Primary Initial Teacher Education with QTS: Welsh-medium
Earn your Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by training in partner schools which are carefully chosen for their exceptional teaching standards, outstanding mentorship, and strong commitment to developing future educators.
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UCAS Code
X125
Start Date
September 2026
Location
Newport
Campus Code
C
UCAS Points
112
Fees
Home students: £9,790*
International students: £17,200*
UCAS Code
X125
Start Date
September 2027
Location
Newport
Campus Code
C
UCAS Points
112
Course Overview
This course is mostly delivered through the medium of Welsh and focuses on the development of knowledge in the Areas of Learning and Experience, practical skills, wider skills and the professional competencies required to become a highly effective teacher.
Why study this course?
What you'll study
This Initial Teacher Education course will provide you with excellent personal and professional learning opportunities which aim to meet the needs of individual student teachers and learners in schools.
You will be supported to develop your Welsh language skills, to use Welsh confidently in the classroom and to develop your understanding of Welsh culture for the benefit of your learners.
This module develops your understanding of, and engagement with, research and theoretical inputs. It focuses on building an understanding of the education sector and its infrastructure and history in Wales, including the importance of the Welsh language, the impact of poverty and additional learning needs on learning, and the development and impact of a purposes-led curriculum. This module will also develop your understanding of, and engagement with, research and theoretical inputs.
Across the three years, professional and pedagogical studies will provide you with the foundations for the development of the knowledge and skills of an effective teacher. This module will introduce you to the relevant professional and pedagogical topics and themes and develop your knowledge and understanding of effective classroom practice.
The module will enable you to acquire and develop the skills for creative, effective delivery and assessment of experiential learning. You will develop understanding and skills in an integrated, holistic approach to curriculum subject design and development.
You will develop your knowledge and understanding of how to plan for authentic learning experiences with clear attention to the development of Cynefin. In addition, the importance of the development of literacy, numeracy, digital competence skills and Welsh language skills.
This module will support student teachers to become reflective, resilient, lifelong learners, purposefully engaged in professional learning and development. You will be supported with strategies to manage your own well-being and that of your learners.
Explore how education in Wales has developed, learn effective teaching approaches, and connect research with classroom practice while building skills in assessment, inclusion, literacy, numeracy, digital competence, and professional teaching.
Develop your understanding of education in Wales, explore the curriculum and its four purposes, strengthen your classroom teaching and adaptive practice, and evaluate the impact of your teaching as you work towards qualified teacher status.
Develop your knowledge of key curriculum areas, including mathematics, languages, science and technology, while building confidence in creative teaching, assessment, and meaningful learning experiences that celebrate Welsh language, culture, and identity.
Develop your knowledge of expressive arts, health and wellbeing, and humanities while building confidence in creative teaching, assessment, and authentic learning experiences that connect learners with their communities and the wider world.
Develop as a reflective and resilient teacher by strengthening your professional skills, managing your workload effectively, using self and peer assessment, and taking responsibility for your ongoing learning and development.
Deepen your understanding of education in Wales by critically evaluating research, policy, and teaching approaches, and applying key concepts to strengthen your classroom practice and professional development.
Refine your teaching and classroom practice, explore current issues in education, and develop the skills to work effectively with colleagues, families, and other professionals as you prepare for a career in teaching.
Develop your subject leadership skills, explore curriculum policy, deepen your knowledge across the curriculum, and work collaboratively to create meaningful learning experiences that prepare you for professional practice.
Refine your teaching through creative, cross-curricular approaches, explore how learners develop, design inclusive learning experiences, and build the confidence to inspire all learners through innovative and engaging practice.
Develop your leadership skills, strengthen your teacher identity, use research to improve learning, and build the confidence, resilience, and professional expertise needed to begin your teaching career.
We regularly review our courses to keep pace with changing skills and employer needs. If a review leads to significant changes, we’ll contact you to explain what’s changing for the coming year.
Teaching and Assessment
A blended learning approach is utilised to provide student teachers with a range of flexible learning opportunities and to highlight effective pedagogical principles through modelling the impact of a range of approaches.
