Cirencester College works in partnership with the University of Bolton to provide a range of qualifications required for teaching in organisations which provide learning for people over the school leaving age. This might be in a college, school sixth form, adult and community learning, workplaces or prisons.

Information sessions are held at regular intervals throughout the year. To book a place at one of these, or for general enquiries please contact Sarah Blackford, Higher Education Officer, by telephone 01285 640994 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Levels of qualification

The Diploma in Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (DTLLS) gives full qualification to teach this age group.

Please note: the University of Bolton call their DTLLS course the Professional (Graduate) Diploma in Education or Professional Diploma in Education (for non-graduates).

The course takes either one year full time or two years part time, requiring 240 hours of taught time. Teaching practice of 150 hours is required: on the full time course this is provided by a placement; on the part time course students normally have access to paid or voluntary teaching.

Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) is a short (30 hr) course which can also be certificated in its own right). No teaching practice is required for this course.

Tuition fees
Financial support to help with payment of tuition fees and other expenses is available for the DTLLS course from the Local Authority. You must apply to them for assistance which can be in the form of a loan or a grant or both.
Support for payment of tuition fees is not available from Student Finance England for the PTLLS qualifications, but some students have their fee costs met by their employers.

Bursaries
Some students on the full time PGDE/PDE (DTLLS) course will be entitled to a tax free bursary. Bursaries are intended to help with maintenance costs and are given to students whose teaching practice will be in an area designated as a shortage subject area. Details can be found on the University of Bolton website

Bursaries are paid monthly, starting around the third week in October and thereafter being paid on the same day of each month, directly into a student’s bank account. Receipt of the bursary is dependent on consistent attendance and recipients are not allowed to earn income from teaching whilst in receipt of the bursary (though earnings from other kinds of work are permitted).

Applications and Enrolments

Applicants for all courses must complete a University of Bolton application form. These are normally given out at information sessions.

All applicants are interviewed by members of the course team.

Applicants for the PGDE/PDE (DTLLS) course will have references taken up and (for the full time course) a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB check) will be made. Applicants will be asked to undertake an initial screening of their literacy and numeracy skills

If a place is offered, enrolment arrangments will be advised along with joining instructions for the course.