Teaching bursaries - what financial support is available?
See what bursaries, loans and scholarships you could benefit from
Becoming a teacher is rewarding experience but it doesn't have to be an expensive one. Depending on what route or subject you take, you could benefit from teaching bursaries, loans and scholarships of up to £28,000. Discover what financial support you could gain when you train to teach.
In England, the UK government sets out every year the amount available for teacher training in terms of bursaries, loans and scholarships. There are three funding types available which will depend on your circumstances.
- Tax free bursary or scholarship
- Tuition fee loan or maintenance loan
- Additional financial support if you're a parent or have a disability
What are the requirements?
Specific subject areas will benefit from increased financial offers including chemistry, languages, maths and physics. While these subjects receive the most amount of money, other subjects also receive financial incentives. Depending on what qualifications you have, the financial support you receive will vary.
If you have a first, 2:1, 2:2, PhD or masters, in some instances, you will benefit from a higher contribution towards your qualification. Based on the Department for Education's bursary and scholarship information, we've compiled what help is available for trainees for 2020/21.
| Subject | Chemistry, languages, maths or physics 2 |
| Scholarships 3 Early-career payments 2 Total2 |
£28,000 £6,000 £34,000 |
| Bursary Early-career payments 2 Total 2 | £26,000 £6,000 £32,000 |
| Subject | Computing |
| Scholarships 3 Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD |
£28,000 £26,000 |
| Subject | Geography |
| Scholarships 3 Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD | £17,000 £15,000 |
| Subject | Classics 4 |
| Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD | £26,000 |
| Subject | Biology |
| Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD | £26,000 |
| Subject | D&T |
| Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD | £15,000 |
| Subject | English |
| Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD | £9,000 |
| Subject | History, RE, business studies |
| Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD | £9,000 |
| Subject | Art and design, music |
| Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD | £9,000 |
| Subject | Primary with maths 5 |
| Bursaries Trainee with 1st, 2:1, 2:2, Master's or PHD | £6,000 |
How do I qualify for financial support?
Making the decision to teach is a life changing one. Depending on your circumstances, it is important to read the small print whenever applying for financial help. Bursaries and scholarships are available to trainees on a fee-based arrangement .
Availability is based on your highest relevant academic award and the subject you want to train in.
Availability is based on your highest relevant academic award and the subject you want to train in.
What languages qualify for financial support?
Currently, language scholarships are awarded if you train to teach French, German or Spanish. Bursaries are available to trainees on a classics course where the course is an ancient language (Latin or Ancient Greek).
Fund your teaching future in Portsmouth
We naturally don't talk about money but bursaries, scholarships and loans are there to support you through your teacher training. For more information on funding teacher training, visit the get into teaching website.
Department for Education's terms and conditions
- Bursaries and scholarships are available to trainees on a fee-based teacher training course in England that leads to the award of qualified teacher status. Availability is dependent on your highest relevant academic award and the subject in which you are training to teach. To receive a bursary or scholarship you must be entitled to support under the Student Finance England criteria. Residents of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will need to be entitled for support as set out by your country's student finance body (Student Finance Wales, Student Awards Agency Scotland or Student Finance NI). Both elements will be assessed by your teacher training provider. Candidates with overseas degrees, may be asked to formally recognise any overseas qualifications through UK NARIC. Contact the Department For Education on 0800 389 2500. They can provide you with guidance on your equivalent qualifications and a free UK NARIC statement of comparability (this usually costs £49.50 plus VAT) once you've submitted your application to teacher training, if required by your training provider.
- You could receive £32k or £34k in total - £26k as a tax-free bursary or £28k scholarship with additional payments of £6k after tax once in teaching. You'll need to have completed a non-salaried teacher training course and received a bursary or scholarship in the academic year 2020/21, You'll receive three additional early-career payments of £2k each in your second, third and fourth year of teaching - enhancements to these payments are available if you teach in specified areas in England. You must have taught in a state-funded school in England since completing your teacher training course.
- Trainees in physics, maths, languages, chemistry, geography and computing with a 2:1 or above are able to apply for a teacher training scholarship with the appropriate professional body. You can still apply if you have a 2:2, but you'll need to provide evidence of significant relevant experience. Scholarships are awarded in place of a bursary. Languages scholarships are only available if you train to teach French, German or Spanish.
- Bursaries are available to trainees on a classics course where the course is in an ancient language (Latin or Ancient Greek).
- Bursaries are available to trainees on primary with maths courses with at least grade B maths A level or equivalent.
Callum Murphy 