International qualified teacher status (iQTS) is a new teaching qualification backed by the UK government. iQTS meets the same high standards as English qualified teacher status (QTS)(opens in new window), and leads to the automatic award of QTS. You can train where you live and work, with no need to visit the UK.
Why choose iQTS?
iQTS is offered by world-class English teacher training providers working with schools in countries around the world. Alongside online tutorials and lectures, you’ll spend a minimum of 120 days gaining practical experience in a school in your region, and get in-person support from a trained mentor.
iQTS allows you to train to teach children aged 5 to 11, or children aged 11 to 18 in the full range of secondary school subjects taught in English schools(opens in new window).
When you complete the course, you’ll have the skills, experience and knowledge to become an excellent teacher. You will also automatically be awarded English qualified teacher status (QTS) with no further fees or training. QTS is recognised all over the world as a teaching gold standard and will also qualify you to teach in England.
If you decide to teach in England, as an early career teacher you’ll benefit from a two-year induction period alongside your work in school. You’ll earn a salary and get mentoring and continuous professional development to help you succeed as a teacher.
Entry requirements
Both UK and non-UK citizens can apply for iQTS – however, you must be living outside England.
You will also need to have:
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a bachelor’s degree from a UK or non-UK university (or other institution)
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a maths qualification of the same standard as GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) grade 4
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for teaching children aged 3 to 11, a science qualification of the same standard as GCSE grade 4
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excellent written and verbal English language skills
You do not need any teaching experience or to be working in a school to apply for iQTS.
To show you meet the required standard in the English language, you’ll need one of the following:
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an International English Language Testing System (IELTS)(opens in new window) score of 6.5 or higher
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the equivalent score in another English language testing system
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to have completed some of your education in the English language, for example, a degree studied in English
Help with qualifications
A GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) is an academic qualification awarded for exams in England, usually taken at age 16.
If you’re not sure whether your qualifications meet the entry requirements for iQTS, you can apply for a statement of comparability from UK ENIC(opens in new window), the UK National Information Centre for global qualifications and skills. A statement of comparability proves that your school and university qualifications are the same standard as UK GCSEs and a UK bachelor’s degree.
Fees
Fees range from £7,950 to £9,950 for a one-year, full-time iQTS course. Check training provider websites for full details.
Applicants for iQTS are not eligible for loans, bursaries or any other type of financial support from the UK government to help cover the costs of studying iQTS.
To find out about scholarship opportunities, contact your chosen iQTS training provider directly.
Placement schools and working while you train
iQTS is delivered by English training providers working in close partnership with schools outside the UK. These placement schools offer iQTS trainees practical experience and in-person mentoring.
Some training providers will already have relationships with schools in your region and will be able to match you to a particular school. Others will make it an entry requirement for their course that you set up your own placement with a local school.
If you are already employed in a school, you can discuss with your training provider whether you can continue working in that school while you complete your iQTS qualification.
To learn more, contact your chosen iQTS provider directly.
How to apply
There’s still time to apply for the 2023/24 academic year with some providers listed on this page. Other providers are now accepting applications for the 2024/25 academic year. For more details and to apply, visit provider websites.
We hope to announce additional iQTS training providers in autumn 2023. Check back to this page for more about our new providers and the regions you’ll be able to apply from.
All iQTS training providers are approved by the UK government and must meet the same strict standards. However, they may vary in their approach to:
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fees
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placement schools and working while you train
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application process and entry requirements
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the regions and countries around the world where they offer iQTS training
Contact the provider directly to:
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learn whether they work with, or will accept, a placement school in your region or country
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apply for a place on an iQTS training course
iQTS training providers
The following providers are accepting applications from all over the world:
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Edge Hill University iQTS primary teacher training course(opens in new window)
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Edge Hill University iQTS secondary teacher training course(opens in new window)
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Tes Institute(opens in new window) – this provider cannot accept applications from Hong Kong
The following providers specialise in particular regions, or should be contacted for further information:
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Liverpool John Moores University(opens in new window) – this provider is accepting applications from Latin America
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Plymouth Marjon University(opens in new window) – contact this provider for more information
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University of Birmingham (Dubai)(opens in new window) – this provider offers in-person training in Dubai only, so applicants must be a commutable distance from their Dubai Campus
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University of Portsmouth(opens in new window) – contact this provider for more information
Assessment
At the end of your training, your iQTS provider and school will assess you to check you meet the iQTS Teachers’ Standards(opens in new window).
Your training provider will award you international qualified teacher status (iQTS) when you have successfully passed this assessment process. You will then be automatically awarded qualified teacher status (QTS)(opens in new window) by England’s Department for Education.
Other routes to QTS
iQTS is an international teaching qualification designed for UK and non-UK citizens living outside England.
If you’re living in England and want a teaching qualification leading to QTS, you must apply for teacher training in England.
If you’re already qualified as a teacher or have teaching experience, other routes to qualified teacher status (QTS) may be faster and more affordable.
Qualified teachers should check their eligibility to apply for QTS in England(opens in new window).
If you have no teaching qualification but lots of experience, you should check your eligibility for assessment only QTS(opens in new window).
Teaching in England
If you successfully complete your iQTS course, you will be qualified to teach in England. It’s important to note that you will also have to apply for a teaching job and a visa, unless you already have an immigration status allowing you to work in the UK.
Teach in England gives more information.
Early career teacher induction
If you choose to teach in England, as an early career teacher you’ll benefit from a two-year induction period alongside your work in school. You’ll earn a salary and get mentoring and continuous professional development to help you succeed as a teacher.
While induction is a requirement to teach in most schools in England, you do not need to complete an induction period to teach outside the UK. However, if you wish, you can choose to complete your early career teacher induction at a Department for Education-accredited British School Overseas(opens in new window).
Contact
To get advice about iQTS, you can:
• call +44 800 389 2500, Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:30pm (UK local time) except on bank holidays in England – calls will be charged at your standard rate
• use the live chat service at the bottom of this page
• sign up to get a teacher training adviser – you’ll be asked for your phone number, email and location so a teacher training adviser can call you back in your time zone
• email us on iqts.policy@education.gov.uk