Postgraduate Certificate in Secondary Biology

Your school and University experiences are formally assessed. Both your mentors and tutors will help you to record your achievements and set targets from week to week and from placement to placement. 
 

During each placement, a University tutor will observe you teach and discuss your progress with you and your mentor.
 

At the end of each school experience, you will receive a progress report from your mentor. 
 

The report will provide clear feedback and targets in the following areas: 

• subject and curriculum knowledge;
• planning and teaching;
• assessment;
• wider professional responsibilities.  
   

These reports, together with your record of achievement and development, facilitate your progression as a teacher. 
 

The written assignments will allow you to gain a maximum of 60 master's-level credits, and guidance and support to complete these assignments will be available from your University tutors.

Academic entry qualification overview

• Minimum 2:2 honours degree in a biological science with at least half of the content strongly related to biology (if you are unsure, please contact us to discuss your qualifications).

• Grade B in biology at A-level (or equivalent), or grade C if you can demonstrate sustained academic progression since A-level, and at least one other science or maths A-level.

• Minimum grade C or 4 at GCSE (or equivalent) in English language and mathematics.
   

English language
 

In addition to a grade C at GCSE in English Language, applicants whose first language is not English are required to meet the following language requirements:
 

• IELTS 6.5 overall, 6.5 in writing, no sub-section below 6.0, or

• TOEFL iBT overall score of 90 with a minimum score of 22 in writing and 20 in the other sub-sections, or

• Pearson PTE overall score of 62 with a minimum score of 62 in writing and 59 in the other sub-sections, or

• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) overall score of 176 or above, with 176 in writing and no sub-section below 169.

• PGCE (full-time)
  
  UK students (per annum): £9,250
  
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £20,500

Completing a PGCE is one route to becoming a fully qualified teacher. This form of teacher training is recommended for anyone with an undergraduate degree who is looking to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). 
 

You need QTS to teach in a state-maintained or special school in England and Wales. Whilst other routes to gain QTS exist, they do not all come with the postgraduate qualification of a PGCE. A PGCE from The University of Manchester is a valued qualification regionally, nationally and internationally. 
 

When you study a PGCE with us, we help you prepare for a successful career in education. You will be given clear direction, advice and support when making applications for teaching posts and our employment rates are consistently high. 
 

In addition to this, a PGCE qualification can count as 60 of the 180 credits required for a master's degree, and The University of Manchester offers a range of postgraduate Education courses should you wish to continue your professional development as you progress further in your career.