UK Government - Teacher training funding

What you get

If you are training to be a teacher in England, you will receive financial support from the Department for Education in various ways, and you can combine some of these options. The highest single payment is a tax-free bursary or scholarship for certain subjects. A grant is a sum of money that you never have to pay back; a study grant is the same thing, but is awarded by a professional body. The amount depends on your subject:

• Up to approximately 33,000 EUR for a scholarship in chemistry, computer science or physics.
• About 34,000 EUR (29,000 GBP) as a scholarship in chemistry, computer science, mathematics or physics.
• For example, 23,000 EUR (20,000 GBP) for technology and design or languages.
• About 5,800 EUR (5,000 GBP) for Geography and Biology.

In addition, you can borrow up to approximately tuition fee loan EUR (11,300 GBP) per year to cover your tuition fees. You can also take out a maintenance loan to cover living costs of up to around 16,300 EUR (14,135 GBP) per year if you are studying in London. You will only need to start repaying the loans once your income exceeds a certain threshold. Training to become a nursery teacher (for children up to the age of 5) is funded differently: The Ministry will pay your tuition fees directly, up to approximately 8,100 EUR (7,000 GBP), as well as a grant of between 2,000 and 5,000 GBP, depending on your qualification.

Who can apply

• What you study: A teacher training course recognised in England, such as a PGCE, an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course or the ‘School Direct’ route.
• Your degree: To be eligible for a scholarship, you must hold a bachelor’s degree at level 2:2 (with distinction) or higher, a master’s degree or a PhD. A degree at level 2:1 or higher is usually required to be eligible for a scholarship.
• Subject: Funding and scholarships are only available for subject areas facing a shortage of skilled workers, such as chemistry, computer science, mathematics, physics, languages, design and technology. No funding is awarded for the subjects of primary school education, art, history and English.
• Combining the money: You can take out a loan alongside a scholarship or a student grant. You cannot receive both a scholarship and a student grant at the same time, and neither is awarded for fee-paying training courses.
• Nationality and residence: Primarily for British citizens. Non-British citizens are generally only eligible if they are permanently resident in the UK, have refugee status, or are training to become a language or physics teacher.

How to apply

You do not need to apply for a grant separately. Your education provider will check your eligibility when you enrol and pay it out in monthly instalments. You apply for a scholarship directly to the relevant professional body, such as the Institute of Physics or the Royal Society of Chemistry. Each has its own deadlines. You apply for a loan through Student Finance England; you do not need a confirmed place at university beforehand.

How realistic are your chances?

The loans are available to anyone enrolled on an eligible degree programme, so there is hardly any competition for them. Grants depend on your field of study. If you achieve a good degree in a subject where there is a shortage of students, such as physics, chemistry, computer science or mathematics, you are almost certain to receive funding. It is awarded automatically to everyone who meets the criteria, rather than on a competitive basis. If your subject isn’t on the list, there is no financial support at all, so your chances depend entirely on which subject you are training to teach.