If you want to do postgraduate teacher training in England that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS), you may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship.
What are bursaries and scholarships?
Postgraduate bursaries are tax-free payments you receive if you're training to teach certain subjects. You do not need to apply for a bursary, you'll automatically get one if you're eligible.
Postgraduate scholarships are awarded by organisations with a passion for their subject area. They combine tax-free payments with extra benefits like subject-specific support, mentoring and networking opportunities. If you're eligible, you can apply directly to the scholarship provider.
You cannot receive both a bursary and a scholarship.
If you receive either a bursary or a scholarship, you do not need to pay it back.
Bursaries and scholarships are not available for:
- every subject
- salaried teacher training
The amounts on this page apply if you're starting your training between September 2025 and July 2026.
What funding could I get for teacher training?
Eligibility for bursaries
You do not need to apply for a bursary. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically receive it.
You must be eligible for student finance to receive a bursary (unless you’re training to teach physics or languages). You’ll also need at least one of the following:
- a bachelor’s degree class 2:2 (honours) or higher
- a master’s degree
- a PhD
If your course combines 2 subjects (for example, English and history), at least 50% of your course content must be made up of the bursary subject to be eligible.
How bursaries are paid
A bursary is paid over a minimum of 10 months by your teacher training provider across the duration of your course. They will confirm when you will get the payments.
You will not need to pay tax or National Insurance on bursary payments.
You do not have to pay a bursary back.
How to get a bursary
You do not need to apply for a bursary. When you apply for teacher training, your provider will check if you’re eligible for a bursary. If you are, your provider will confirm this in writing before you start your course.
Eligibility for scholarships
You must be eligible for student finance to receive a scholarship (unless you’re training to teach physics or languages). You’ll also need at least one of the following:
- a bachelor’s degree class 2:1 (honours) or higher
- a master’s degree
- a PhD
If you achieved a 2:2 in your degree, you may still be eligible. You would need to show you have enough relevant experience and subject knowledge.
Scholarships are awarded by independent organisations which set their own assessment requirements.
Scholarships offer more than just financial benefits. For example, they can provide professional body membership, subject-specific support, mentoring, events and classroom resources.
How scholarships are paid
A scholarship is paid over a minimum of 10 months by your teacher training provider across the duration of your course. They will confirm when you will get the payments.
You will not need to pay tax or National Insurance on scholarship payments.
You do not have to pay a scholarship back.
How to apply for a scholarship
You need to apply directly to the scholarship provider. Each provider sets their own application deadline and will confirm if you meet their eligibility requirements. You can out find about how to apply, deadlines and more details about each scholarship on the scholarship provider’s website:
- Royal Society of Chemistry website (chemistry)
- BCS The Chartered Institute for IT website (computing)
- British Council website (languages – French, German and Spanish only)
- Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, and partners website (maths)
- Institute of Physics website (physics)
Compare bursaries and scholarships
| Subject | Bursary | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Art and design | £10,000 | |
| Biology | £26,000 | |
| Chemistry | £29,000 | £31,000 |
| Computing | £29,000 | £31,000 |
| Design and technology | £26,000 | |
| English | £5,000 | |
| Geography | £26,000 | |
|
Languages (French, German and Spanish only) |
£26,000 | £28,000 |
|
Languages (all other languages, including ancient languages) |
£26,000 | |
| Maths | £29,000 | £31,000 |
| Music | £10,000 | |
| Physics | £29,000 | £31,000 |
| Religious education | £10,000 |
Find out more about the subjects you could teach
Other funding options
If you’re not eligible for a bursary or scholarship, there may be other funding options available, such as tuition fees and maintenance loans.
You may be eligible for a salaried teacher training course which means you’ll get paid while you train to teach. Some salaried teacher training courses may also come with fees. Check with individual providers for more information.
For advice on funding, you can speak to a teacher training adviser. They can help you work out what support you could be eligible for.
