage of the recruitment process you are required to engage in a teaching episode, observed by an experienced qualified teacher.
It will support your application to undertake this teaching episode prior to application and in advance of your interview.
Please read our\xc2\xa0guidance document\xc2\xa0before downloading the\xc2\xa0Pre-Interview School Experience Report\xc2\xa0which you will need the qualified teacher observing you to complete.
Selection Interview
At interview you will also need to present a portfolio of personal work which should include a selection of work completed before, during and after your degree.
The selection interview will assess your subject knowledge and personal qualities such as the potential to relate well to secondary age students, enthusiasm, sensitivity, communication skills and robustness and resilience for teaching.
You will also take a written test to assess your standard of English.
Applicants must meet The National College for Teaching and Leadership requirements for Initial Teacher Training, which means being medically fit and successfully completing an enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
GBP 12,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,250 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Tuition fees: GBP 12,000 (Tuition (Year)) — International students; GBP 9,250 (Tuition (Year)) — EU/EEA students
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Contact Birmingham City University directly for scholarship, grant, and financial aid information for this programme. Many European universities offer merit-based and need-based funding for international and domestic students.
About Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham, United Kingdom
Birmingham City University is a distinguished institution of higher education committed to academic excellence, innovative research, and preparing students for leadership in their chosen fields....
University Profile- Start Date September 2026
- Language English
- Duration 12 months