This programme prepares university graduates to become competent and confident teachers in primary schools in Hong Kong. It provides opportunities for participants to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes required of fully qualified primary school teachers, together with an understanding of the responsibilities and obligations of belonging to the teaching profession. In addition, the programme seeks to foster a commitment of the participants to their students and to lifelong professional development.
Programme StructureThis programme is delivered in two different modes: One-year Full-time (FT PGDE(P)) and Two-year Part-time (PT PGDE(P)). It is a modularised programme normally consisting of 30-33 credit points (cps). Participants of FT PGDE(P) are normally required to attend classes during the week (Monday to Saturday), with some evening sessions. Participants of PT PGDE(P) are normally required to attend sessions on some weekday evenings and Saturdays. Classes will be held in Tai Po Campus and/or Tseung Kwan O Study Centre/ North Point Study Centre/ Kowloon Tong Satellite Study Centre or Sports Centre as decided by the University. The programme comprises a programme orientation and the following components:
1. Teaching Subject Study 1 – Subject Methods 3 cps2. Teaching Subject Study 2 – Subject Methods3 cps3. Education Studies12 cps4. Elective Studies6-9 cps5. Field Experience6 cpsImportant Note: Participants admitted into the full-time PGDE(P) programme may be required to visit the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and/or other parts of Mainland China or participate in other non-local learning experience for completion of the programme. While the visits are subsidised, participants are still required to contribute part of the estimated cost of the visits ("student contribution"), whereas personal entertainment, meal expenses, travel document fee and personal insurance costs will not be supported. The estimated cost of the visits for participants admitted to the 2024/25 cohort is not available yet as it is subject to a variety of factors such as changes to the cost of the visits as a result of inflation, trip duration, traveling expenses, the exchange rate, etc. The exact amount of student contribution is thus not available.
Programme OrientationAll participants must attend a programme orientation which includes information sessions about the curriculum, campus facilities and services.
Teaching Subject StudiesTeaching Subject Studies (TSS) are focused on the primary curriculum, teaching methodologies and special features of the subjects. Participants will normally choose two Teaching Subject Studies, TSS1 and TSS2. TSS1 is the subject in which participants already have substantial relevant knowledge from their first degree. TSS2 is the participants' chosen second teaching area. Participants who study English have to study One-TSS Route (English) and have no credit points to study a second subject. Participants who cannot speak or read Chinese can choose only the One-TSS Route (English). Participants who study TSS1 Mathematics have the choice to study One-TSS Route (Mathematics) or TSS1 Mathematics and a TSS2 subject. Subject to sufficient demand, the following subjects may be offered in the 2024/25 academic year:
Teaching Subject Study 1 (TSS1)中文English (One-TSS Route)General Studies (Humanities and Science)Mathematics (One-TSS Route or TSS1 Mathematics and a TSS2 subject)Music (FT only)Physical EducationPutonghuaSpecial Needs (PT only)Visual Arts (FT only)Teaching Subject Study 2 (TSS2)中文General Studies (Humanities and Science)Information TechnologyMathematicsMusic (FT only)Physical EducationPutonghuaSpecial NeedsClick here for the list of courses offered in 2024/25
Education StudiesThis component provides participants with an understanding of foundational disciplines required of classroom teachers, i.e. psychology, sociology and philosophy of education, together with generic skills for planning, teaching and assessment. This interdisciplinary knowledge helps participants understand their own teaching, their own personal development, and culture and society at large. The participants can also evaluate current local curriculum and assessment issues. They are introduced to the implications for teaching and learning arising from the diverse range of learners' needs, the organisational culture of the school and the need to create and maintain a positive classroom climate.
The courses are:
Foundations and Processes of LearningTeacher Leadership and Professionalism in Changing ContextsCurriculum and AssessmentPhilosophical and Socio-cultural Issues in EducationElective StudiesThe Elective Studies domain enables participants to fulfill specific subject requirements as well as to allow participants to have choices in directing their own professional development. Normally participants have to study 1-2 Elective Core courses from TSS1 and TSS2 respectively and 1 Elective Subject Methods Relevant course for TSS2. Also, they can study 0-1 Elective General course. These Elective General courses are interdisciplinary in design in order to encourage participants to develop new areas of interest connected to their academic and education studies. FT PGDE(P) participants of TSS1 English or Putonghua have to take part in the language immersion programme as their Elective Core course. PE participants have to study 2 PE Elective Core courses.
