Education with Physical Science at Cambridge

[lisawong]

Hello, everyone. It's Yinan, from Cokethorpe School, Witney. I am quite interested in Education degree. I have just found out that at Cambridge there is a joint course, "Education with Physical Science".

I did Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Geography for AS level. This month, I got my results!!!yeah!! As following:

Ordinary Maths: 93 UMS;
Further Maths: 87 UMS;
Physics: 85 UMS
Chemistry: 78 UMS (did not expect this...)
Geography: 83 UMS

Is it worth applying for Cambridge, would you say? (BTW, I am applying as an international student)

Does anyone know anything about this course at Cambridge, or at other universities; if you do, please leave some comments; it will be highly appreciated. Thanks guys!

[Knowsabitabouteducation]

I don't know anything about this course, sorry.

One thing to ask is what do you want to do after university? Do you want to become a teacher, or do something different?

[EdithWeston]

I think the Educational Department at Cambridge is entirely post-graduate.

The education plus PE option seems to be for those aiming for primary school work, and you can be accepted with any degree, though if it's not in an NC subject they expect you to have NC subject A levels at at least a B.

What are you thinking if for first degree?

[lisawong]

It is one of the possibilities, because I am a Chinese native speaker, so maybe in the future I could teach Science/Maths or Chinese at schools in the UK or teach English in China.
But actually I am not really clear about what I would like to do at University. Applying for this course is because I am more interested in Cambridge Univerisity. In fact I enjoy teaching other people!! Previously, I had an experience of teaching an A-level student the Chinese GCSE course, and now he is off to study Chinese at SOAS Univerity.

[lisawong]

Yes, EdithWeston. I am considering the undergraduate course.

[Knowsabitabouteducation]

I would say to most candidates that if they wanted to become a teacher, they should do a conventional science degree followed by a PGCE.

However, in your situation, I can see the advantage of studying education alongside science. You will get to understand the peculiarities of our system alongside the usual pedagogy. A PGCE assumes that you already understand the culture from your own school experience. As this will not be applicable to you, the education degree will fill in the gaps.

I don't think there are any worries about studying at Cambridge, and their Science Tripos will provide the necessary foundation to any further study. It will be a very valid course of study for you.

[lisawong]

Yep. Thank you so much for your advise.