If you’re interested in training to teach biology, you could be eligible for a £26,000 tax-free training bursary – or receive a salary while you train. There are three types of funding available to teach biology if you’re on a non-salaried teacher training course. Depending on your circumstances, you could receive all three. 

1. Tax-free bursaries

As a trainee biology teacher, you could be eligible for a £26,000 bursary if you have a first, 2:1, 2:2, Master’s or PhD.

Once you know if you’ll be receiving a bursary, you can find out how and when you will receive your funding on our how you will be paid page.

2. Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan

With or without a bursary, you can also access a Tuition Fee Loan to cover your tuition fees and a Maintenance Loan for your living costs. The available loans are:

• a Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,250 to cover your fees
• a Maintenance Loan of up to £11,672 to support your living costs

3. Additional financial support

If you have children or a disability, extra funding is available. For instance, you could get:

• 85% of childcare costs up to £169.31 a week (1 child) or up to £290.27 a week (2 or more children) Childcare Grant
• up to £1,716 per year Parents’ Learning Allowance
• Child Tax Credits
• Disabled Students’ Allowance
• up to £3,007 per year Adult Dependants' Grant

Find out more information on the extra financial support available. 

Earn a salary while you train

Alternatively, you could earn a salary with School Direct (salaried), Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships or Teach First.

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Once you start teaching, you may be eligible for the Teachers’ Student Loan Reimbursement scheme - find out more.