Initial teacher education

Initial teacher education encompasses undergraduate and postgraduate courses in higher education that eventually lead to a qualification to teach.

The Department for Employment and Learning has responsibility for the administration and funding of initial teacher education in Northern Ireland. The Department appoints governors to the Boards of Governors of both St Mary’s University College and Stranmillis University College.

The policy relating to all stages of teacher education, including initial teacher education, is the responsibility of the Department of Education. The Department of Education also determines student intake allocations to the higher education institutions in Northern Ireland.

Courses in initial teacher education are provided at:

Queen’s University, Belfast
St Mary’s University College
Stranmillis University College
University of Ulster
Open University

For more information on courses of initial teacher education, please visit the Department of Education website.

Consultation on the Policy Framework: Teacher Education in a Climate of Change - The Way Forward

In 2010, the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department of Education jointly undertook a review of teacher education. The Department of Education has collated the responses and is currently developing an action plan.