Department for Education - Training bursary

Teacher training bursary

If you train to become a teacher of a subject facing a shortage of teachers in England, you will receive a tax-free bursary of up to £29,000 (about 33,500 EUR). A grant is a form of financial support that you never have to pay back. The amount depends on the subject you are training to teach, not on your degree subject:

• Chemistry, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics: £29,000 (approx. 33,500 EUR)
• Biology, Geography, Technology and Design, Modern Languages: £26,000 (approx. 30,000 EUR)
• Art and Design, Music, Religious Education: £10,000 (approx. 11,500 EUR)
• English: £5,000 (about 5,800 EUR)

Your teacher training provider will pay you monthly instalments over a period of at least 10 months. The money comes from the Department for Education and is intended to encourage university graduates to take up a teaching career. You cannot receive both a scholarship and a subject-specific scholarship at the same time. If your scholarship application is rejected, you may still be eligible for a scholarship.

Who can apply

• Course: You have been admitted to a postgraduate teacher training programme in England leading to ‘Qualified Teacher Status’ (QTS), which entitles you to teach in state schools.
• Subject: You are undertaking a training course to teach a subject for which a scholarship is awarded. Paid training programmes are excluded from this.
• Degree: You hold a UK bachelor’s degree with a grade of 2:2 (Honours) or higher, a master’s degree or a PhD.
• Student finance: You are eligible for UK student finance.
• Combined courses: If your degree programme comprises two specialisations, at least half of the course content must relate to the specialisation for which the scholarship is awarded.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. If you are not a British citizen, please read the separate entry requirements first.

How to apply

There is no separate application form. When you apply for teacher training, your training provider will check whether you are eligible for a grant and confirm this in writing before you start your course.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not an award presented as part of a competition. If you meet the criteria, you will receive it automatically, without a selection panel or interview. Your subject is the key factor: the highest amounts go to subjects facing a shortage of students, such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and computer science, whilst far less is paid for English and nothing at all is paid for many other subjects. The Department for Education sets new figures each academic year. You should therefore check the exact rate for your subject and year of study before making a decision.