Higher and adult education
The majority of teachers work in schools and provide education for children and young people between the ages of 4 and 18 but it’s not the only option. There is a range of jobs in higher and adult education, from lecturing in history at a university to teaching writing skills to adult learners.
Skills required to teach in higher education
Having completed secondary or further education, students can go into higher education. Institutions included in this sector are higher education colleges and universities. Teaching is usually conducted through lectures and tutorials, and in addition to teaching duties lecturers are often required to do research within a specialist subject area.
Unlike some other areas of teaching, you are not required to have a formal teaching qualification to get a job as a higher education lecturer. The minimum academic requirements for entry are usually an upper second-class degree and a postgraduate qualification (usually a PhD) relevant to the subject to be taught.
Skills required to teach in adult education
Adult education encompasses a number of areas, ranging from basic education to higher education evening courses. Teaching may be carried out in a community setting, often at evening classes, or through distance learning. Some of the most popular subject areas in adult and community learning are arts, media and publishing, preparation for life and work, and lesure, travel and tourism.
The qualification standards are the same as for further education, regardless of whether you plan to lecture full or part-time. These new qualification requirements apply to all those entering the lifelong learning teaching force in England.
If you wish to enter post-16 teaching in colleges, you will need either a qualification in the subject you wish to teach, typicaly either at degree level or equivalent vocational level, or substantial professional experience in your field. You will also need to have or be willing to work towards an approved teaching qualification. Schoolteacher qualfiications such as the PGCE, BEd and certificates or diplomas in education are recognised, and other teaching or training qualifications may also be taken into account.
Alternatively, the required qualification for most teachers in post-16 learning is a Diploma in Teaching in the LIfelong Learning Sector (DTLLS), which takes one year full-time or two years part-time. If you choose to follow a part-time course, you will need to find some work teaching before enrolling on the course. It's important to note that DTLLS does not qualify you to teach in schools in the maintained sector. The qualification requirements for teaching in this sector vary across the UK and the LLUK website also provides information and contact details for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Further information
- Lifelong Learning UK
- Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
- Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
