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Posted April 15, 2026

What is the difference between a PGDE and a PGCE?

While often mentioned in the same breath due to their status as postgraduate teaching qualifications, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) are two separate programs that can lead to that coveted Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England. Without it, you cannot practise as a teacher in some educational settings.

Even in scenarios where you can teach without QTS, you remain at a disadvantage as Catalyst Academies Trust explains:

“Although it is possible to work as a teacher without QTS, there are important considerations:

  • Career opportunities may be limited compared to QTS-qualified teachers.

  • Pay and conditions are usually less favourable without QTS.

  • Many schools and trusts prefer teachers with QTS as it demonstrates recognised professional standards.

  • Access to permanent roles in most state-maintained schools requires QTS.

In practice, gaining QTS remains the most secure and respected route into teaching, ensuring long-term career development and recognition across the education sector.”

With this in mind, it’s advisable to gain QTS, but is a PGDE or PGCE the best route? Read on to discover what it means to study a PGCE and how a PGDE differs…

Credits

As the name suggests, a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) offers a higher qualification level than the lower ranking Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). The latter offers just 60 credits, while a PGDE offers double that at 120 credits.

Length

Due to the higher number of credits available, studying for a PGDE is a slightly longer process, taking one full academic year to achieve qualification.

In comparison the PGCE is shorter, with most courses around nine to 10 months in length. During your studies, you’ll enjoy a mix of theory, classroom-based learning and assignments as part of both the PGCE and PGDE programs.

Location

The PGCE is the standard route to QTS in England, but it’s not the same story in Scotland. PGDEs are in fact more common in Scotland and a requirement to teach in Scottish schools. Instead of including QTS as is the norm in England, a PGDE leads to registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland.

PGDEs are also split into two separate categories, with the Scottish PGDE primary allowing you to teach children aged between four and 12, and the PGDE secondary qualifying you to teach 11 to 18-year-olds.

Progression

With a PGCE, you can start teaching straight after completion. Alternatively, you can choose to upgrade this qualification to a more academically advanced PGDE or masters degree. By choosing a PGDE instead of a PGCE, you’ll already be two-thirds of the way to a full masters degree. All you have to do is complete a dissertation to achieve a Masters Degree in Education.

In terms of the career opportunities available to you, achieving a PGCE instead of a PGDE, and vice versa, rarely affects the hiring process. Both postgraduate courses qualify you to teach, with schools more concerned about your QTS (or equivalent), teaching ability and specialist subject. Where you want to teach however could impact your decision to study for a PGCE or PGDE.

Search the PGCE programs and PGDE courses currently available right here at Postgrad.

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