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Can the study of science improve social mobility? By connecting scientific study with our own lives and experience, can we make science accessible for everyone?
Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the secondary school science curriculum for the 11-16 age range.
Science is crucial to the development and future prospects of children. Becoming a teacher is exciting and transformative. You can inspire the next generation of scientists and ensure...
*with a recommendation for QTS
1 year full-time
Georgina Burrows“Staff at Manchester Met are keen to support both the holistic and academic progress of students.”
PGCE Secondary Science Alumna
On the PGCE, you’ll have lectures and seminars at Manchester Met and will typically spend a minimum of 120 days on two teaching placements across the North West.
At university, you will mainly study with students in your subject specialism. You’ll learn how to plan and deliver lessons through interactive, hands-on seminars. As part of the Manchester Met curriculum you will explore the fundamental theories of pedagogy, behaviour management, assessment, curriculum and professional behaviours. In addition to this you will examine key themes such as research informed practice, career focussed teacher development, subject and age phase expertise and teaching for the community.
You’ll develop research informed practice during lectures and seminars, where you’ll analyse the latest educational research and theories and use this knowledge in your practice.
In addition to your subject studies, you’ll have time to develop all aspects of your professional practice, as well as your ability to reflect critically on your learning. There is also an emphasis on personal tutoring and employability to ensure that you are well-prepared to become an early career teacher (ECT) after completing the course.
When you first arrive, we’ll give you a full overview of the year to help you to stay organised throughout the course and know what to expect and when.
During your first weeks in university taught sessions, you’ll explore subject pedagogies, professional responsibilities and expectations. You’ll work in groups as well as independently to update your subject knowledge and gain confidence before your first teaching placement.
You will go on your first placement in late September, where you’ll gradually put the skills you’ve learnt at university into practice and build your confidence in the classroom. You will start your placement with a period of induction followed by two intensive training and practice weeks in both university and school where you will develop foundational key skills. You’ll be supported by a subject mentor and progressively take on the responsibility of whole class teaching. This will include planning, teaching and evaluating your lessons, assessing the children’s progress, and contributing to other aspects of a typically busy school life. Your first placement will be followed by time in university before you start your second placement. In this placement, with support and mentoring, you’ll progress to teaching an 80% timetable. During both placements you will develop your subject knowledge and understanding of subject specialist teaching.
While you’re on placement, your subject mentor will support, guide and coach you. You’ll also receive support from your personal tutor at university and a university visiting tutor.
When you graduate, you will gain a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in your subject, and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and can work at any level in schools and colleges.
You will also be awarded 60 masters’ credits (a masters degree is 180 credits), which you could put towards further study and career development.
Whether you've already made your decision about what you want to study, or you're just considering whether postgraduate study is right for you, there are lots of ways you can meet us and find out more about postgraduate student life at Manchester Met.
We offer:
Your studies are supported by a department of committed and enthusiastic teachers and researchers, experts in their chosen field.
We often link up with external professionals too, helping to enhance your learning and build valuable connections to the working world.
These typical entry requirements may be subject to change for the 2025/26 academic year. Please check back for further details.
Degree
You will normally have a minimum of a 2:2 undergraduate honours degree awarded by a UK university, or an equivalent higher education qualification. Your degree needs to support the subject knowledge requirements of the national curriculum for biology. For exceptional candidates, particularly those with a higher-level degree or substantial relevant work experience in schools or relevant occupations we will consider applications from those who hold a 3rd class degree.
GCSE
You will also need GCSE at grade C/4 or above in English language and mathematics.
You can apply with GCSEs pending for this course and sit the relevant equivalency tests approved by Manchester Met (see our admissions tutor team for approved equivalency providers).
As per government requirements for teacher training courses, we are not able to accept key skills, adult numeracy and literacy or functional skills as an alternative to GCSE English language and mathematics. We are not able to consider Level 3 qualifications (eg A-levels, BTECs) as an alternative to GCSE English language and mathematics.
Successful candidates will demonstrate a good understanding of teaching and learning within a secondary school setting. You may be able to evidence your understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools, other educational settings or wider research and reading.
If you are due to graduate or have graduated within the last three years your principal referee must be a university lecturer from where you graduated.
