University of South Wales - Royal Society of Chemistry Scholarships Available

RSC Teacher Training Scholarship

For your year of training as a chemistry teacher in England, you will receive about 35,400 EUR (31,000 GBP) tax-free. The funding comes from the Department for Education. In addition, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) offers practical support: free teaching resources (books, posters and a lab coat), a personal coach who is an experienced chemistry teacher, practice-oriented professional development events, free online courses on teaching chemistry, and a two-year free RSC membership with access to the journal, teacher networks and discounts on books. The RSC supports up to 120 people each year.

Who can apply

• What you train for: You are just starting your Initial Teacher Training (ITT) to teach chemistry at a secondary school in England. This is the year of training leading to ‘Qualified Teacher Status’ (QTS).
• Type of course: Your degree programme must be a fee-paying (non-salaried) programme leading to a qualification for secondary education. Salaried training programmes and QTLS degree programmes are not permitted.
• Degree: You must hold a degree in chemistry or a related subject, typically with a grade of 2:1 or higher. A grade of 2:2 is also acceptable if you have extensive relevant professional experience.
• Fee status: You have ‘domestic tuition fee’ status and are eligible for support from UK Student Finance. Students who are required to pay international tuition fees are not eligible to apply. EU citizens with ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status, as well as Irish nationals, are generally eligible.
• What the RSC looks for: A sound knowledge of chemistry, the ability to explain it to pupils in a way they can understand, and a firm intention to teach at state schools in England upon completion of your degree.

How to apply

You apply online, providing your personal details, academic background, a reference and written responses regarding your suitability. If you are shortlisted, you will sit a one-hour online test on your knowledge of chemistry and take part in a video interview. The application deadline is 27 July.

How realistic are your chances?

This funding scheme is very restrictive. You must be starting a training programme to become a chemistry teacher in England, hold a good degree in chemistry and have home student status, so the pool of applicants is small. With up to 120 scholarships available per year and monthly selection rounds, anyone who clearly meets the criteria and applies early has a good chance of success. The chemistry test and the interview mean that you must demonstrate your subject knowledge and your motivation for a career in teaching in a convincing manner.