PGCE in Secondary Physics with QTS
Manchester, United Kingdom
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2025
TUITION FEES
GBP 21,500 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* full-time fee for EU and Non-EU international students
Introduction
Our one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) prepares you to teach the secondary school science curriculum for the 11-16 age range (all three sciences) and Physics to AS/A-level.
Science is crucial to the development and prospects of children. Becoming a teacher is exciting and transformative. You can inspire the next generation of scientists and ensure all children value their science education. Developing scientific skills, curiosity and literacy enables children to understand the world around them so they can make informed decisions about their lives and have a say in society.
University sessions are led by specialist tutors and supported by excellent technicians. You will explore theory-informed, up-to-date, and practical teaching practices in our school-styled laboratories. You will learn how to plan, assess, reflect on, and use research to continually improve your practice in a supportive environment. You’ll also develop your teacher persona, and ability to manage behavior for learning and support children’s wellbeing.
Some sessions are specific to physics but the majority occur in mixed specialism groups. Just like science departments in schools, we explore the connections across the sciences and share expertise.
There will also be guest sessions with alumni and experts from a variety of organizations. Past sessions include speakers from the Institute of Physics and the Royal Society of Chemistry. The course is taught by highly experienced, research-active, subject experts who have all been practicing teachers. The team and students are supported by an excellent team of science technicians.
Features and Benefits
- Employability - You’ll have the skills and experience to teach all three sciences to GCSE and your specialism, biology, chemistry, or physics, potentially up to A-level
- Teaching experience - You will spend at least the minimum Department for Education (DfE) required time in schools (approximately 120 days) on placements, gaining experience in mainstream secondary schools
- Postgraduate credits - When you graduate, you’ll achieve 60 master’s level credits (this is one-third of a master's degree). You can put these towards a master's degree to help you develop your new career
- Partnerships - We have partnerships with over 500 schools, colleges, and educational organizations, meaning we can provide students with a range of school experiences
- Research-led teaching - Our research center, the Education and Social Research Institute (ESRI), ranks in the UK’s top 10 for research power in education (Research Excellence Framework, 2021)
- Application process - You can apply directly to Manchester Met or through one of our lead partner schools.
Admissions
Program Tuition Fee
Program delivery
Study and assessment breakdown
Ten credits equate to 100 hours of study, which is a combination of lectures, seminars practical sessions, and independent study. A master's qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits. The exact composition of your study time and assessments for the course will vary according to your option choices and style of learning, but it could be:
Study
Full-time 21% lectures, seminars, or similar; 67% placement; 12% independent study
Assessment
Full-time 50% coursework; 50% practical; 0% examination
Curriculum
Course Information
On your 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, behavior management, assessment, curriculum, and professional behaviors. In addition to this, you will examine key themes such as research-informed practice, career-focused 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 analyze 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 stay organized 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 learned 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 master's credits (a master's degree is 180 credits), which you could put towards further study and career development.
Year 1
Core units
- Subject Pedagogy
- Secondary Professional Studies
- Professional Development and Employability (Secondary Education)
- Placement a (Secondary PGCE)
- Placement B (Secondary PGCE)
Career Opportunities
Most of our graduates go on to work as science teachers in secondary schools.
The PGCE program provides you with 60 master's level credits when you graduate. You could put these towards a master's degree to help you develop your career in the field of education.
Student Testimonials
Program Admission Requirements
Show your commitment and readiness for Grad school by taking the GRE - the most broadly accepted exam for graduate programs internationally.