Field ExperienceField Experience provides opportunity for participants to engage and socialise in schools where they learn to teach, experience school life and work, and develop competence and readiness to enter the teaching profession. Participants on FT PGDE(P) will be arranged to undertake two blocks# of teaching practice in local primary schools to try out teaching while participants on PT PGDE(P), who are serving teachers in schools, undertake Field Experience to broaden their experience in classroom practice, reflect and improve their practice by testing out new ideas and applying pedagogical principles in classroom teaching.
# except that FT PGDE(P) participants who have chosen English or Putonghua as their TSS1 will take part in the compulsory immersion programme in Semester One. Important Note: The University will ask students of our full-time teacher education programmes to declare whether they have been convicted of or are being prosecuted for any sex-related offence in Hong Kong or elsewhere, and to provide relevant details prior to undertaking teaching practice. Such information may be released to their placement schools. The University reserves the right not to allow these students to attend the block teaching practice. If so, they won't be able to meet the graduation requirements of the programmes.
Immersion ProgrammeEnglish ImmersionTo enhance the participants’ cultural and academic experiences relating to English language teaching, a compulsory immersion programme will be arranged in an English speaking country in Semester One for FT PGDE(P) participants who choose English as TSS1. This component of the programme not only aims to enhance participants’ language proficiency, but with the campus-based input and teaching practice in local schools also aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to English language teaching to prospective English language teachers. Details of the immersion programme will be announced after the commencement of the full-time programme.
Putonghua ImmersionTo enhance the language proficiency of participants in Putonghua, a compulsory immersion programme will be arranged in Semester One for FT PGDE(P) participants who choose Putonghua as their TSS1. Details of the immersion programme will be announced after the commencement of the full-time programme.
Medium of InstructionThe medium of instruction is Chinese and/or English. Applicant’s adequate proficiency in both Chinese and English is required. English is adopted as the language of instruction for relevant courses, as appropriate. TSS1 English participants are required to take Education Studies core courses in English, if available. Participants of other Teaching Subject Studies can choose to take additional language courses to enhance their English proficiency, if desired.
Information Technology Competency in Education (ITCE)Before graduation, participants are required to:
complete and pass all the required courses in the programme to demonstrate the attainment of ITCE; andcomplete and pass at least one of the followings:IT e-Portfolio Checking and a reflective statementStudent Teacher Education Program (STEP) and a reflective statementArtificial Intelligence Literacy (AIL) program and a reflective statementEntrance RequirementsTo be eligible for admission, applicants should normally:
hold a recognised Bachelor's degree which includes a field of study relevant to their chosen Teaching Subject Study 1*, or equivalent;have passed the admission interview/subject test(s) and/or language test(s), where required; andbe serving teachers in local primary schools (for PT PGDE(P)).Applicants for English who do not hold a degree majoring in English are also welcome to apply.Applicants for General Studies (Humanities and Science) (GSHS) should normally hold a degree in an area with strong relevancy to at least one of the six strands of GS curriculum. According to the six strands of GS curriculum, applicants who hold a degree majoring in one of the following disciplines/areas will be firstly considered: Science (e.g. physics, chemistry, biology; or specialised areas such as biochemistry, environmental science, applied sciences);Social Sciences (e.g. sociology, politics, psychology, public administration, policy studies, geography, social work, etc.);Humanities (e.g. history);Computer Studies and Information Technology; andEducation (including majors with thematic focus in education).Other applicants who do not hold a degree majoring in any of the above but meet the minimum admission requirements for GSHS as TSS2 may also be considered. Applicants for Putonghua should normally hold a degree majoring in Linguistics / Language Studies or related disciplines (申請人必須具備與語言學或語言學習相關的學位). Other applicants who do not hold a degree majoring in any of the above but meet the minimum admission requirements for Putonghua as TSS2 may also be considered.Applicants for Special Needs should normally hold a degree majoring in Special Needs / Psychology / Counselling / Social Psychology / Social Work / Applied Social Studies and/or related subjects.(Note: For part-time applicants, it is at your discretion to invite your employer/principal to complete a recommendation form. Priority of admission will be given to applicants who are recommended by their employers/principals.)
