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PGCE Science with Biology (QTS)

Feed young people's curiosity and understanding of the natural world. Benefit from state-of-the-art science facilities with invaluable support from mentors in our partnership schools
Code
CX11
Start
September 2024
Duration
1 year full-time
Attendance
Full-time
Fees
£9,250 (UK) *
£12,600 (INT) *
Course leader
Liz Lisowski

Why choose PGCE Science with Biology (QTS) at Middlesex?

You will learn to operate as a critically reflective Biology teacher and develop competence across the entire range of the National Curriculum for Science. You will learn to integrate theory and practice, as part of a stimulating and ambitious curriculum.

This one-year full-time course, enables you to meet the national standards for the award of qualified teacher status (QTS).

We have a range of specialist science and teaching facilities, providing you with a solid foundation on which to develop your skills and experience. We have excellent relationships with partnership schools.

Accreditations

Successful completion of this course leads to Qualified Teacher Status, allowing you to work in any state school in England. The course is professionally recognised for being of the highest quality, focused on developing your knowledge and skills

This degree is accredited by the Teaching Regulation Agency, Department for Education.

What you will gain

The Science with Biology PGCE course has been developed with input from partnership schools. The curriculum allows you to develop a deep understanding of science pedagogy.

Key principles underpinning the curriculum:

  • Careful sequencing of content
  • Exploration of current debates and key issues
  • Developing knowledge and understanding of the progression of key concepts in science
  • Opportunities to practise and to put theory into practice, combined with regular and purposeful feedback
  • Promoting Science and cultural capital with our links to cultural and educational establishments
  • Modelling effective instruction and delivery in science, providing opportunities for critical reflection of practice.

3 great reasons to pick this course

  • Excellent reputation
    Top 2 university in the UK – Times Higher Education, Young Universities,  2022
  • Strong links with schools
    We're partnered with secondary schools that contribute to the development of our courses, provide school placements and frequently employ our graduates
  • Job satisfaction
    Working as a teacher is a rewarding and challenging career and you make a real difference to young children’s development and life chances

Find out more

Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.

You will critically evaluate the effectiveness of a wide range of resources and your own lesson plans. You will analyse research data and critically evaluate how research has contributed to the knowledge and understanding of how to teach Science with Biology effectively.

Modules

  • Modules

    • Secondary Professional Development 1 (30 Credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to introduce the professional secondary school environment. You will demonstrate your progress in developing your understanding and skills necessary to operate as an effective teacher in a secondary school. As such, it supports you to progress towards the achievement of current requirements for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.

    • Secondary Professional Development 2 (30 Credits) – Compulsory

      This module aims to consolidate your professional practice in a second secondary school environment. It aims to ensure you can demonstrate the understanding and skills necessary to operate as an effective teacher in a secondary school. As such, it supports you in the achievement of statutory requirements for the award of Qualified Teacher Status.

    • Professional Knowledge and Pedagogy (30 Credits) - Compulsory

      This module aims to develop your understanding and skills necessary to operate as a critically reflective teacher in a secondary school. You will be assessed by undertaking a small scale research assignment that compares theoretical perspectives in education with the reality found in school.

    • Science with Biology Education (30 Credits) - Compulsory

      This module builds on the learning and skills developed in the Professional Knowledge and Pedagogy and the Secondary Professional Development 1 modules and aims to deepen your understanding and skills necessary to operate as a critically reflective science with Biology teacher in a secondary school setting. You are assessed through a Monitoring and Assessment coursework assignment. Here you design, resource, teach and evaluate a scheme of work that reflects best practice in science education and assessment.

To find out more about this course, please download the PGCE Science with Biology (QTS) specification (PDF).

How we'll teach you

The course is delivered by our experienced academics and industry partners in person and online.

The programme is designed to provide 120 days in schools with two school experiences. Each placement provides a sustained teaching experience over the complete teaching week. Each placement provides a sustained teaching experience over the complete teaching week.

The remaining 60 days of the course are university-based. The course will comprise a range of presentations, discussions and practical workshops where exemplar material can be selected from a specialised subject context.

Other university learning activities include lectures, webinars, one-to-one tutorials and group projects.

Where will you study?

You will be based at our north London campus in Hendon and your school-based placement.

Timetable

Your course timetable will balance your study commitments on campus with time for work, life commitments and independent study.

We aim to make timetables available to students at least two weeks before the start of term. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on-campus sessions.

Teaching vs independent study

In a typical year, you’ll spend about 1200 hours on your course.

Outside of these hours, you will be expected to do independent study where you read, listen and reflect on other learning activities. This can include preparation for future classes at university in addition to preparation for your teaching responsibilities whilst on school placement.

Typical weekly breakdown

A typical week looks like this:

Learning

Hours per week

On-campus

5

Online learning

4

Independent study

10

For placement, there will be additional hours.

Learning terms

On-campus: This includes tutor-led sessions such as seminars, lab sessions and demonstrations as well as student-led sessions for work in small groups.

Online learning: This is teaching that is delivered online using tools like Skype or Zoom, as well as work that you do yourself using online teaching resources.

Independent study: This is the work you do in your own time including reading and research.