Lectures draw your attention to current research, curriculum reform and development and pedagogical approaches. Specific subject study practical sessions support student teachers to develop in the Areas of Learning and Experience.
Tutorials provide opportunities for academic and school-based discussion and personal reflection.
There are no examinations on this course. Assessment includes written coursework tasks, seminar presentations, projects and simulated learning using cutting-edge technology which is assessed by academic staff and school partners. Progress will be assessed each year towards the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership (2017) for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
You will undertake school experiences across the course where you will work with school mentors and university tutors to develop your teaching skills and make progress towards achieving or exceeding the requirements for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), as outlined in the Professional Standards for Teaching and Leadership. These experiences will be spent working with different age groups across a diverse range of primary school settings within Communities of Learning.
In each block of school experience, student teachers teach, observed by a qualified member of school staff, their lecturer, or both. Teaching starts with small group teaching, or teaching of a short activity to larger groups, building to teaching whole lessons and then sequences of lessons. Student teachers meet weekly with mentors to discuss their own learning and to learn about wider school-related professional duties.
On campus, you will learn in an environment that fully prepares you for the world of work. You’ll use specialist simulated primary school classrooms, outdoor learning spaces and digital spaces which will provide you with authentic learning environments.
These learning spaces are designed to simulate the school environment, enabling you to develop confidence for the workplace in realistic settings.
Our Initial Teacher Education course makes use of a range of technology. You will have access to the Hydra Minerva simulation suite where you will experience real-world situations, within a protected environment, and be involved in the discussion and resolution of scenarios that could occur in daily school life.
Course Leader
Catrin Devonald
Meet Catrin Devonald, an experienced primary school teacher who leads the Welsh-medium pathway for Initial Primary Teacher Education at the University of South Wales's Newport campus. With many years of experience as both a primary school teacher and a school leader, Catrin is responsible for Welsh language provision across both the Welsh-medium and English-medium undergraduate and postgraduate teacher education programmes.
Entry Requirements
Contextual offers
We may make you a lower offer based on a range of factors, including your background (where you live and the school or college that you attended, for example), your experiences and individual circumstances (as a care leaver, for example). This is referred to as a contextual offer, and we receive data from UCAS to support us in making these decisions.
USW prides itself on its student experience and we support our students to achieve their goals and become a successful graduate. This approach helps us to support students who have the potential to succeed and who may have faced barriers that make it more difficult to access university.
Additional requirements include:
The University requires a minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade C to include Mathematics at grade C (Numeracy OR Mathematics in Wales), Science at grade C and Grade C (or equivalent) in either English Language, English Literature, Welsh Language or Welsh Literature. For those taking GCSEs in England, grade 4 is equivalent to a C.
If you do not have the GCSE grade C requirements in Mathematics, English Language and/or Science, but you hold a GCSE grade D, then you are able to gain equivalency of a grade C by successfully completing a module in Mathematics, English and/or Science. Further details can be found here: Equivalency GCSE Modules for English, Maths and Science.
You can view the accepted Equivalencies to GCSE English Language or Welsh Language and Mathematics C grade for entry to Initial Teacher Training Education here.
An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check on the Child Workforce and Child Barring List and subscription to the DBS Update Service is required. (Overseas equivalent required for non-uk applicants).
How to applyContextual admissions policyAsk us a question112 UCAS points or above
Typical qualification requirements
A Level:
BBC to exclude General Studies
Welsh BACC:
Grade C and BB at A Level to exclude General Studies
BTEC:
BTEC Extended Diploma Distinction Merit Merit
Access to HE:
60 credits overall to include 45 level 3 credits equating to 18 Distinctions, 24 Merits and 3 Passes
T Level:
Pass (C and above)
International applications welcomed:
We welcome international applications with equivalent qualifications of our entry requirements. For more details related to your country of residence, please view our dedicated country pages.
