PGCE SECONDARY PHYSICS WITH MATHEMATICS

Degree classification

Degree subject

GCSE offer

Before making your application you must have a GCSE pass at Grade C/4 or its equivalent* in English Language and in Mathematics.

*Please note: It is up to the discretion of the individual Initial Teacher Training provider as to whether an appropriate level has been satisfactorily achieved. We therefore strongly urge candidates with equivalent qualifications to check with us that these are acceptable before making their application.

We are able to consider GCSE equivalency tests taken via equivalencytesting.com only, with grades of A*-C or 4-9.

Additional entry requirements

Applicants are required to have achieved a degree or its equivalent* by the beginning of the PGCE programme in September. A first degree or a higher degree in physics is recommended, however other subjects may be appropriate.  As a general guideline, approximately 50 per cent of the degree should be relevant to the subject you will teach.

PRE-APPLICATION CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE

From February 2018, applicants are not required to have gained any prior experience within a school. 

Although not a requirement, time spent in a school could help you to gain valuable insight into the role of a teacher, how teaching and learning takes place within the classroom, and help you to decide whether teaching is the right profession for you. It is recommended, that where possible, you gain some school experience prior to application.

It would be most useful if experience could be gained across the Secondary age range in your chosen subject area.

If you are able to gain classroom experience prior to submitting your application there are a number of ways in which this can be achieved:

Contact Your Local School:

Try contacting local schools where you live to see if you are able to arrange a time to observe some lessons, or register with the DfE School Experience Programme to help book school experience through their online portal.

University Career Schemes:

If you are an undergraduate student at UEA, you can apply for a digital school via our A Glimpse of Teaching programme and/or the IntoUniversity Mentoring Scheme. 

The IntoUniversity Mentoring Scheme pairs a university student or an individual who has graduated within the past 2 years with one of IntoUniversity’s young people (aged 10-17) giving them the opportunity to receive tailored, one-to-one support for their academic attainment, social skills and future planning. Find out more about what IntoUniversity does and how to apply to be a Mentor.

KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM, KEY CONTACTS AND USEFUL LINKS

Applications are considered on an individual basis and being able to demonstrate a strong level of knowledge about the National Curriculum and current issues affecting teaching is advantageous. These educational links will provide you with some useful points of contact to help to get you started.

DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE CHECK (DBS)

Disclosure of Criminal Background for Those with Access to Children
All applicants for the PGCE course will be required to obtain an Enhanced Criminal Records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The enhanced disclosure will be used to assess suitability for the programme and information provided may be discussed with the external members of the School's Safeguarding Sub-Committees. Candidates are responsible for payment of the DBS fee. General information about this process can be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service Website.

SATISFACTORY HEALTH CHECK

You will need to demonstrate your fitness to teach by completing an Occupational Health Assessment. This will give us information about any special needs you may have, and enable us to assess whether the University and placement areas will be able to provide support. It is therefore, in your interest to provide full answers to the questions.

Students for whom english is a foreign language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English. To ensure such students benefit from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English. Our usual entry requirements are as follows:

• IELTS: 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in all components)

• PTE (Pearson): 67 (minimum 64 in all components)

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date. Other tests such as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English are also accepted by the university. Please check with the Admissions Office for further details including the scores or grades required.

Interviews

Interview required; please be aware that we cannot guarantee that all candidates who apply will be shortlisted for interview.

Intakes

This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake for this course is in September each year.

Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2022/23 are: 

• UK Students: £9,250 (full time) 

• International Students: £22,400 (full time) 

If you choose to study part-time, the fee per annum will be half the annual fee for that year, or a pro-rata fee for the module credit you are taking (only available for Home students). 

We estimate living expenses at £1,023 per month. 

Further Information on tuition fees can be found here. 

Scholarships and Bursaries 

A range of funding options are available to help you Train to Teach. The University of East Anglia also offers a range of Scholarships; please click the links to check your eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.

Course related costs

Please see Additional Course Fees for details of additional course-related costs.

How to Apply

Please note, we are no longer accepting applications for September 2022.

The application process for September 2023 entry will be opening shortly

MAKING YOUR APPLICATION 

Candidates can submit their application by using the GOV.UK service called Apply for teacher training. 

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION 

Candidates are encouraged to prepare thoroughly. Application forms should be able to demonstrate not only your depth of subject knowledge but also your enthusiasm and commitment to a career in teaching. We recommend that you familiarise yourself with the information available from the Department for Education. These sources will help you to gain knowledge of the current issues facing teaching, specifically in the subject area for which you are applying. During interview you will be expected to be able to answer questions about these issues, and what has prompted your desire to choose teaching as a career. 

Candidates are normally chosen on the basis of their application form, references and an interview. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES 

The University of East Anglia operates an equal opportunities admissions policy. We aim to ensure that no applicant receives less favourable consideration on the grounds of gender, marital status, race, colour, nationality, ethnic origin or religious belief. More on equal opportunities. 

Students with a Disability (including Dyslexia) 
The University welcomes students with disabilities and is working towards the provision of an inclusive environment for all its students, staff and visitors. More on disability support. 

FURTHER INFORMATION 

If you would like to discuss your individual circumstances prior to applying please do contact us: 

PGCE Admissions Office 
Email: edu.pgce.admiss@uea.ac.uk 
Tel: +44 (0)1603 592855 

EU and International candidates are also encouraged to access the International Students section of our website.