The course equips students to be effective teachers in the classroom as well as providing skills and knowledge to work in the post-compulsory sector of education; teaching placements are arranged for full-time and part-time pre-service students (i.e. those who are new to teaching) in situations which meet the requirements laid down by the DIUS for becoming a qualified FE teacher; those who wish to study by the part-time (in-service) route must have appropriate teaching class contact hours in the post-compulsory sector; students have a choice of 3 specialisms: English (ESOL), English (literacy) or mathematics (numeracy).