How to choose your teacher training course

All primary and secondary postgraduate teacher training courses include time spent in school placements with some theoretical learning.

The main differences between courses are:

what you need to get onto the course
the qualifications awarded by the course
if the course is fee-paying or salaried
the type of course provider
if the course is full-time or part-time
the course start date

What you need to get onto the course

Some training courses have specific eligibility requirements.

It’s important to check the requirements for each course you apply to on the training provider’s course page. This is so you do not waste time on an application you’re unlikely to be successful with.

Your qualifications

You need to have a degree in any subject to be able to train to teach. But the degree grade that course providers will accept may vary. For example, most providers will accept a minimum degree grade of 2:2, but some may require you to have a 2:1. So you’ll need to check each course provider’s requirements on their course page.

Non-UK citizens: what you need to get onto the course

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, you will need to show that they meet the standards set for teacher training in England. You can get help comparing English and international qualifications.

You will need the right to work or study in the UK to do your teacher training in England.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you should only apply to courses that have visa sponsorship available. You can find courses where visas can be sponsored.

If your application is successful, the training provider may be able to help you with applying for your visa. Find out how to apply for your visa to train to teach in England.

The qualifications awarded by the course

Most primary and secondary schools in England need you to have qualified teacher status (QTS) to teach. Without QTS you may not be fully qualified to teach in your chosen school and will not receive the same pay and support when you start teaching.

Most teacher training courses will award QTS, but some will award QTS with a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE).

If your teacher training course leads to QTS, you may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help you train.

If the course is fee-paying or salaried

Fee-paying teacher training

Most teacher training courses are fee-paying. This means you have to pay tuition fees and will not earn a salary while you train.

There are ways to fund your training, for example, through tuition fee and maintenance loans. You may also be eligible for a bursary or scholarship.

Non-UK citizens: fee-paying teacher training

If you have settled status, refugee status, or indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you may be eligible for a tuition fee loan, maintenance loan, bursary or scholarship.

You may be eligible for financial support to train to teach if you are from Ukraine or Afghanistan and on certain visas.

Other non-UK citizens may not be eligible for student finance, but may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship to train to teach languages and physics.

If you are in the process of seeking asylum, check your immigration bail conditions to see if you have permission to study on a teacher training course in England. Even if you have permission, you are unlikely to be eligible for financial support.

If you are granted asylum in the UK, you may be eligible for financial support to train to teach.

Learn more about fees and financial support for non-UK trainee teachers.

Salaried teacher training

Some courses are salaried, which means you’ll receive an unqualified teacher’s salary while you train. Some salaried teacher training courses may also come with fees. Check with individual providers for more information.

Places on salaried courses are limited and very competitive. It’s usually wise to apply for fee-paying courses as well to increase your chances of getting a place on a course.

Non-UK citizens: salaried teacher training

You can apply for a salaried teacher training course. However, places on these courses are limited and very competitive. Some salaried courses may also charge fees.

Before you apply, contact the salaried teacher training provider to check you meet the entry requirements.

The type of course provider

Your teacher training course might be provided by:

a university, sometimes referred to as university-led training
a school or group of schools, sometimes referred to as school-led training

Your teacher training course may also be provided by a company or charity. For example, Teach First is a charitable organisation that provides teacher training.

Once you’ve found a course you’re interested in, you can talk to the training provider before you apply. For example, you might want to find out:

where your placements and theoretical learning might happen
how many schools you’ll be doing placements in and how long each placement will last
the start and finish dates of the course

It’s a good idea to apply to a range of providers to increase your chances of being successful on a course. For example, if you’re applying for 4 courses, you might want to apply for 2 courses provided by universities, and 2 provided by schools.

You can apply to a maximum of 4 courses at one time.

Non-UK citizens: what to check with training providers

You should confirm with the training provider:

if they offer visa sponsorship
the deadline for non-UK applications, as they may close earlier

Full-time or part-time courses

There are usually more full-time courses available than part-time.

Postgraduate teacher training usually takes 9 months full-time, or 18 to 24 months part-time.

Adjustments and accessibility

Course providers can make adjustments if you need support because you’re neurodiverse, have a long-term physical or mental health condition, or have any other accessibility needs.

Find out more about adjustments to help you train