Interview
for Secondary Education (Chemistry) PGDE
This information is for applicants who have received an invitation to an interview for PGDE Primary Education or PGDE Secondary Education. We are currently reviewing the format and method used for interviews. We aim to have this confirmed for September.
About your interview
If you are invited to interview you must attend in person on one of the pre-scheduled dates. In exceptional circumstances, we may be able to offer you a video interview. For further information, please email us.
Registration
When you receive your interview booking confirmation, you will see your arrival time stated clearly. This time includes registration so there is no need to arrive earlier than the time stated.
Before you begin your interview, we will verify your identity against the details provided in your application. Please bring your photo ID with you on the day.
This will take around 45 minutes.
Photo ID
Issued by a government agency or professional institution showing your name, date of birth, and a clear image of your face.
Examples include your photocard driving licence (full or provisional), passport, national ID card or Young Scot card.
Interview format
Your interview will be made up of three selection activities, each conducted by a panel made up of teachers and University staff:
- Group task
At the beginning of your interview, you will undertake a task with a group of approximately six other applicants. - Presentation
- You will present a two-minute prepared presentation to the rest of the group (approximately 8-12 other applicants and the interview panel).
- The topic of the presentation is: "With reference to current policy, what is the role of the teacher in relation to the learner’s wellbeing?".
- It is important that you adhere to the two-minute time slot. You should present without visual aids such as PowerPoint and we ask that you do not read from notes. You may use brief notes written on cue cards for reference.
- Problem solving
The final section of your interview will take the form of two group discussions/scenarios linked to current issues in education.
If you are eligible for a video interview, you will not participate in a group task or present in front of a group. Instead, your two-minute prepared presentation will be made directly to the interview panel. You will then be asked a series of questions relating to your personal experience and knowledge of current issues in education.
It's natural to want to share your experiences with others, however, we ask you not to discuss the specific topics or tasks at the stations with other applicants, school friends, or online.
Although there is little evidence that knowing the station details in advance makes a difference to performance, we feel that the integrity of the system is better upheld if the topics and tasks of individual stations are confidential. We would appreciate your cooperation with this.
On the day
Managing your nerves
We recognise that interviews are stressful. We don’t want this to stop you from giving your best performance. If it’s obvious that you’re becoming a bit flustered, our interviewers will be helpful and encouraging and will put you at ease.
Dress code
Dress smartly, please don't wear jeans or trainers.
Campus tours
On the day of your interview, tours of our Dundee City campus (including accommodation) will be available at 12:00 and 15:00. Tours will depart and arrive from the Dalhousie Building and will take approximately 40 minutes.
If these times don’t work for you, please email us and we will try our best to arrange an alternative time for you.
Timescales
Invite to interview
If you are invited to interview, we will email your invitation to both your personal and @dundee.ac.uk email address in mid-December. You will not be notified of an invitation via UCAS.
Rather than issuing all invitations at once, we release them in phases depending on when your application has been assessed by our Admissions Team.
Where possible, we will try to give you at least two weeks' notice to allow you to make your travel arrangements.
Interview dates
We hold our interviews throughout January and February. It is wise not to plan holidays over this period so that you don’t miss out on an interview date. Our booking system will allow you to choose from a selection of dates and times and we advise that you book quickly to secure a slot which is best for you.
Interview timings
When making travel arrangements you should plan to be with us for approximately 2 hours:
- Registration: 45 minutes
- Interview: 35 minutes
- Post-interview debrief: 30 minutes
- Optional tour of campus: 40 minutes
Interview outcome
Before we can make any decisions, all interviews must be completed. We will make our final decisions by the end of March and let you know via UCAS and by email to both your personal and @dundee.ac.uk email address.
Location
Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee, Old Hawkhill, Dundee, DD1 5EN
Please wait in the main reception area of the Dalhousie Building, a Student Ambassador will be there to greet you. We ask that you arrive no earlier than 15 minutes before your scheduled time.
- Travel to Dundee
- Accommodation in Dundee (TripAdvisor)
Any questions?
If you have any further questions about your interview, after you've received an invite
Applicant Interview Team
applicant-interviews@dundee.ac.uk
+44 (0)1382 383838