Admission Requirements for Teaching Subject Study 2 (TSS2)TSS2Minimum Admission RequirementsChineseA pass in Chinese Language in the HKCEE, or
Level 3 in Chinese Language in the HKDSE, or equivalent
General Studies (Humanities and Science)Level 3 in at least one Science/Social Sciences subject in the HKDSE, or
A pass in Science/Social Sciences/Humanities in the HKALE, or equivalent
Information TechnologyA pass in Computer Studies/Information Technology/Computer and Information Technology/Mathematics in the HKCEE, or
Level 3 in Information and Communication Technology/Mathematics in the HKDSE, or equivalent
MathematicsA pass in Mathematics in the HKCEE, or
Level 3 in Mathematics in the HKDSE, or equivalent
MusicSatisfactory performance in a subject testPhysical EducationGrade D in Physical Education in the HKCEE, or
Level 3 in Physical Education in the HKDSE, or equivalent; or
Satisfactory performance in a subject test
PutonghuaLevel 3 in the Language Proficiency Assessment for Teachers (Putonghua LPAT) conducted by the HKEAA; or
Grade 2B in the Putonghua Shuiping Ceshi (PSC) conducted by the State Language Commission(國家語言文字工作委員會普通話水平測試); or
A pass in the Test of Advanced Proficiency in Putonghua (TAPP) conducted by the HKEAA in 2008 or before(香港考試及評核局普通話高級水平測試)
Special NeedsLevel 3 in at least one subject in the HKDSE, or
A pass in at least one subject in the HKALE, or equivalent
Teaching Requirements for Field Experience
The medium of instruction in the vast majority of Hong Kong schools is Cantonese and/or English. Participants are required to possess a proficient level of language skills (oral, listening and written) to enable them to perform the duties during Field Experience.
For Full-time PGDE(P) ParticipantsFull-time participants will be arranged to undertake 4# and 8 weeks of full-time block practice in Semester One and Two respectively in local Primary Schools. The teaching load for participants with Teaching Subject Studies 1 & 2 is normally 12-16 periods per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle (with a minimum of 4 periods per Teaching Subject Study) throughout the block practice period.
For One-TSS route participants, they are required to have at least 8-12 periods of their chosen TSS per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle.
# except that FT PGDE(P) participants who have chosen English or Putonghua as their TSS1 will take part in the compulsory immersion programme in Semester One.
For Part-time PGDE(P) ParticipantsThe part-time programme is primarily designed for serving teachers. Participants in the programme are required to fulfill the following teaching requirements for Field Experience:
1. About teaching periods
For participants having a full-time teaching post in primary schools note 1They are required to have a minimum of 4 periods note 2 per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle for each of the two chosen Teaching Subject Studies during the course of study in the programme.For participants without a relevant teaching postThey are required to make own arrangements to undertake 6 consecutive weeks of full-time block practice in primary schools note 1 during the FE supervision period note 3 in each FE and teach at least 12 periods note 2 per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle for the two chosen Teaching Subject Studies (with a minimum of 4 periods per subject) throughout the block practice period.For One-TSS route participants, they are required to have at least 8 periods note 2 of their chosen TSS per week / per 5 to 7-day cycle.
2. About class setting and class size
All participants are required to conduct teaching / teaching practice in regular class settings with a minimum of 10 pupils in a class note 4.
3. About teaching mode
All participants are required to conduct teaching / teaching practice in simulated mode, virtual mode (synchronous and/or asynchronous modes) and authentic mode of classroom teaching as required by the programme / subject. In case of prolonged class suspension that the requirements of the authentic mode of classroom teaching cannot be fulfilled, an Extended School Attachment will need to be arranged.
Note 1: It refers to local primary schools adopting local primary school curriculum. Note 2: Each period normally refers to a 30-40 minutes duration.Note 3: FE Supervision period is normally from November to early May of the academic year.Note 4: For special schools, the minimum number of pupils in a class is 8 according to the actual class size.
Other subject(s) specific teaching requirements
Special NeedsFor participants choosing Special Needs as TSS1 / TSS2, their teaching periods should be arranged in another chosen TSS to demonstrate understanding of and to cater for pupils with learning difficulties in classes. For example, a participant with TSS in Mathematics and Special Needs is required to conduct Field Experience in Mathematics subject during the course of study in the programme / throughout the block practice period.General Studies (Humanities and Science)For participants choosing General Studies (Humanities and Science) as your TSS1/TSS2, they are required to teach General Studies and/or Humanities and Science subject(s) in Field Experience.Relevant subjects to teach for Field Experience include:General StudiesHumanities and Science (with a minimum of 2 periods for each subject)A summary of Field Experience Requirements for Part-time PGDE (Primary)/(Secondary) programmes is provided here for easy reference.
Enquiry AdmissionProgrammeField ExperienceTel(852) 2948 6886(852) 2948 8036(852) 2948 8064(852) 2948 7655
Email:pgdeadmission@eduhk.hkpgdep@eduhk.hkfeo@eduhk.hk