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Teacher Training FAQs

Am I eligible for a training bursary?

You must be on a PGCE course that has a bursary, have a degree classification of 2.2 and above. You cannot already hold QTS. For some subjects you must be eligible for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England. 

Overseas students can receive bursaries if they are doing Early Years Initial Teacher Training (EYITT), Secondary PGCE Physics and Languages and have right to work or study in UK. 

For Further Education bursaries, you must be on a PGCE course that has a bursary, you must have achieved a standard equivalent to GCSE grade 4 (C) or above in English and mathematics, and at least a level 3 qualification in their subject of training (or have appropriate professional experience). You should not already hold, or be eligible to receive, early years teacher status (EYTS), qualified teacher status (QTS), qualified teacher learning and skills (QTLS) status or advanced teacher status (ATS) You must be eligible for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England.

 

How do I apply for a bursary?

The Secondary and EYITT training bursary is awarded based on the classification of your first degree or highest relevant academic qualification and the subject you choose to teach. If you are accepted onto an ITT course that attracts a bursary you will automatically qualify and will not need to apply separately. 

The Further Education bursaries are limited in number, if you are eligible we will make a claim to the Department for Education for a bursary shortly after you have received an offer. 

When will I hear that I have a bursary?

For Secondary and EYITT bursaries UCL Student Funding will contact you from late May to inform you of the bursary and with instructions on how to claim your bursary.  If you have not heard by the end of July, and think you are eligible, please email us. Please note that bursaries will not be allocated until you have provided proof of your qualifications to UCL Admissions. 

For Further Education bursaries we will put in a claim to the Department for Education for a bursary shortly after you have received an offer. We will contact you to let you know if you have been awarded a bursary or not. Bursaries are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Is the bursary guaranteed if I meet the eligibility requirements?

For Secondary and EYITT, if you meet the eligibility requirements and are fully enrolled, you will be awarded a bursary. The Further Education bursaries are not guaranteed and are awarded on a first come first served basis.

How is the bursary/scholarship paid?

Payments are made directly into your UK bank account. We will have sent you an confirmation email with instructions to complete the online form on PORTICO where you must agree to the Department for Education's terms and conditions for the scheme. You must also register your bank information on their UCL Portico account as soon as you can otherwise no payment will be made. You must also be enrolled by mid September. 

When is the bursary/scholarship paid?

Payments are made into your bank account in 10 monthly instalments from October until July for full-time students. For part time students the payment shedule in year 1 and 2 will also be 10 monthly instalments from October until July .

Payments are made by the 5th of each month. The payment is for the previous month’s study, but you must complete the full month and still be in attendance on the 1st of the month to be eligible to receive the payment. 

Can I use my training bursary to pay my fees?

The bursary/scholarship is meant to be for living costs and is paid in 10 instalments over the year. Therefore the bursary payment is paid directly to you. Once you receive it to your bank account, you can choose to use it as you wish. So to cover your fee payment, if you are a home student you can take out tuition fee loans. Alternatively you need to make provision to pay the fee yourself. Please be aware however that your fee payment is in three instalments when to pay your fees.  If you do choose to use your bursary towards the fee payment instalments, you will need to make up the difference particularly for the first instalment. Please ensure you have done a budget for the year that allows you to have enough income to cover your costs (whether that be through loans and bursary or bursary alone) as the PGCE is a challenging course.

What happens to the bursary if I interrupt or withdraw from the programme?

If you interrupt or withdraw from your course, bursary payments will be suspended. You are entitled to be paid the bursary for each month up to and including the month you withdraw or interrupt. Please note that you are only entitled to receive a bursary payment for the month you withdraw or interrupt if you were still in attendance on the course on the 1st of that month. 

For Secondary and EYITT, if you have interrupted you are eligible to receive the remainder of your bursary when you return from interruption. For Further Education, trainees will be entitled to receive their remaining bursary payments in the 2023 to 2024 academic year, they must complete their studies in 2023/24, if their study extends beyond 2023/24 they will not be eligible to receive remaining bursary payments execpt in exeptional circumstances with approval of DfE.

What happens if I receive a bursary instalment after I withdraw or interrupt or am on a period of absence?

You have agreed to the Department of Education's terms and conditions in order to receive the bursary. This includes promptly informing UCL course team and the Student Funding Office of your intention to withdraw/interrupt. You have also agreed to return any overpayments to UCL. An overpayment will be any instalment which was paid to you for which you were not eligible according to your pattern of attendance on the programme and in accordance with the terms and conditions.

You must contact the Student Funding Office as soon as you submit the interruption/withdrawal paperwork as it may take some time for Student Records to officially process the request.

What if my qualifications are not from the UK?

If you have a degree from outside the UK you will need to apply for a Statement of Comparability from the National Recognition Information Centre for the United Kingdom (UK NARIC) which shows equivalency to UK qualifications, and provide this to our Admissions team. 

What if I have already got qualified teacher status?

If you already have QTS or are eligible to receive QTS and are doing PGCE Secondary or Further Education, then this means you are not eligible for a bursary.

If you have QTLS or are eligible to receive QTLS and are doing PGCE Secondary then you would still be eligible to receive a bursary.

If you have EYTS and are doing an Early Years Teacher Training Programme then you will not be eligible for the bursary or course grant.

If you have EYTS and are doing PGCE Secondary then you will be eligible for the bursary. 

 If you have EYTS, QTS, ATS or QTLS are not eligible for Further Education bursary.

What funding will I get as an international teacher training student?

Bursaries and scholarships are tax-free payments from the UK government which you do not have to pay back. You can use them in your student visa application as proof that you have enough money to support yourself. Your training provider should confirm that you will receive a bursary or scholarship when they offer you a training place and send you your confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) reference number.

You may also be eligible for a £10,000 international relocation payment, paid at the end of term 1. International Relocation Payment.

I hold a teaching qualification from overseas - how do I get QTS?

Qualified teachers from overseas can apply to the Teaching Regulation Agency. For more information see "Routes to QTS" 

Is there any other funding available?

If you do not meet the criteria for a training bursary, you can apply for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan from Student Finance. For more information and to check eligibility criteria please see Student Finance.

What if my question is not answered here?

You can contact the Student Funding Office at:
E: ittfunding@ucl.ac.uk

You can read the Department for Education guidance manuals for providers regarding bursaries.

Department for Education FE ITE bursaries funding manual