PGCE Biology (PGCE)

You’ll need: 

• a 2:2 degree (UK honours degree or equivalent) in a science subject
• GCSEs (minimum grade 4/C) in English language and maths 

If you don't have the required GCSEs we'll ask you at the offer stage to take equivalency tests. You'll need to cover the cost of the tests yourself.

Find the equivalent international qualifications for your country. 

Classroom experience or evidence of working with young people may strengthen your application. 

If your science qualifications don’t meet our requirements, we might ask you to attend a Science Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course as an offer condition. 

Before applying, you should read: 

• National Curriculum for Science
• the standards for the award of Qualified Teacher Status 

We do not accept IELTS in lieu of the English Language GCSE requirement.

English language requirements

If English isn't your first language, you'll need to complete an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate your competence in English. You'll need all of the following scores as a minimum:

We accept other English language tests. Find out which English language tests we accept.

If you don’t meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

Pre-masters

If you don’t meet the academic requirements, you can complete a pre-master's programme through our partnership with OnCampus. Learn more about the programmes available.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000

You'll begin your studies on this PGCE Secondary Sciences course in September and finish in June, with breaks over Christmas and Easter. This course is full-time and you'll spend time at both the university and 2 placement schools.

Throughout the course, you'll cover 4 compulsory modules which are assessed at Masters-level and lead to the award of the PGCE.

The number of days you can typically expect are:

• 120 days training and teaching experience in 2 placement schools
• 20 days intensive training split between the university and key partnership schools
• 20+ days subject-specific training at university
• Additional professional studies training and enrichment opportunities at university

In September, you'll start your main placement and receive individual support from an experienced school-based mentor who will assist with your progression. To help gain an understanding of how different schools operate, you'll train and teach in another contrasting school as well. By the end of your studies on this secondary sciences PGCE course, you'll have developed skills around managing an early-career teacher's timetable.

Placements will take your living location and options of transport into consideration, and they'll be chosen according to your identified training needs.

The university has strong partnerships with schools in Hampshire, Wiltshire, Dorset, and the Isle of Wight. We also work closely with schools across Southampton and have a long history of working with Salisbury schools to secure excellent placements.

Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.

Learning

The learning activities for this course include the following: 

• workshops and seminars
• tutorials 
• group activities 
• directed study 
• independent study and research
• conference days
• guest speakers

Assessment

We’ll assess you using: 

• written assignments
• a presentation
• a portfolio 

Academic Support

We'll assign you a personal academic tutor, and you'll have access to a senior tutor.

A school-based mentor will support you throughout your placements. 

Tuition fees

Fees for a year's study:

• UK students pay £9,535.
• EU and international students pay £25,400.

Check fees for other versions of this course.

What your fees pay for

Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition and any exams. The fee you pay will remain the same each year from when you start studying this course. This includes if you suspend and return.

Find out how to pay your tuition fees.

Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.

Explore:

• accommodation costs
• living costs
• budgeting advice
• fees, charges and expenses regulations

Funding, bursaries and scholarships for teacher training

There is a variety of government funding available for teacher training, including bursaries, scholarships and other financial support.

Find out more and check your eligibility on the Department for Education website.

Other postgraduate funding options

A variety of additional funding options may be available to help you pay for your master’s study. Both from the University and other organisations.

Funding for EU and international students

Find out about funding you could get as an international student.

You must apply for this course on GOV.UK. You’ll need to create an account in order to submit your application.

Application deadlines

The deadline to apply for this course is early July 2025.

We advise applying early as applications may close before the deadline if places are filled. We allocate places on a continuous basis from October 2024 until the course is full.

Visit GOV.UK for the latest information on PGCE course availability.

Supporting information

GOV.UK processes applications for this course. When you apply, they’ll give you details of any supporting information or documents you’ll need to supply.

Academic and employment history

We require all applicants to provide a full breakdown of their previous employment and academic study, including career breaks, from age 16 (GCSE) up to the point of their DFE application.

Original documents

You'll need to provide copies of your original academic qualifications, for example GCSE, A Level and degree, during the application process.

If you join the course, you will also need to provide your original documents in person during induction. Please allow enough time to order replacement certificates if you no longer have your originals.

We will only accept certificates or a final official Statement of Results from the awarding body. We do not accept Candidate Statement of Provisional results and we are also unable to accept letters from educational establishments/schools or colleges as confirmation of results. For evidence of undergraduate education, we will accept a certificate and/or official transcript.

What happens after you apply

After applying through GOV.UK you’ll hear from us by email. We have 40 days to respond, but most applicants hear back much sooner.

If you get through to the next stage we’ll invite you to an interview with tutors, where we’ll assess your suitability for training and teaching. We’ll also ask you to give a short presentation and carry out a written task.

We’ll then decide whether to offer you a conditional place. The decision will be uploaded to your GOV.UK application within 5 working days.

All offers are conditional on enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and health checks. You will need to pay for these checks.

If you have spent time outside of the UK, you will also need to obtain criminal record checks from the countries you have lived in.

Equality and diversity

We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.

Got a question?

Please contact us if you're not sure you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.

Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000