Trainee Teachers

Full Time PGCE

Full time PGCE students can apply for student finance and receive the same package of financial support i.e. the same level of student loans and grants as other undergraduate students. Full time students may also be eligible for a training bursary but bursary amounts will vary depending on teaching subject and degree classification. More information on training bursaries can be found here. 

Part Time PGCE

Students on the part time or flexible PGCE can take up to two years to complete their course. The funding for part time students depends on when the course starts. If your course starts on or after 1 August 2018 you can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and a Maintenance Loan and you may be eligible for a teacher training bursary. For courses starting before this date, part-time students are not eligible for any loans or grants towards living costs but may still be eligible for a Tuition Fee Loan and a teacher training bursary.  Please see further information here.

Students on PGCE courses are not able to apply for postgraduate funding. The course is not a stand-alone Masters so it is not an eligible course for the Postgraduate Loan. 

If you are from Northern Ireland different funding rules may apply for the PGCE. Please click here for further information.

School Direct Training Programme

School Direct places are available in primary and secondary schools across England and courses generally last for one year. Successful completion of the programme will lead to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). School Direct programmes may also include a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). There are two types of School Direct Training options, salaried and unsalaried. For more information on how to apply and the bursaries and funding available please click here. 

Teach First

Teach First offers a two year programme for those interested in an employment based route into teaching. Trainees join Teach First and their university partners for intensive training before teaching in a school in a low-income community for two years, where they achieve a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), a full-time salary and real responsibility in the classroom from day one. Click here for more information on how to apply and for further information on salary.  For useful information, please click here.

Other Sources of Funding

Access to Learning Fund (ALF)  is an annual fund which is allocated to the University by the Government to help UK students who are in financial hardship.

Useful Links

www.gov.uk/teacher-training-funding