The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)  - Chemistry scholarship

Benefit: what you get

The UK Department for Education awards prospective chemistry teachers in England EUR 36,270 (GBP 31,000) tax-free, which is paid out during the year of Initial Teacher Training (ITT). The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) supplements this with a package of benefits in kind: teaching materials (books, posters, lab coats), a personal coach specialising in chemistry, practical training sessions and free online teaching courses. You will also gain access to the RSC Fellows’ Network and a two-year free RSC membership – this includes a quarterly journal for teachers, up to a third off scientific books, access to networks for chemistry teachers, and emergency support through the RSC’s ‘Chemists’ Community Fund’.

Eligibility

• Subject: Chemistry only.
• Where you train: You must be enrolled on a fee-paying (non-salaried) secondary-level ITT course in England leading to ‘Qualified Teacher Status’ (QTS, prior to 16). Programmes leading solely to QTLS are not covered.
• Degree: You must hold at least a degree at level 2:1 in chemistry or a subject with a substantial chemical component. A qualification at level 2:2 may be recognised if you have relevant professional experience or a postgraduate qualification. A completed or ongoing ‘Subject Knowledge Enhancement’ (SKE) course in chemistry may also lead to qualification.
• Fee status: You must have ‘Home-fee’ status in England and meet the eligibility criteria set by Student Finance England (or the relevant body in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland). Students paying international fees are not eligible to apply. EU citizens with ‘pre-settled’ or ‘settled’ status who were living in the United Kingdom before 31. December 2020 may still be eligible, as may Irish citizens living in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland under the ‘Common Travel Area’ arrangement.
• Previous applications: You must not have applied for this programme in the same academic year.

How to apply

Apply online via the RSC website by 27 July. You must provide details of your academic background, the contact details of a referee, and written answers to three questions regarding your suitability. As the RSC does not allocate places on the Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programme, you must also secure a place independently with an approved teacher training provider.

How realistic are your chances?

Up to 120 scholarships are available per cycle. The eligibility criteria are narrowly defined – domestic tuition fee status, a degree in a chemistry-related subject, and training in England – meaning that the pool of eligible applicants is smaller than for open funding schemes for postgraduates. The three written responses carry significant weight: a specific, well-considered answer to the question of why you wish to teach chemistry is just as important as your final degree mark.