To train to teach in England, you will need to have:
- a bachelor’s degree from a UK or non-UK university (or other institution)
- a maths qualification of the same standard as GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) grade 4 (C)
- a science qualification of the same standard as GCSE grade 4 (C) if you teach pupils aged 3 to 11
- an English language qualification which meets the standard of a GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) grade 4 (C)
A GCSE is an academic qualification awarded for exams in England, usually taken at the age of 16.
Find out more about training to teach in England as a non-UK citizen
How to check your qualifications
To check your qualifications meet the required standard in England you will need a statement of comparability from the UK European Network of Information Centres (UK ENIC).
This certificate proves your school and university qualifications are the same standard as UK GCSEs and a UK bachelor’s degree.
When you apply for teacher training, you will be asked to submit details of your statement of comparability. Applications which include this are 28% more likely to be successful.
A statement of comparability costs £69.60. It takes 15 working days to complete your order from the date ENIC receives your qualification documents and payment.
English language, maths and science proficiency
If you have reached a certain proficiency in an English language test, some providers will accept this as evidence you meet the standard of a GCSE grade 4 (C) in English. You can find out more by visiting the following websites:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) website
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) website
- C2 Proficiency, formerly known as Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE) website
If you have not passed an English language test, or do not have a GCSE grade 4 (C) equivalent qualification in maths or science, some teacher training providers will let you sit tests in these subjects. Contact providers to check their policy before you apply.
If you do not have a bachelor’s degree
If you do not have a degree, you can apply for an undergraduate course in England on the UCAS website. These undergraduate courses are 3 to 4 years and you can search for courses that combine a teaching degree with qualified teacher status (QTS). When you complete your studies, you will be able to apply for jobs as a teacher in England.
The UK Council for International Student Affairs website has lots of helpful information about studying at an English university.
How to apply for teacher training
You can search for postgraduate teacher training courses that lead to qualified teacher status (QTS).
Find guidance on applying for teacher training courses
When you get offered a place on a course, your provider will arrange a background and criminal records check. This is known as a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. You must pass these checks to teach students under 18. Safeguarding checks may take longer if you are living or have lived abroad.
You will also need to complete a fitness questionnaire before starting training.
Due to rules about immigration, not all providers can accept international applicants. Check with providers before you apply.
If you are already a qualified teacher, find out how you can teach in England if you completed your teacher training outside the UK.
Get help
To get help with checking your qualifications, you can use the live chat service at the bottom of this page. Or you can call us on +44 800 389 2500. Calls will be charged at your country’s standard rate.
We’re available Monday to Friday between 8:30am and 5:30pm (UK local time) except on bank holidays in England.
When you speak to us, we can tell you if you are eligible for a teacher training adviser.
If you have general questions about the information on this page, you can email us at teach.inengland@education.gov.uk.