Overview
Become a qualified college lecturer with our pre-service Teaching Qualification for Further Education (TQFE).
Colleges in Scotland employ more than 10,000 people and educate over 200,000 students every year (Source: Colleges Scotland). As a further education lecturer, you’ll play a key role in this exciting sector and support the future ambitions of a diverse mix of students.
The University of Stirling is the only TQFE provider to offer a pre-service course for those wishing to progress to a teaching career in further education. The course is accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS). After you graduate you can register with the GTCS and become a qualified college lecturer.
What you’ll learn:
Our pre-service TQFE course covers a wide range of topics, including:
- the main theories of learning, teaching and assessment relevant to Further Education;
- writing lesson plans and assessments for your subject area and engaging students with different learning needs;
- evaluating your own teaching practice and enhancing it using the latest research in Further Education;
- issues relating to equality and equity, and the concept of inclusive practice.
Gain experience as a lecturer
The pre-service TQFE course at Stirling includes a placement opportunity in a further education institution. This placement will build your confidence in teaching and increase your employability. You’ll also complete a module designed to help you reflect on your experiences on placement. With the support of a college-based mentor and university tutor, you’ll explore how what you’ve learned on placement can make you the best possible lecturer after graduating.
The course also includes option modules that allow you to focus in on different topics. Explore detailed strategies for reflecting on your own teaching with our Professional Practice module, or study Adult Education and examine societal inequality and how adult education processes can respond to this.
Start your journey to becoming a Further Education lecturer with our accredited TQFE pre-service course.
Top reasons to study with us
Professional accreditation
We’re accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS), which means you can register with them when you graduate.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
University Diploma
Higher National Certificate (HNC) at Level 7 on the Scottish Credit Qualification Framework (SCQF) or equivalent.
This pathway is for students where an HNC is the highest qualification available in the UK in that subject area.
BA Degree
Higher National Diploma (HND) at Level 8 on the Scottish Credit Qualification Framework (SCQF) or equivalent.
Equivalent recognised qualifications are:
- Senior Award from the City and Guilds ‘Professional Recognition Award’ (Affliateship Level).
- Other qualifications which are equivalent to an HND or HNC may be considered.
Candidates for both qualifications must also have both literacy and numeracy skills. The normal entry requirements are:
- A National Qualification Course in English at level 6 on the SCQF (or suitable evidence of being able to attain this standard) or Qualifications Scotland communication level III.
- A National Qualification Course in numeracy or Mathematics at level 4 on the SCQF (or suitable evidence of being able to attain this standard).
You should also have Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills equivalent to Intermediate 2 (i.e. level 5 on the SCQF).
Mathematics Standard Grade (3), National 5 (C), Intermediate 2 (C), GCSE (C) or equivalent.
International entry requirements
Application Procedure
Applications are now closed for August 2026 and applications for August 2027 will open on 1 November 2026.
Other routes of entry
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have any of the following prior Professional Development Awards (PDAs), you’ll undertake a 20 credit APL module as your final module on the course:
- Group Award Code: G85D 18 ‘Advanced Diploma Teaching in Further Education’
- Group Award Code: GG87 49 ‘PDA Teaching Practice in Scotland’s Colleges’
- Group Award Code: GG82 49 ‘Developing Teaching Practice in Scotland’s Colleges’
If you’re a postgraduate candidate who has the DELTA (or equivalent) award, you’ll be exempt from the final course module.
If you claim any of the above exemptions, you must provide your certificates when you apply for the TQFE course. Retrospective exemptions are not given once you’ve started the course. Where exemptions are granted, a reduced fee is charged.
English language requirements
If English is not your first language you must have one of the following qualifications as evidence of your English language skills:
- IELTS Academic or UKVI 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in each sub-skill.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) 60 overall with a minimum of 59 in each sub-skill.
- TOEFL exams taken before 21 January 2026: 80 overall with 18 in reading, 17 in writing, 17 in listening, 20 in speaking.
- TOEFL exams taken from 21 January 2026: 4 overall with no less than 4 in any band.
