Undergraduate/Postgraduate degree in teching?

[BubblyBubble]

What is the difference between an undergraduate degree and a postgraduate degree at university? I wish to become a teacher but don't know what course is what? P.S I'm only year 11 at the mo

[Clanad]

Bubbly, when studying at a university here in the U.S. one attends for four years, generally, and then graduates with a bachelor of arts, or bachelor of science, etc., degree.  All course work prior to graduation and awarding of a bachelor's degree is called undergraduate work.  Following that goal, one can attend for further degrees, such as Master of Science, (usually two more years) etc., and of course following that one can further study and attain a Phd., or other doctorate degree.  All of that course work is postgraduate.  Good luck in your education!

[matchmade]

As an undergraduate in the UK you study a Bachelor of Education (BEd) for four years, typically straight from school or sometimes older, but usually with no previous higher education. The four years includes at least one year of teacher-training, but it's more like block-release: some weeks on, some weeks back at college. Typically you have one primary and one secondary specialist subject area, but you are really being trained in "education" (theory and practice) rather than a particular academic discipline - arguably you don't need an academic-level training anyway, Most BEds go on to work fulltime as teachers, often as primary teachers. Some become interested in Education as an academic discipline and do research in schools on the side, or move into postgraduate work. Some BEd students can feel a bit left out at university: education departments are their own little world, like medical schools, they are dominated by women and their behaviour patterns (whcih you may prefer), plus you're in and out of college so it can be hard to keep friends, and many of the other students will assume you've already decided your future course in life, whereas they love talking about all the things they could do as a career, the highs and lows of interviews, and so on.

A postgraduate degree (PGCE) is typically a one-year degree taken after a first degree in another area. It's a conversion course for someone who's done another degree but has now decided to be a teacher, predominantly in secondary schools. The entrance standards are higher: you get people with 2.1 and 2.2 level degrees and occasionally a First. However about 50% of higher of PGCEs only last a few years in teaching, or never go in at all: they do the degree as a stop-gap, an experiment, or "something in reserve" in case they don't like work-life outside education.

[matchmade]

I have also to say this: at most of the universities I've studied or taught at (red-brick and elite), people tend to look down on BEd students. There's a perception that Education isn't a proper subject, that the entrance standards are low, and the degree is for strange "I've wanted to be a teacher since I was eight" people or slightly dim girls who couldn't think of anything better to do than teach. No doubt this is unfair and there are always exceptions, but this is the general attitude.

I would therefore say -- do a BEd if you're really sure you want to be a teacher, but look to do a PGCE if you're not sure or want to keep your options open. The great thing about the PGCE is that you can do a degree in another subject area: you can grow up a bit and get some life-experience, maybe offer yourself as a classroom assistant or tutor in the holidays (to try out teaching before making a commitment), and then go back to teaching when you've looked at the alternatives and think it may well be for you.

In my experience there is *nothing* like being on the opposite side of the fence at school: just you try being a teacher at your school, or imagine yourself standing there. If you think you could do it, then go for it. But I recommend you dip your feet in first, perhaps by doing some volunteer work. And it really helps if you like your specialist subject and are interested in how education works, otherwise you can start to feel like all you're really doing is child-minding (teens included).

Last tip: see the movie "Etre et Avoir" about a French primary school. It's in French but the subtitles are easy to read. Your library should be able to get a copy for you. It's wonderful, right close in on the students and the teacher in their daily lives. You will laugh and cry and feel the world is a better place.

[acw]

Just a quick note as matchmade has already superbly answered the question.  It might be useful to consider what would happen if you changed your mind!  If you do a different degree for your UG studies, and then do a PGCE, if you ever leave teaching this will be more flexible when applying for other careers.

Also - matchmade - the statistics you give about PGCE people not lasting in teaching... what about for people like Bubble who WANT to be teachers?  My Dad wanted to be a teacher so did Politics and Modern History followed by a PGCE.  He was a teacher for 25 years including at least 10 years as a headteacher.  He still works in education now.  I fully appreciate that you (matchmade) didn't say NO-ONE makes it!! :-)  I'm just thinking that the stats might be skewed by the fact that grants are available for PGCEs and people may do it cos they've nothing better to do. 

[matchmade]

acm - my figure for how many stick with education after a PGCE is a guesstimate based on past reading. I agree the figures are skewed for PGCE: almost all BEd students apparently stay in the profession. If Bubble really wants to be a teacher, fantastic. I think it's a much better career option than it was in the 80s and 90s: the pay after the first few years really picks up (you can be deputy head in a small school or head of a department within five years), there are all sorts of salary top-ups, you can dip in and out of the profession and work part-time if you want to raise a family, and the public sector pension is a massive perk. It's a perfect career if you want to earn a professional income and take time off to have children, which many women seem to want, or at least want as an option.

[acw]

matchmade - I'll assume that first bit was addressed to me.  Thanks!  I agreed with you, I just wondered if there was an official source!

Welcome, by the way!