If you want to do postgraduate teacher training in England that leads to qualified teacher status (QTS), you may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship.
Bursaries are tax-free payments you receive if you're training to teach certain subjects. If you're eligible for a bursary, you'll get it automatically.
Scholarships are awarded by organisations with a passion for their subject area. They combine tax-free payments with extra benefits like subject-specific support, mentoring and networking opportunities. If you're eligible, you can apply directly to the scholarship provider.
You cannot receive both a bursary and a scholarship.
If you receive either a bursary or a scholarship, you do not need to pay it back.
Bursaries and scholarships are not available for:
If you train to teach languages or physics, you may be eligible for a bursary or scholarship. You're unlikely to be eligible for bursaries or scholarships in other subjects.
The figures on this page apply if you're starting your training between September 2024 and July 2025.
You do not need to apply for a bursary. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically receive it.
You must be eligible for student finance to receive a bursary (unless you’re training to teach physics or languages). You’ll also need at least one of the following:
If your course combines 2 subjects (for example, English and history), at least 50% of your course content must be made up of the bursary subject to be eligible.
A bursary is paid over a minimum of 10 months by your teacher training provider across the duration of your course. They will confirm when you will get the payments.
You will not need to pay tax or National Insurance on bursary payments.
You do not need to apply for a bursary. When you apply for teacher training, your provider will check if you’re eligible for a bursary. If you are, your provider will confirm this in writing before you start your course.
You must be eligible for student finance to receive a scholarship (unless you’re training to teach physics or languages). You’ll also need at least one of the following:
If you achieved a 2:2 in your degree, you may still be eligible. You would need to show you have enough relevant experience and subject knowledge.
Scholarships are awarded by independent organisations which set their own assessment requirements.
Scholarships offer more than just financial benefits. For example, they can provide professional body membership, subject-specific support, mentoring, events and classroom resources.
A scholarship is paid over a minimum of 10 months by your teacher training provider across the duration of your course. They will confirm when you will get the payments.
You will not need to pay tax or National Insurance on scholarship payments.
You need to apply directly to the scholarship provider. Each provider sets their own application deadline and will confirm if you meet their eligibility requirements. You can find about how to apply, deadlines and more details about each scholarship on the scholarship providers’ websites:
| Subject | Bursary | Scholarship |
|---|---|---|
| Art and design | £10,000 | |
| Biology | £25,000 | |
| Chemistry | £28,000 | £30,000 |
| Computing | £28,000 | £30,000 |
| Design and technology | £25,000 | |
| English | £10,000 | |
| Geography | £25,000 | |
| Languages (French, German and Spanish only) | £25,000 | £27,000 |
| Languages (all other languages, including ancient languages) | £25,000 | |
| Maths | £28,000 | £30,000 |
| Music | £10,000 | |
| Physics | £28,000 | £30,000 |
| Religious education | £10,000 |
If you’re not eligible for a bursary or scholarship, there may be other funding options available, such as tuition fees and maintenance loans.
For advice on funding, you can speak to a teacher training adviser. They can help you work out what support you could be eligible for.
Take a look at the different teacher training courses available.
An adviser with years of teaching experience can answer all your questions around funding your training. Chat by phone, text or email, as little or as often as you need.