Teacher training bursary
The teacher training bursary aims to encourage ’high-quality’ entrants to the teaching profession in England, as determined by the degree classification they receive at undergraduate level, or if they hold a postgraduate qualification. Those with the highest undergraduate classifications or who hold master’s or doctorate-level qualifications receive the highest bursary. The exact rates for different subject and classification combinations vary from year to year, depending on the Department for Education’s priorities. In 2021/22 the highest rate of bursary is £24,000 for the year.
If you are on a one-year course, you are paid in monthly instalments between October and June. If your course is part time, you are paid in instalments in accordance with the length of your training.
If you are a full-time trainee, the bursary is not taxable and you do not have to pay national insurance contributions. If you are a part-time trainee, the bursary may be taxable, depending on your total income for the year. In both cases, it may be included in any calculations for means tested benefits.
Most EU students can no longer access UK student support following the UK’s depature from the EU, but certain exceptions apply, including Irish nationals. Access to teacher training incentives is in line with the rules on residence conditions for undergraduate students (see
here).
Some subjects attract scholarships from ’subject association groups’, including maths, chemistry, computer science and physics. Where relevant, you should apply for these first. If you receive such a scholarship, you are not eligible for the standard bursary.
Full details of all scholarship programmes and bursary incentives including current rates are available on the Department for Education website at .