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You can apply for loans, scholarships and training bursaries to help pay for your fees and living costs while you're studying to become a teacher.
- Tution fee loan
- Living costs
- EU and overseas students
- Training bursaries of up to £26,000
- PGCE Seconday scholarships
- PGCE Early Years grants and bursaries
Tuition fee loan
Full-time and part-time Home students on PGCE Primary, Secondary and Post Compulsory can apply for a tuition fee loan to pay their fees from Student Finance England. Please note if you do not apply for a fee loan, you will need to make arrangements by the start of the course to pay the fees yourself. Please note PGCE courses are eligible for the undergraduate loan NOT the postgraduate loan.
Tuition fees information can be found on the UCL Tuition Fees page.
IMPORTANT: You cannot use the bursary or scholarship to pay fees as it is paid to you in monthly instalments over your course. You can use it to pay for your living costs.
Living costs
Full-time Home students can apply for a maintenance loan from Student Finance England to cover living costs.
For 2020/21, the maximum student loans for living costs for studying in London were:
• Up to £12,010: living away from parental home
• Up to £7,747: living at parental home
Other government funding is available for those with children, adult dependants and disabled students. For more information go to Student Finance website.
EU and overseas students
EU students are will no longer be eligible for loans for entry onto a PGCE course in September 2021. Please see Student Finance England for more information.
Students from non EU countries and Channel Islands/Isle of Man are not eligible for tuition fee support.
Please note EU or overseas students ordinarily resident in the UK for a certain period prior to starting the course may still qualify for a loan. For more information visit the Student Finance England website.
Training bursaries of up to £26,000
Home/EU trainees starting a PGCE programme from September 2020 may be eligible to receive a training bursary for living costs. The amount depends on your PGCE subject and your degree classification or highest relevant academic qualification. You must also be eligible for the provision of UK student support (tuition fee loans) from the Student Loans Company. Bursaries are for full-time and part-time students. Bursary figures for 2021 have yet to be released, please check the Department for Education website for latest information.
You do not need to make an application for a bursary. You will be automatically assessed for an award after you make your UCL PGCE course application and we will contact you about the evidence required in the summer before your course begins.
PGCE Primary and Secondary bursaries for 2020/21
The Department for Education (DfE) allocate bursary funding to UCL, who in turn disburse it to eligible students. For more information please visit the Department of Education website. The bursary is a tax-free, non-repayable bursary.
The bursary rates for 2020/21:
| Subject | 1st/PhD | 2:1/Master's | 2:2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics/Physics with Mathematics* | £26,000 | £26,000 | £26,000 |
| Chemistry* | £26,000 | £26,000 | £26,000 |
| Languages* | £26,000 | £26,000 | £26,000 |
| Mathematics* | £26,000 | £26,000 | £26,000 |
| Computing | £26,000 | £26,000 | £26,000 |
| Biology | £26,000 | £26,000 | £26,000 |
| Geography | £15,000 | £15,000 | £15,000 |
| English / English with Drama | £12,000 | £12,000 | £12,000 |
| History / RE / Business Studies | £9,000 | £9,000 | £9,000 |
| Art and Design / Music | £9,000 | £9,000 | £9,000 |
| Primary Mathematics** | £6,000 | £6,000 | £6,000 |
*PGCE Chemistry / Maths/ Languages / Physics Early-Career Payments:
You will receive three additional payments of £2,000 each in your second, third and fourth year of teaching in a state-funded school in England. If you are teaching in certain local authorities this could be £3,000 x 3 payments. For more information see Early-career payments guidance.
**PGCE Primary Mathematics
You must have grade B or above Maths A-Level or equivalent. If you have below Grade B (or equivalent) then you will not be eligible for a bursary.
School Direct
School Direct Tuition Fee route (Unsalaried) students can access the funding above, subject to the same eligibility criteria as PGCE Primary and Secondary students. School Direct Salaried students are not eligible for any of the funding above as this is an employment route so you will be receiving a salary.
Bursary FAQS (for PGCE Primary, Secondary and School Direct Unsalaried)
If you have any questions about the bursary, please refer to our Training Bursary FAQs.
PGCE Secondary scholarships
Physics, Chemistry, Computing, Mathematics, Languages and Geography trainees may be eligible for an Institute of Physics, Royal Society of Chemistry, Chartered Institute of IT, Institute of Mathematics, British Council or Royal Geographical Society with IBG scholarship.
| Subject | Amount |
|---|---|
| Chemistry, Computing, Languages, Maths (Secondary) and Physics | £28,000 |
| Geography | £17,000 |
Trainees will usually need a 2:1, but can still apply with a 2:2 and significant experience. As well as the financial award, scholars will receive a package of additional benefits provided by the professional bodies. You will need to apply directly to the awarding institution. For more information see Scholarships.
Trainees awarded a scholarship cannot receive a bursary. Trainees who are not awarded a scholarship may be eligible for a standard bursary. Scholarships are disbursed by UCL.
PGCE Early Years grants and bursaries
Financial support of up to £14,000 may be available depending on which training route you take. For more information please visit the Department of Education website.