See our information on English language requirements for more details on the language tests we accept and options to waive these requirements.
Pre-sessional English language courses
If you need to improve your English language skills before you enter this course, University of Stirling International Study Centre offers a range of English language courses. These intensive and flexible courses are designed to improve your English ability for entry to this degree.
Find out more about our pre-sessional English language courses
Course details
This is a recognised teaching qualification if you'd like to pursue a career in the further education sector. You'll follow a one year course which leads to a BA degree or an undergraduate diploma.
Modules
Course details
Teaching
Our modules require you to attend on-campus lectures, seminars and workshops. There’s also a placement at a Scottish further education college which gives you excellent teaching practice.
We make all our teaching materials available to you online, including: recordings of all lectures; e-journals and e-books. Additional resources are provided by various organisations in the FE sector, including:
- College Development Network
- Education Scotland
- General Teaching Council Scotland
Assessment
As a pre-service student you’ll undertake an unpaid college placement. You’ll be observed teaching on your placement on two separate occasions. Each observation involves a written reflective exercise based on professional dialogue with your observer. These are usually carried out by core staff on the TQFE course. We also employ FE college-based Teacher Fellows who complement the core team who undertake teaching observations.
You’ll also be assessed through a blend of reflective assignments, lesson planning tasks, and a professional practice portfolio, designed to mirror the expectations of lecturers in Scotland’s FE colleges.
Classroom hours
This full-time course consists of 20 on-campus taught days, in addition to 120 hours of teaching practice on placement at a local college.
Work placement opportunities
Our course is practice-focused, so you’ll go on an unpaid teaching placement at a local college (120 hours of teaching). This involves 2 to 3 days per week of teaching practice in a college. Your placement will be supported by tutor visits and college mentors. It gives you the opportunity to develop and enhance your teaching practice in the further education environment.
Study abroad
Not available on this course.
Contact
Dr Matthew Sowerby, Course Director
Fees and funding
| Tuition fee | |
|---|---|
|
Annual tuition fee for Scottish students This course is only available to students with a tuition fee status of Scottish. |
£1,820 |
This tuition fee is set by the Scottish Government and may be subject to change.
Although you’re liable for annual tuition fees, you’ll be able to apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) to have your tuition fees paid by the Scottish Government on your behalf. (SAAS will then pay your fees direct to the university.) If you’re unsure of your fee status, you can check your eligibility online.
Fee information
You will be charged the annual fee each year when you enrol.
If you need to take additional modules or resit modules, you will be liable for an additional fee.
For more information on courses invoiced on an annual fee basis, please read our tuition fee policy.
Additional costs
There are some instances where additional fees may apply. Depending on your chosen course, you may need to pay additional costs, for example for field trips. Learn more about additional fees.
Funding
See what funding opportunities and loans are available to help you with tuition and living costs.
Cost of living
If you’re domiciled in the UK, you can typically apply to your relevant funding body for help with living costs. This usually takes the form of student loans, grants or bursaries, and the amount awarded depends upon your personal circumstances and household income.
International (including EU) students won’t normally be able to claim living support through SAAS or other UK public funding bodies. You should contact the relevant authority in your country to find out if you’re eligible to receive support.
Payment options
We aim to be as flexible as possible, and offer a wide range of payment methods—including the option to pay fees by instalments. Learn more about how to pay.
After you graduate
What can you do with a Pre-Service TQFE course?
The TQFE course provides you with a highly relevant qualification for lecturing in further education. You’ll graduate with the confidence and skills to successfully gain employment as a further education lecturer or Adult Learning tutor.
- Our GTCS accredited course will make you stand out to future employers as a qualified professional.
- The confidence, communication and professional skills developed over this one year course will help your career development.
Our pre-service qualification is also highly valuable for other aspiring trainers and teachers, beyond the college sector. Some of our students wish to work for Adult Learning organisations, the police, fire and ambulance services, as well as charities and other training providers.
Companies we work with
We have strong links with colleges throughout Scotland, enabling us to provide practical placements as part of this course.
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