Other requirements
Full-time fee: £9,535 for the 2025/26 academic year (subject to Parliamentary approval). Fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% per academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Inflationary increases will be calculated by reference to RPIx (RPIx is a measure of inflation in the UK). Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
Full-time fee: £21,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course providing you complete it in the normal timeframe (no repeat years or breaks in study).
A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. For courses that offer a placement year option that starts in September 2025, the tuition fee is £1,907 (subject to Parliamentary approval). For courses that offer a study year abroad option that starts in September 2025, the tuition fee is £1,430 (subject to Parliamentary approval). Placement Year fees and study abroad fees for subsequent academic years may increase for inflation to reflect increased costs of course delivery (up to a maximum of 10% each academic year) and/or changes in UK government regulation. Fee increases are subject to limits imposed by UK government regulation.
Optional estimate: £400
All of the books required for the course are available from the library. The University also has PC labs and a laptop loan service. However, you may choose to buy some of the core textbooks for the course and/or a laptop. You may also need to print your assignments and other documents. Campus printing costs start from 5p per page. Estimated costs are £300 for a laptop and up to £100 each year for books and printing.
The University will organise your placements - we do not expect you to do this. Starting with your term-time postcode we match this with placement offers from schools. You are expected to travel up to 1.5 hours each way from where you live and to arrive in your school 45 minutes before the school day commences. Travel by public transport may involve a number of changes e.g. train and bus. We take into consideration special circumstances, such as disabilities, cultural requirements and medical conditions. You will need to budget for travel costs to your placement. You may be able to claim back a contribution if you do not have a bursary or you have to travel over a specified distance set by the faculty. We also advise you to budget for student membership of professional bodies.
Compulsory estimate: £0.00 to £51.00 depending on your status.
DBS checks - before enrolling on your course, you must undergo a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service check (Enhanced Disclosure). The University covers the cost of payment for the first DBS application and ID verification, and where the application is made through the University.
Upon completion of the DBS check on whichever course, students have the option to subscribe to the DBS Update Service. The Update Service allows individuals to keep their DBS certificates up to date, and allows employers or education providers to check a current certificate, without the need to request a new certificate. At July 2024, the cost of subscription to the DBS Update Service is £13.00 per year, to be paid by the student. Subscription is strongly encouraged for students embarking on programmes, where DBS clearance will be an ongoing requirement for placements and professional practice.
Students who have resided outside the UK continuously for a period of twelve months or more in the last ten years, while over the age of 18, will also be required to provide evidence of a satisfactory overseas police check, and to meet any associated costs, including the cost of a certified translation if required.
Returning students who have previously obtained DBS clearance but who require a new check, for example, due to a suspension of study, are required to pay the DBS application fee of £38.00 (accurate at 6th April 2022) and any associated costs, including the cost of ID verification through the Post Office Certification Service, which is approximately £13.00 but subject to the relevant cost at the time of application.
Most of our graduates go on to work as science teachers in secondary schools.
The PGCE programme provides you with 60 masters' level credits when you graduate. You could put these towards a masters degree to help you develop your career in the field of education.
Our Facilities
Find out about our specialist facilities, with classrooms, studios and laboratories specifically designed for teaching in your specialism.
To apply for this course (or School Direct route) please use Find Postgraduate Teacher Training Service:
https://www.find-postgraduate-teacher-training.service.gov.uk
The final interview dates for overseas applicants will be in May 2024 so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible if you are applying from overseas.
Get advice and support on making a successful application.
You can review our current terms and conditions before you make your application. If you are successful with your application, we will send you up to date information alongside your offer letter.
Programme review
Our programmes undergo an annual review and major review (normally
at 6 year intervals) to ensure an up-to-date curriculum supported by the
latest online learning technology. For further information on when we
may make changes to our programmes, please see the changes section of our
terms and conditions.
Important notice
This online prospectus provides an overview of our programmes of study
and the University. We regularly update our online prospectus so that
our published course information is accurate. Please check back to the
online prospectus before making an application to us to access the most
up to date information for your chosen course of study.
Confirmation of regulator
The Manchester Metropolitan University is regulated by the Office for
Students (OfS). The OfS is the independent regulator of higher education
in England. More information on the role of the OfS and its regulatory
framework can be found at
officeforstudents.org.uk.
All higher education providers registered with the OfS must have a student protection plan in place. The student protection plan sets out what students can expect to happen should a course, campus, or institution close. Access our current student protection plan.