Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA) - Teacher training bursaries

Teacher training bursaries and scholarships (Department for Education)

You will receive a grant of tax-free grant of up to about 33,350 EUR (£29,000) to cover your living costs whilst you are undertaking teacher training in England. The exact amount depends on your subject area. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the grant is £29,000 for Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics and Physics; £20,000 for Design and Technology, and Languages (including classical languages); and £5,000 for Biology and Geography. You will receive the money automatically in monthly instalments for at least 10 months, and you will never have to pay it back. For some subjects, you can apply for a higher grant instead. This amounts to approximately 35,700 EUR (£31,000) for chemistry, computer science and physics, and £22,000 for French, German and Spanish. In addition, you’ll receive membership of the professional association, subject-specific support (an experienced teacher will mentor you through one-to-one tuition), workshops and networking opportunities. The funding is provided by the UK Department for Education (DfE).

Who can apply

• Course: You are undertaking a fee-paying teacher training programme (Initial Teacher Training) in England, which leads to ‘Qualified Teacher Status’ – the qualification you need to be allowed to teach in state schools. A paid teacher training programme is not recognised.
• Subject: You are undertaking a course of study in one of the funded subjects listed above. Not all subjects are included.
• Degree: To be eligible for a scholarship, you must hold at least a Bachelor’s degree with honours at the grade 2:2, or a Master’s or PhD degree. Scholarships generally require a degree with a grade of 2:1 or higher; however, a degree with a grade of 2:2 may also qualify applicants if they have extensive relevant professional experience.
• Nationality: You are a British citizen or a non-British national who holds a residence permit for permanent residence in the United Kingdom and is eligible for student finance. If you are studying languages or physics, the student finance rules do not apply to you.

How to apply

You do not need to apply separately for a scholarship. When you enrol on the course, your training provider will check whether you meet the eligibility criteria and confirm this in writing before you start the course. To apply for a scholarship, you should apply directly to the relevant professional organisation, such as the Royal Society of Chemistry or the British Council for languages. Each organisation sets its own application deadlines and usually conducts an interview.

How realistic are your chances?

The scholarship is not awarded on a competitive basis. If you meet the requirements regarding subject area, qualification and degree programme, you will receive it automatically, meaning that a suitable applicant is, in essence, guaranteed to receive it. The scholarship route is more selective and requires a separate application and an interview; your prospects therefore depend on your ability to demonstrate sound specialist knowledge. This funding is aimed at subject areas facing a shortage of skilled workers, so your chances depend mainly on whether you choose a subject that is eligible for funding.