The Department for Education (DfE) - Maths, Chemistry & Physics Scholarships from the DfE

What you get

You will receive a tax-free grant of scholarship of about EUR 35,500 (GBP 31,000) to train as a chemistry or physics teacher in England. Your training provider will pay out this amount over a period of at least 10 months, and you will never have to repay it. In addition to the funding, you will receive membership of a scientific professional body, subject-specific mentoring (individual support from an experienced teacher), events and teaching materials. The UK Department for Education (DfE) funds the grants. The schemes are administered by the respective scientific bodies: the Royal Society of Chemistry for chemistry and the Institute of Physics for physics.

The scholarship is the higher, merit-based grant. You cannot receive both a scholarship and a student grant at the same time. Please note that the mathematics scholarship for 2026/27 has been discontinued, meaning that only scholarships for chemistry and physics are now available.

Who can apply

• Course: You are undertaking a fee-paying postgraduate teacher training programme in England, which leads to ‘Qualified Teacher Status’ (QTS), the qualification required to teach at state schools. Paid (salaried) training programmes are not permitted.
• Subject: You are training to become a chemistry or physics teacher.
• Degree: You hold a Bachelor’s degree from 2:1 (with distinction) or higher, a Master’s degree or a PhD. A degree from 2:2 may also be sufficient if you have sufficient relevant experience and specialist knowledge.
• Student finance: You are eligible for student finance in England. If you are not a British citizen, you will need a residence permit to live in the United Kingdom on a permanent basis.
• No double funding: Whilst you are receiving a scholarship, you are not eligible for financial support.

How to apply

You should apply directly to the academic body responsible for your subject area: the Royal Society of Chemistry for chemistry, or the Institute of Physics for physics. Each body sets its own deadlines and selection criteria; please therefore check the relevant organisation’s website for further details. You will also need a place on a teacher training degree programme, which you can apply for via the DfE Apply service. If your scholarship application is rejected, you may still be eligible for student finance.

How realistic are your chances?

The scholarship is restricted to students studying chemistry and physics who achieve a certain grade threshold; consequently, the pool of applicants is smaller than for open calls for applications. The research institutions are looking for people who are genuinely committed to their field of study. If you have an excellent degree in chemistry or physics and demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for the subject, your chances are good. Apply early, as each provider runs its own, limited application round.