Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £9,535 for the course
International/EU: £17,725 for the course -
How long will I study?
1 Year
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Where will I study?
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What is the UCAS code?
C1X1
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When do I start?
September 2025
Course summary
- Combine practical teaching with academic study to begin your teaching career.
- Develop subject expertise through university and placement-based training.
- Apply theory, research and evidence to develop as a critically reflective practitioner.
- Study inclusive practices to promote positive outcomes for learners.
- Learn from expert colleagues and educational partnerships.
You’ll join our dynamic Sheffield Institute of Education and undertake work-related learning in the community. You'll learn about the key aspects of a teacher’s role – including theories of learning, pedagogy, assessment and behaviour management. As well as your Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in Science (Biology), you’ll also gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and 60 Masters-level credits.
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
What it's like to study a PGCE course
What it's like to study a PGCE course at the Sheffield Hallam University
We have been rated outstanding by Ofsted across all initial teacher education courses (March 2024). We offer sector leading initial teacher training in early years, primary, secondary and post-16 and we are rated outstanding in all four areas by Ofsted. Inspectors said that ‘Subject sessions are precise in their focus on the latest pedagogical research. This is connected expertly to classroom practice and the impact on pupils’ and that ‘the university’s work with partner schools is exceptional’.
Scientific knowledge informs key aspects of modern life, it allows us to understand ourselves and the physical world that we live in.
As a biology teacher you will help young people understand and make informed decisions about themselves and our world. Biology knowledge allows us to develop our understanding of the natural world and consider how new developments can protect ourselves and the planet.
In addition to key ideas in biology we will also consider the overlap and relationship between the three science disciplines and how these can be taught in a relevant and accessible way. We also look at a range of scientific skills including experimental work and interpreting data and consider how the development of these skills can be effectively integrated into your lessons.
You will learn how to communicate the importance of scientific understanding in our modern world and encourage young people to think scientifically.
You will develop your skills to understand, plan and deliver the science curriculum for 11–16-year-olds and also gain experience in a post–16 context.
You learn through:
- Seminars
- Directed tasks
- School-based experiences
- Collaboration with expert colleagues
- Intensive training and practice opportunities
- Independent study
- Online learning and collaboration
- Subject-specific practical work
- Assessment tasks
- Critical reflection
- Classroom debates
- Research-informed practice
Key themes
You are introduced to Biology-specific skills through university sessions and school-based work. You’ll consolidate your development – both in university and in schools – by researching appropriate material and accessing wider resources.
The three modules on the course cover key aspects of professional and pedagogical development, as well as your school-based training. Your professional skills will be assessed by a range of strategies – from observation of your teaching to evaluations, reviews, target setting and action plans.
Your performance in schools will be monitored and reviewed by a trained school mentor and assessed in collaboration with an experienced university tutor. The other modules you study are assessed through formal academic assessment tasks.
Course support
You’ll be supported in your learning journey towards Qualified Teacher Status through a number of key areas. These include:
- Access to specialist support services to help with your personal, academic and career development
- Access to our Skills Centre with opportunities for one-to-one support, webinars and online resources, where you can get help with planning and structuring your assignments
- Employability activities specific to early entry into the teaching profession
Graduate View
Watch graduate Lois Burden talk about what it's like to study this course.
Applied learning
Placements
On school-based training you will use a range of methods and approaches to apply course theory to your teaching skills. These include observation, collaborative planning and actual practice in the classroom, including team and solo teaching.
Through our network of over 600 partner schools, colleges and other educational establishments you can train in a number of settings. This consists of a minimum of 120 days teaching over one year plus additional allocation of Intensive Training and Practice hours.
Networking
While training with us, you’ll access specialist expertise andgain professional connections to help you find employment.
Future careers
The majority of Sheffield Hallam trainees graduate as qualified teachers.
You’ll also gain a number of key transferable skills for alternative progression or career routes, including:
- Academic careers as a researcher via Masters-level study and PhD
- Voluntary sector work or research
- Enrichment work with young people
- More general graduate careers
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
The University-based sessions will be mainly based at City Campus and may include specialist rooms such as laboratories and workshops as appropriate.
There will also be opportunities to engage with online learning and collaboration. Much of your time will be spent applying and developing your professional knowledge in a school setting while on placement.
We have invested over £100m in new facilities to help you study how and when you want. This means 24-hour libraries and study spaces designed by our students.
Entry requirements
All students
An honours degree (normally 2.2 or above) or equivalent which includes substantial elements of biology or biological study.
Normally GCSE grade C or Grade 4 in English Language and mathematics, or equivalent. Where applicants have achieved a GCSE grade 4 or above in English literature only, we will look for further evidence of a breadth of achievement in English. We will consider applicants who are in the process of obtaining the relevant GCSEs.
If English is not your first language you must have an IELTS score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in all skills or equivalent. For equivalents see our English language entry requirements web page.
You are encouraged to gain experience of schools through direct observation of teaching and learning and/or by working with young people in subject-related, or other related educational activities.
Candidates who are successful will demonstrate a sound understanding of teaching and how children learn, where possible within a school setting. We encourage all candidates to evidence their understanding by drawing on related examples or experiences, such as time spent in schools or other learning settings. Demonstrating an ability to make links between experience and knowledge, and their proposed career would be desirable.
Selection event
If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to a selection event and you should present a passport or photo driving license. You can present other forms of photo ID for the selection event, but if you do, you will still need to present valid identity documents required by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to starting your course.
See our selection event guidance for this course.
As you will work with children, you must complete a declaration of criminal convictions and health check forms.
We welcome applications from people seeking a career change, and we actively encourage applications from those groups under-represented in teacher education, to help ensure that the teaching profession represents the diverse nature of contemporary UK society.
Course enrolment - professional requirements
Before enrolling you must complete all the professional checks that are required as part of entry for the course:
Suitability Declaration
You must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission suitability declaration form provided during the admissions process:
- Unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
- Involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments.
- Involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations.
- If you have ever been removed from a teacher training programme as a result of your behaviour, or would have been removed if you had not left the programme.
Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check
- You will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
- You will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the DBS application process.
- If you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
- Where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Academic Administration Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.
- In addition to this all those who are made an offer of a place will be checked against the DfE children’s barred list.
Occupational Health Screening
You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.
Other background checks
All applicants that have accepted an offer will also be checked against the prohibition list to ensure you are not:
- Subject to a prohibition order issued by the Secretary of State.
- Prohibited to teach in another country of the European Economic Area (EEA).
If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please notify the Academic Administration team immediately by emailing professionalchecks@shu.ac.uk.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
Final year
Compulsory modules
Exploring And Developing Pedagogical Practice In Secondary Education
Professional Practice In Secondary Education (Qts)
Reflecting On Professional Practice And Development In Secondary Education
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students studying full-time in 2025/26 is £9,535 for the course. These fees are regulated by the UK government and therefore subject to change in future years.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for International/EU students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £17,725 for the course.
Scholarships and bursaries
If you are starting a PGCE you may be entitled to financial support.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Institute of Education (PDF, 255.8KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
