| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-09-01 | - |
| 2026-09-01 | - |
Program Overview
PGCE Secondary – Science: Chemistry
Overview
Our postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) will prepare you to become an inspirational chemistry teacher with varied school placements, interactive lesson simulations, and tailored tutor support.
Course Details
- Duration: 1 year full-time
- Location: Worcester
- Fees:
- UK: £9,535
- International: £17,900
Entry Requirements
- Honours degree: Normally 2:2 or higher from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject area.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Language or English Literature and Mathematics, or equivalent qualifications.
Careers
This course will qualify you to teach in secondary schools across the UK. Most of our students quickly find jobs after graduation, thanks to the confidence they’ve gained on the course, the connections they make on placement, and our excellent reputation with schools in the Midlands region.
Teaching and Assessment
Teaching is a mix of interactive seminars, classroom simulations, and one-to-one tutorials. Alongside this, you’ll be supported by university staff and school mentors when out on placement. Your assessments will prepare you for a career as a teacher, and include creating a learning resource, delivering a presentation, and writing reflective essays.
Placements
You’ll complete a minimum of 120 days of placement, teaching chemistry in two different schools, so you can experience a wide range of age groups and learning environments. There will also be additional school visit days where you can explore practical strategies for the classroom, with opportunities to practice, rehearse, and then implement in school.
Regional Training Hubs
You can apply to study a PGCE directly with the University or with one of our partner Regional Training Hubs. These Regional Training Hubs are networks of schools working together to train teachers. When you apply through a hub, you will do a mix of training at their sites and at the University, and the hub will organise your placements within their network of schools.
Course Highlights
- Outstanding by Ofsted: Our education of future primary and secondary teachers has been given the highest possible grade by Ofsted, with inspectors stating that, along with its partners, the University creates “a learning community that places children at the heart of everyone’s endeavours”.
Program Outline
What will you study
Our courses are informed by research and current developments in the discipline and feedback from students, external examiners and employers. Modules do therefore change periodically in the interests of keeping the course relevant and reflecting best practice. The most up-to-date information will be available to you once you have accepted a place and registered for the course. If there are insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, this might not be offered, but we will advise you as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative.
Subject Knowledge with a Deep Understanding |
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Specialist Subject Opportunities |
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Pedagogy |
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Professional Studies |
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Your career |
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Register your interest
Enter your details below and we will keep you up to date with useful information about studying at the University of Worcester.
How will you be taught?
Teaching approach
- School experience in a range of settings.
- Professional Studies sessions in school and at University.
- University-led workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork and guest lectures.
- Study of key texts and supplementary reading.
- Participation in high level professional discussion, peer presentations and debate.
- Directed studies, case studies and problem solving tasks; development of practice-based competence and skills of critical reflection through guided individual mentoring during placements.
- One-to-one academic and personal tutorial support including access to our first class Firstpoint services
Assessment
- Assignments are carefully designed to develop your skills as a teacher.
- Assessments that move from highly structured to more open briefs as you develop your professional skills.
- The opportunity to develop skills as a research informed practitioner.
Programme specification
For comprehensive details on the aims and intended learning outcomes of the course, and the means by which these are achieved through learning, teaching and assessment,
please download the latest programme specification document.
- Great employment prospects
- Prepare for leadership and your Masters with 60 credits and a strong research foundation
- Many University of Worcester trainees gain promotion within the first few years of teaching
Careers and Employability
Our Graduates pursue exciting and diverse careers in a wide variety of employment sectors.
Find out how we can support you to achieve your potential.
What qualifications will you need?
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
- Honours degree normally (2:2) or higher from a United Kingdom higher education institution or equivalent qualification, in a relevant subject area. Applicants with a 3rd class degree will be considered on an individual basis.
- All entrants have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 (formerly grade C) in the GCSE examinations in English Language and mathematics (or equivalent) (for 2022 entry, applicants must have these qualifications by the start of the course). Alternatively, we offer equivalency test if you don’t have the required GCSE grade to apply for our courses. Trainees who begin courses before providing evidence of the required GCSE standard (or equivalent) will not be eligible for financial incentives, such as bursaries or grants until they achieve the required standard.
Qualifications not listed? Contact the Admissions Office for advice by email:
Additional requirements
- An Enhanced DBS check. You will be sent details of how to apply for your DBS in the summer term. You will need to pay for this. You may already be part of the DBS update service. Find out about the update service here . As part of the DBS process you will be checked against the Children’s Barred List .
- A check against the Prohibition List.
- If you have lived, studied or worked overseas for three months or more in the last five years a Certificate of Good Conduct from the country of residence will be required. Further information and guidance associated with additional costs are available from the Home Office .
- An online occupational health check. All those on a teacher training programme must be certified as meeting national requirements for physical and mental fitness to teach, as set by the Department for Education.
- International students: IELTS 6.5 or equivalent
Other information
To help you prepare for your interview you can expect questions covering the following:
- the subject knowledge required for teaching the subject curriculum in school
- your ability to critically reflect on your prior experiences in relation to your future development as a teacher
- your understanding of the UK education system and the wider role of a teacher
- how you have overcome challenges in your life and shown resilience
- how you plan to meet the academic and teaching demands of the course.
In addition, we are looking for enthusiasm, commitment, and potential. Clear verbal and written communication skills are integral to this which you will have an opportunity to demonstrate throughout the interview.
- School experience is desirable, but not essential.
- Interviews will be conducted online. Applicants will be contacted directly with more details.
All applications for PGCE should be made via the
Government's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training website
.Additional useful information is available on the
Government's Get Into Teaching website
.