112 points required

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Secondary Science (Biology) with QTS - BSc (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry.

September 2024 — UCAS code X13A

If you have a passion for Biological Sciences, inspiring and educating young learners, and want the best possible career opportunities after graduating, then this is the course for you.

112 points required

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  • School School of Education and Social Work
  • Faculty Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences

This course is:

Open to International Students

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Overview

Clearing 2024

112 points (or equivalent) is the minimum you will need to be considered for this course in Clearing.

Use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to work out your points.

Got your results?

If you've already received your results and have enough points for this course you can apply online now.

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Waiting for results?

Download our guide to Clearing to prepare ahead of results day and find out the top five things you can do whilst you wait.

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If you have a passion for Biological Sciences, inspiring and educating young learners, and want the best possible career opportunities after graduating, then this is the course for you.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

The School of Education and Social Work has a strong partnership across a diverse range of secondary schools within the West Midlands. Located in the heart of the West Midlands, you will gain practical experience in a range of schools with a rich variety of cultural and linguistic influences, religious beliefs and social diversity.  The Department of Life Sciences, part of the School of Health Sciences, is committed to delivering high-quality, research-informed teaching in a range of biology and life science fields alongside a developing Life Sciences research portfolio.  Staff have expertise in a range of disciplines which will support your scientific development and prepare you for professional practice as a science educator.

The course offers you the chance to gain the professional qualification of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) as well as a degree, helping you walk into your dream job as a secondary school teacher immediately after graduating from university.

You will also benefit from the unique and strong partnership between biology educators and subject specialists who are at the forefront of practice in their fields.

If you have any questions about this courses please email: UGSecondarySLT@bcu.ac.uk

Why Choose Us?

  • Develop in-depth subject knowledge and train to teach all in three years, saving a year of study (and fees) compared to the usual three- year degree plus one year of postgraduate teacher training.
  • In each year you’ll spend time in a range of local secondary schools on professional placements, equipping you with a wealth of practical experience to develop you as a biology teacher, working in partnership with experienced school subject mentors.
  • We meet the Department for Education's (DfE) Criteria for Initial Teacher Training and successful candidates on our Initial Teacher Training courses will be recommended to the DfE for Qualified Teacher Status.
  • You will have 15 days across the course duration allocated for enrichment blocks to allow you gain Key Stage Two, special educational needs (SEN), and post-16 experience.

Open Days

Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation. Booking isn't open yet for this event, register your interest and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.

Next Open Day: 28 September 2024

Register interest

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2024/25.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

112 points (or equivalent) is the minimum you will need to be considered for this course in Clearing.

Use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to work out your points.

Got your results?

If you've already received your results and have enough points for this course you can apply online now.

Apply now

Waiting for results?

Download our guide to Clearing to prepare ahead of results day and find out the top five things you can do whilst you wait.

Get advice

Alternative options

If you do not have 112 points, you may like to look at our other courses available.

View Clearing courses

Or explore your options if you don't have enough points for any of our courses.

Please note: the entry requirements listed below are relevant for main cycle applications and may not be applicable during Clearing.

Essential requirements

112 UCAS tariff points

Please note: If you qualify for our BCU Accelerate scheme, you could receive an offer that is two grades below our normal entry requirements. Find out more about BCU Accelerate.

Applicants will also need to complete an interview for this course; see interview arrangements below.

If your level 3 qualifications do not meet the UCAS tariff for this course, you may be offered a place on an alternative course or Foundation Year. You do not need to submit a separate application but will automatically be considered for this if your predicted grades fall below the UCAS entry tariff.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Successful candidates must meet Department for Education requirements for Initial Teacher Training prior to enrolling on this course. This includes obtaining a satisfactory occupational health check and an enhanced DBS check, as well as prohibition and children’s barred list checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance.

You will receive details of what is required if you are offered a place on the course. If you have any queries please refer to DBS Frequently Asked Questions or contact admissions@bcu.ac.uk.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BSc (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BSc (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2024

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 3 years
  • £16,085 in 2024/25

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key Software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

LinkedIn Learning

Free access to LinkedIn Learning, which offers over 5,000 in-depth and bite-sized courses.

DBS check

You will require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for this course. Your first DBS check is included in your fees.

Placement expenses (mandatory)

Placements are a compulsory element of many health and teacher training courses. You'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy.

Field trips (optional)

This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost.

Subscriptions (optional)

You may wish to purchase subscriptions to additional journals and websites.

