Engineers Teach Physics

If you’re considering studying Teacher Training at The University of Manchester, there are a range of ways you can connect with us to find out more, such as:

• Live virtual events hosted by PGCE academic staff
• Get Into Teaching events
• Guided campus visits

Please see our virtual event registration form for available dates. The form will be updated regularly throughout the cycle with the event schedule.

For more information on guided campus visits, please visit our meet us page.

Apply through the government website

You must apply through DfE Apply . Applications or CVs sent directly to the University will not be considered.

You must submit the following with your completed application form:

• Contact details for two referees who can provide a written reference supporting your suitability for teaching
• A personal statement which should be between 500-1000 words in length in a good standard of written English. Here are some examples you could write about (they are just a guide, you do not need to write about all of them):
• Skills you have that are relevant to teaching
• Your reasons for wanting to teach your particular subject
• Any experience of working with young people
• Your understanding of why teaching is important
• Any activities you’ve done that could be relevant to teaching, like first aid courses, sports coaching or volunteering.

We recommend that you submit your application as soon as you are able to, once applications open. It is possible that we may need further evidence of qualifications in order to make a decision on your application, so please ensure that all relevant documents are available on request.

Before submitting your DfE application, please make sure that the information you enter regarding your qualifications is correct and accurate. We have the right to cancel your application if we determine, or have a reasonable belief, that your application contains false information.

Interview requirements

Your application will be assessed by our admissions team. If successful, we will invite you to an online interview. The interview process includes the following:

• Identity and qualification checks - please have available photographic ID
• An introduction from University lecturers
• A personal interview with one of our tutors and possibly a representative from our school partnership
• You may be asked to prepare a short presentation or plan a teaching episode.

Maths and English skills

You will need to demonstrate your comprehensive knowledge and skills in Maths and English by the end of the programme.

Fitness to practise / health requirements

If your application is successful, we will require you to comply with a confidential health screening check as advised by the Department for Education. We ask that you return this as quickly as possible.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

If your application is successful, we will require you to comply with an enhanced check through the DBS as advised by the Department for Education. You must also meet the University's suitability requirements for the safeguarding of children.

PGCE Secondary – Engineers Teach Physics will train you to become a Physics or Physics with Maths teacher across the 11 to 16 or 11 to 18 age range. You will be trained to teach across all sciences up to KS3 and KS4/KS5 level in your specialism (Physics, or Physics with Maths).

The course will prepare you to teach the National Curriculum and related national strategies, GCSE and A-level. Completion leads to both a postgraduate qualification and recommendation for qualified teacher status (QTS).

University-based sessions will enable you to reflect on teaching methods and engage critically with the Science curriculum, including where relevant, drawing on your experience in Engineering.

Experienced teachers will work alongside PGCE tutors, plus visitors from exam boards and the Institute of Physics.

Some sessions are run with the University's science departments to benefit fully from the University's resources, and with Manchester Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.

Find out more about our PGCE staff .

• Benefit from dedicated support to enhance your subject knowledge and teaching skills.
• We have links with more than 200 schools, academies and colleges, and you will benefit from significant school-based teaching experience.
• Our leading experts in education have trained more than 5,000 teachers in the last 15 years.
• Our Ofsted (2024) inspection report noted that “through exceptional centre-and school-based training experiences, trainees are fully equipped with the knowledge and skills that they need to successfully develop and refine their classroom practice. Trainees across all routes thrive.”
• Contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goal for Quality Education by helping to expand access to high-quality learning and inspire future generations.

Important notice: factors affecting fieldwork and placements

The School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED) recognises the value of fieldwork and placements. However, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remains our priority.

The School will assess on a regular basis the viability of any travel and fieldwork and communicate any significant changes to our students at the earliest possible opportunity. SEED will consider:

• Changes to the rules and guidance on travel and activities implemented and published by the UK and overseas governments
• A risk assessment conducted by or on behalf of the University identifying unmanageable risk
• Changes that enhance the educational value and student experience of the activity
• Changes to the situation of a placement provider (for example, which cause them to be unable to accept students)
• The unavailability of appropriate insurance cover
• The unavailability of appropriate travel and accommodation and any significant changes to their financial costs
• Where fieldwork and placements are a compulsory element of the programme, they will be replaced with something academically similar
• Where a trip or placement is not a compulsory element of the programme, it may not be replaced.

We will consult with affected students at the earliest possible opportunity and explore the options available to them.

The duty of students

Attendance at preparatory classes is a compulsory prerequisite of the fieldwork and placements to ensure safety and learning outcomes are met.

Students who do not attend the compulsory preparatory classes may be prevented from participating in the fieldwork or placement. It is the duty of students to discuss any attendance issues with the field course or placement convenor.

Students are representatives of the university during their fieldwork or placement. Behaviour deemed by the convenor to be unacceptable may result in students being sent home.

Where a student is unable to attend or complete the fieldwork or placement (e.g. due to mitigating circumstances), is prevented from attending due to absence from compulsory preparatory classes, or due to poor conduct, a suitable alternative assessment will be offered (as appropriate) to ensure that the programme ILOs are met, and that the student is not academically disadvantaged.

The University accepts no responsibility for any costs incurred by the student in relation to the fieldwork or placement.

Your school and University experiences are formally assessed. Both your mentors and tutors will help you to record your achievements and set targets from week to week and from placement to placement. 

During each placement, a University tutor will observe you teach and discuss your progress with you and your mentor. 

At the end of each school experience, you will receive a progress report from your mentor. The report will provide clear feedback and targets in the following areas: 

• subject and curriculum knowledge; 
• planning and teaching; 
• assessment; 
• wider professional responsibilities.

These reports, together with your record of achievement and development, facilitate your progression as a teacher. 

The written assignments will allow you to gain a maximum of 60 master's-level credits, and guidance and support to complete these assignments will be available from your University tutors.

The course is taught by the Manchester Institute of Education (MIE), with most PGCE University days based there in University's Ellen Wilkinson building, centrally located on the University's Oxford Road campus, close to the Main Library, Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and the Students Union.

Completing a PGCE is one route to becoming a fully qualified teacher. This form of teacher training is recommended for anyone with an undergraduate degree who is looking to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).

You need QTS to teach in a state-maintained or special school in England and Wales. While other routes to gain QTS exist, they do not all come with the postgraduate qualification of a PGCE. A PGCE from The University of Manchester is a valued qualification regionally, nationally and internationally.

When you study a PGCE with us, we help you prepare for a successful career in education. You will be given clear direction, advice and support when making applications for teaching posts and our employment rates are consistently high.

In addition to this, a PGCE qualification can count as 60 of the 180 credits required for a master's degree, and The University of Manchester offers a range of postgraduate Education courses should you wish to continue your professional development by completing a master's as you progress further in your career.

View our careers and employability webpage for more information

Careers support

The University has its own dedicated Careers Service that you would have full access to as a student and for two years after you graduate.

At Manchester you will have access to a number of opportunities to help boost your employability .