PGCE Secondary Social Sciences with QTS (14-19) at Birmingham City University

Programme overview

Our course provides you with the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding for you to become a successful teacher of Social Sciences for students aged 14 to 19. Social Sciences encompasses Health and Social Care, Psychology and Sociology, giving you a broad base of knowledge to pass on to your students and a wider range of employment opportunities, even if you specialise in a particular area.

What you will study

You’ll develop and share knowledge of core areas of psychology, including cognitive, social, biological, and developmental psychology. We will support you to develop the skills and strategies needed to enthuse your students about human lifespan and development, health and social care services, and factors that affect people’s health and wellbeing both positively and negatively, and look at how these interact with the wider sociological context, including culture, identity, families and relationships, global development, the media, health, poverty, crime, ideology, and religion. Modules include Secondary Professional Studies, Secondary Subject Pedagogy, Professional Enquiry, School Experience 1, School Experience 2*.

Career pathways

Trainees leave their courses with a wide range of knowledge and skills that make them highly employable. We believe that this is due to the strong sense of belonging to a genuine learning community, which results in the development of professional confidence.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree or a Master’s degree in a relevant subject from a UK higher education institution or equivalent. Applicants may be required to take a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) course prior to starting the PGCE course. Applicants will also need to complete the relevant safeguarding checks for this course. All applicants will be interviewed; see 'interview arrangements' below. Applicants for this course also need GCSE English Language or English Literature and GCSE Maths at grade C/4 or above prior to enrolment. We accept a range of qualifications in lieu of GCSEs for our Initial Teacher Training courses. Please see a full list of GCSE equivalencies for Initial Teacher Training. The selection interview will assess your subject knowledge and personal qualities such as the potential to relate well to secondary age students, enthusiasm, sensitivity, communication skills and robustness and resilience for teaching. You will also take a written test to assess your standard of English. Additional information.

Domestic applicants: GBP 10,050 a year (2027/28). full-time, 1 year; annual tuition for the first year of study Source

Intake: September 2027

Duration: 1 year full-time

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