Memberships (optional)

You may wish to join a union or professional body related to this course.

Accommodation and living costs

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Places available to start in September 2024

If you'd like to start this course full-time this September, you can apply through Clearing.

Got your results?

If you've already received your results and have enough points for this course you can apply online now.

Apply now

Waiting for results?

Download our guide to Clearing to prepare ahead of results day and find out the top five things you can do whilst you wait.

Get advice

International and part-time students can apply online as normal using the links above.

Want to start in September 2025? You can apply via UCAS from September 2024.

Personal statement

Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you.

Here are the key areas you’ll need to address:

Course choice

Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest?

Career plans

If you have a specific career in mind, say how your chosen course will help you pursue this goal.

Work experience

Mention any work that is relevant to your subject, highlighting the skills and experience gained.

School or college experience

Highlight skills gained at school/college, eg summer schools or mentoring activities.

Non-accredited skills or achievement

eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.

You should also mention your future plans – if you’re planning to take a year out, don't forget to give your reasons. Talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.

Get more information on writing personal statements.

Course in Depth

Year One

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Year Two

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Year Three

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Download course specification

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Course overview

The BSc (Hons) Secondary Science (Biology) with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) trains you to:

  • Teach your subject in secondary schools within the age range 11-16 with post-16 enhancement.
  • Develop the subject knowledge required to teach all the sciences up to GCSE within secondary schools and sixth-form colleges.
  • Develop the skills required to become a subject specialist in biology within secondary education.
  • Work in a wide variety of schools and science departments to develop as a biology subject specialist

Within this course, you will be studying with our current undergraduate biomedical science students in completing your subject specialism following the same suite of modules.  In addition, you will develop your skills in teaching your subject within secondary education by working within local and regional school science departments as part of the professional placement component of this course.  As a result, you will not only have the subject knowledge required for a science undergraduate degree, but successful completion will result in the University recommending to the relevant professional body, for the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), which is the recognised professional award required by all those who wish to teach in a secondary school in England and Wales.

Employability

Enhancing your employability skills

We will support you in the transition to university through a careful induction process, confidence building activities, group work and a carefully planned programme with a range of formative and summative assessments.

Your programme will be interactive, practical, engaging, thought provoking and challenging and is designed to promote independence so that you become a confident, committed and creative teacher ready to join the teaching profession.

On the programme you will experience a variety of learning and teaching approaches that focus on modelling good practice and these will include: workshops, conferences, lectures, seminars, a range of guest speakers, visits to schools/settings and other sites as well as a range of practical teaching experiences.

The content of the programme is research led, innovative and responsive to the educational climate to enable you to develop your subject and pedagogical knowledge and apply it in the classroom.

Placements

We have developed a shared vision for educational excellence with the schools in our partnership. You will benefit from working with and learning from outstanding classroom teachers in schools and at University. Working in schools with teachers and pupils is key to you becoming a committed, creative and confident teacher.

School placements increase in length over the three years of your course to ensure you complete the minimum of 120 days required to build your teaching experience and gather evidence that you meet the requirements for QTS. The placement aspect of this course is non-credit bearing.

The Department for Education's Teacher Standards will be assessed through the school-based training modules. Showing evidence of meeting these Standards will allow you to be recommended for the award of QTS at the end of your course.

More about our placement opportunities

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Facilities & Staff

University House

Our Facilities

We are constantly investing in our estate and have spent £400 million on new learning facilities.

This course will be based at our City Centre campus in the newly refurbished University House building, and our City South campus in leafy Edgbaston.

Our staff

Grant Huddleston

College academic lead for LLE and CPD

Grant is the course leader for the BA/BSc Hons. Secondary Education (QTS) courses and a senior lecturer in Physical Education. When starting at Birmingham City University in 2017, Grant was the subject leader for Physical Education, working across primary and secondary education on the BA (QTS) Primary Education, PGCE Primary Education (QTS), and...

More about Grant

Helen Thomas BSc, PGCE, PGCert(HE), MA Ed, CPhys, MInstP, FHEA

PGCE Subject Route Leader for the Sciences and Senior Lecturer in Science Education

Helen taught science and physics in particular for 17 years in schools, 6th form college and FE before joining Birmingham City University. Responsibilities included GCSE Science Course Leader and Head of Physics. Helen's move to the University led from catching the research bug whilst completing a Master's degree combined with being...

More about Helen