International studentsPre-Sessional EnglishEnglish language requirements
International applicants will need to have achieved an overall of IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each component or equivalent.
Equivalents can be located on our English Language pages.
If you have previously studied through the medium of English, IELTS might not be required, please visit our country specific page for further details. If your country is not featured, please contact us.
If you do not meet the English entry criteria, please visit our Pre-Sessional course pages.
Fees and Funding
per year
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Enhanced DBS
Students will be expected to pay for a DBS or certificate of good behaviour from their home country. The DBS fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee
Cost: £64.74
DBS Updating service
Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £16. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate
Cost: £16
Placement Travel
Travel to and from placement and any additional costs levied by placements.
Years 1, 2 & 3 - Cost is dependent on placement location and is an additional cost to be met by students.
International Placement
Students may choose to undertake an optional 4-week international placement in their final year of study. This provides an immersive educational and cultural experience which assists with the acquisition of new skills and knowledge.
Cost varies
per year
Studying at university is one of the most significant investments you'll ever make. Whilst you’re studying, you’ll have two main financial obligations – tuition fees and living costs. There’s lots of financial help available from the University of South Wales and external funding sources, that may provide loans (which have to be paid back) and grants, scholarships and bursaries (that don't).
*Full-time fees are per year. Part-time fees are per 20 credits. Once enrolled, the fee is anticipated to remain at the same rate throughout the duration of your study on this course except as described below.
Please be aware that we may increase the maximum fee for home students on full-time undergraduate courses only where the Welsh Government increases the permitted level of inflation of fees. Fees for all students (including part-time, postgraduate and international students) may be amended in accordance with our applicable Fees and Debt Management Policy. We will ensure that students are given clear, intelligible, unambiguous and timely information about our courses and costs in good time, ahead of the next academic year.
As a student of USW, you’ll have access to lots of free resources to support your study and learning, such as textbooks, publications, online journals, laptops, and plenty of remote-access resources. Whilst in most cases these resources are more than sufficient in supporting you with completing your course, additional costs, both obligatory and optional, may be required or requested for the likes of travel, memberships, experience days, stationery, printing, or equipment.
Enhanced DBS
Students will be expected to pay for a DBS or certificate of good behaviour from their home country. The DBS fee includes £49.50 for the enhanced DBS certificate, the Post Office Administration fee and the online administration fee
Cost: £64.74
DBS Updating service
Subscription required for each year of the course for a yearly fee of £16. Please note the service has to be joined within 30 days of receipt of your enhanced DBS certificate
Cost: £16
Placement Travel
Travel to and from placement and any additional costs levied by placements.
Years 1, 2 & 3 - Cost is dependent on placement location and is an additional cost to be met by students.
International Placement
Students may choose to undertake an optional 4-week international placement in their final year of study. This provides an immersive educational and cultural experience which assists with the acquisition of new skills and knowledge.
Cost varies
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How to apply
All applications for full-time undergraduate courses or foundation degrees should be made via UCAS. Take the next step: Apply through UCAS
You can apply to us directly for all part-time undergraduate courses, if you’re seeking advanced entry or you’re an international student. To apply directly, please choose the application form below for your preferred start date and mode of study (full-time or part-time).
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Apply direct
Primary Initial Teacher Education with QTS: Welsh-medium
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Full-time, 3 years
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September
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Newport
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Apply direct
Primary Initial Teacher Education with QTS: Welsh-medium
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Full-time, 3 years
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September
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Newport
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If you already have a relevant qualification or experience related to the course you're applying for, you may be eligible to start at a later stage of the course. For example, students from partner colleges can ‘top up’ their qualifications to a degree by joining us in Year Two or Year Three of a course. This process is known as ‘advanced entry’, you can apply directly to the University for 'advanced entry' using the application forms provided above.
Applicants accepted through advanced entry may study a different combination of modules to those advertised, as they will be joining a course already in progress. You will be contacted and advised about these modules once your application has been processed and an offer made.
International applicants can apply to us directly. If the University has an in-country team in your region, your application will be assigned to them for assistance.
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