Home › Study › Postgraduate Programmes › PGDip Secondary Education (QTS) – Science – Biology

PGDip Secondary Education (QTS) – Science – Biology

The Secondary Education (QTS) – Science – Biology programme from University of Birmingham leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and offers 120 credits towards our MA in Teaching Studies. Our programme, which offers high quality training and support, will prepare you to teach in the 11-18 age range and is run in close partnership with schools.

Quick Facts

  
Full-Time Duration: 36 weeks
Starting in: September
Tuition Fee: £21,150 per full
Location: Birmingham, United Kingdom

On the Biology Postgraduate Diploma Secondary Education course you will be challenged to develop informed and justified decisions about how you approach your teaching, in order to enable you to continue to develop over your career. The School of Education benefits from our unique collaboration with University of Birmingham School as well as a wide range of partner schools, including mixed comprehensive, single sex, religious and selective schools and sixth form colleges. The diverse communities we serve will enrich your experience on the PGDipEd Biology course.

PGDipEd (QTS) Secondary Biology is also offered as a School Direct programme with St Paul’s Caritas Christi and Windsor Academy Trust

You may be eligible for a bursary of up to £20,000 (depending on qualifications) in line with the government’s priority to attract more well qualified Biology teachers.

On successful completion of your PGDipEd, you may return to study with us on a part-time basis to complete your Masters in Teaching Studies.

The Secondary Education (QTS) – Science – Biology at the University of Birmingham has a long tradition of delivering teacher training courses. Its teaching has been graded as ‘outstanding’ three times by Ofsted inspectors which affirms the University’s status as one of the UK’s leading institutions for excellence in teacher training.

Programme Structure:

  • The course is essentially one of professional training combined with academic study appropriate to a course at Masters’ level. Much of the work of the first term is a direct attempt to prepare you for teaching situations that you may face on school placements.
  • It should give you opportunities for developing your own thinking which can be trialled when practising those facets of teaching which are most directly related to the classroom and the laboratory situation.
  • Time will be given to, for example: the preparation of: lesson materials; the organisation of laboratory work; and the use of demonstrations.
  • These are only a sample of the techniques to manage and engage classes. Some are general skills that all teachers must develop regardless of their subject; others will be specific to the sciences.

“The transition from undergrad to postgrad can be a big step up in terms of workload and what is expected of you, but there is so much support available to you as a postgrad student, from academic writing support (if you’ve been out of education for a few years or just want a bit of extra help) to mental health and wellbeing services. The careers support is fantastic – the uni puts on employer fairs throughout the year and you have access to one on one support from the Careers Network team, who can help you develop your skills ready for your next step!”

Emma Sutton // PhD Psychology

Careers

There is currently high demand for secondary teachers in the region and beyond. Employment rates are consistently high and strong links with partnership schools mean that many students go into employment in the region.

Requirements

  • All applicants to the Secondary PGDipEd (QTS) Science: Biology course must hold a degree or equivalent qualification from a UK Higher Education Institution. This will normally be a minimum 2:2 classification or equivalent qualification and this will be a condition of any offer where the degree has not already been awarded. Your degree content must be at least 50% biology relevant to the National Curriculum. You should also have 2 science A levels or the equivalent.
  • Please be aware that your degree classification may have an impact on your eligibility for a bursary.

You must also have a GCSE in Mathematics and English (Grade 4/C or above) or an equivalent qualification which must be attained before making your application. Equivalency tests will be accepted but only from equivalency testing.

Learn more