Academic support

We have a strong support network online and on campus to help you develop your academic skills. We offer one-to-one and group sessions to develop your learning skills together with academic support from our library, IT teams and learning experts.

Coursework and assessments

All university-based modules are assessed by coursework. School-based modules are assessed against the standards for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Each module is assessed on a pass/fail basis. All modules are compulsory and must be passed. You do not have an automatic right to reassessment for the school-based modules.

The two school experiences assess your ability to demonstrate you are able to apply the knowledge, understanding and skills of the ITE curriculum to your teaching practice, and fully meet the Teacher Standards by the end of your training course.

You will also be assessed through the following two modules:

  • Professional Knowledge and Pedagogy is assessed through coursework by undertaking a small-scale research assignment
  • Science with Biology Education is assessed through coursework, by undertaking an assignment about Monitoring and Assessment.

Feedback

You'll evaluate your work, skills and knowledge and identify areas for improvement. Sometimes you'll work in groups and assess each other's progress.

Each term, you'll get regular feedback on your learning.

The Sheppard Library

Our library is open 24 hours a day during the term and includes:

  • Over 1,000 study areas with rooms for group study and over 600 computer spaces
  • 350,000 books and e-books and more than 24,000 online journals
  • Free laptop loans, Wi-Fi and printing.

Student support

We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health and disability support.

Additional needs

We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team.

Wellness

Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.

Work while you study

Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.

Financial support

You can apply for scholarships and bursaries and our MDX Student Starter Kit to help with up to £1,000 of goods, including a new laptop or iPad.

We have also reduced the costs of studying with free laptop loans, free learning resources and discounts to save money on everyday things. Check out our guide to student life on a budget.

How can the PGCE Science with Biology (QTS) support your career?

Our university's postgraduate courses have been recognised for their ability to support your career.

Our employment rates are extremely high with around 95% of our PGCE graduates in employment or further study six months after graduation. (Graduate Outcomes 2022).

Career paths

After completing this course, you'll be able to apply for a position as an early career teacher (ECT) in a secondary school setting.

As a newly qualified teacher, your salary will be between £25,714 and £32,157, depending on where you teach.

Teachers can find career progression in both the classroom and the school's management structure. You might aspire to become the head of a department, age group or curriculum. By developing your leadership skills and experience, you could progress to a senior management position, such as deputy head or head teacher.

For more information on salary and career progression, visit the Department for Education's website.

MDXworks

MDXworks, our employability service, will help you make the most of your experience and connections to achieve your career goals. You'll have unlimited access to one-to-one advice and support from specialists in your sector plus 24/7 online support. You can also make the most of events and networking opportunities, on and off campus.

Our dedicated lifetime career support, like our business start-up support programme and funding for entrepreneurs, has been recognised with the following awards:

  • The top 20 UK universities for business leaders and entrepreneurs – Business Money, 2023 
  • A top 10 university for producing CEOs – Novuana, 2023.

Global network

Our London location helps us connect with over 1,000 industry partners to develop our students’ future employment prospects.

And we have unique work and study opportunities at our campuses in Dubai and Mauritius.

At Middlesex, you’ll study with students from 122 countries who’ll hopefully become part of your global network.  After you graduate, we'll support you through our alumni network to help you progress in your chosen career.

  1. UK entry
  2. International entry
  3. How to apply

The fees below refer to the 2024/25 academic year unless otherwise stated.

UK students*

Full-time students: £9,250

*Course fees are subject to annual inflation.

For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.

Loans and Bursaries

UK students can apply for a tuition fee loan which covers your fees and is only repayable after your graduate. In addition, UK students may be eligible for additional grants and loans including those from:

  • The Department for Education - on the Department for Education website you will find a full list of designated ITT subjects and funding offers

The fees below refer to the 2024/25 academic year unless otherwise stated.

International students*

Full-time students: £12,600

*Course fees are subject to annual inflation.

For more information and to answer your frequently asked questions, please visit our postgraduate funding page.

Additional costs

We cover your costs for the day-to-day things that you need to do well in your studies.

  • Free – laptop loans, e-books, Wi-Fi and printing
  • Free specialist software for your course
  • Free online training with LinkedIn Learning.

Financial support

We offer lots of support to help you with fees and living costs. Check out our guide to student life on a budget and find out more about postgraduate funding.

Loans and bursaries

If you are a UK student, you can apply for a tuition fee loan which covers your fees and is only repayable after you graduate. In addition, UK students may be eligible for additional grants and loans including those from:

  • The Department for Education - on the Department for Education website you will find a full list of designated ITT subjects and funding offers.

Postgraduate scholarships

You may be eligible for one of our scholarships including:

  • The Alumni Postgraduate Award – for all UK/EU Middlesex alumni a 20% fee reduction
  • The Commonwealth Scholarship – full course fees, airfares and a living allowance
  • The Chevening Scholarship – full course fees
  • The European Academic Awards – £1000 to £7000 for students showing academic excellence
  • Regional or International Merit Award –up to £2,000 towards course fees.

For international students, we also have a limited number of other awards specific to certain regions, and work in partnership with funding providers in your country to help support you financially with your study.

Find out more about our postgraduate scholarships.

Work while you study

If you are not currently working, we can help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above.

Fees disclaimers

1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.

Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.


We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.

Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.

Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.

At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.

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