Training bursaries
Bursaries are available for trainees on eligible postgraduate courses in England who are not employed as a teacher. Bursary amounts will vary depending on teaching subject and degree class or highest relevant qualification.
Teaching is a prime career choice for high-quality graduates. To encourage the best people to enter the profession, in 2013/14, trainees will need at least a 2:2 to be eligible for a training bursary.
The 2013/14 bursary scheme recognises exceptional achievement outside of degree results and allows flexibility in some cases. In exceptional circumstances trainees may receive a higher bursary than their degree class would otherwise allow. This allows the scheme to take account of, for example, trainees with a 2:2 and a PhD or proven exceptional subject knowledge gained from another career. Find out more about this scheme in the bursary document about the consideration of exceptional achievements (PDF, 162KB)
The table below summarises the standard training bursaries available in 2013/14:
Financial incentives for those who train in 2013/14
| Training bursary 2013/14 |
ITT subject/phase |
| Physics, chemistry, maths1 |
Modern languages |
Primary maths specialist2 |
Other priority secondary3 and primary |
| Trainee with first |
£20,000 |
£20,000 |
£11,000 |
£9,000 |
| 2:1 |
£15,000 |
£15,000 |
£6,000 |
£4,000 |
| 2:2 |
£12,000 |
£12,000 |
£0 |
£0 |
| Free school meals (FSM) premium |
25% premium paid on the above bursaries/scholarships to School Direct trainees whose training is based in a school where more than 35% of pupils are eligible for free school meals |
1 Trainee teachers in physics, chemistry and maths with a 2:1 or first are able to apply for scholarships with the relevant subject association group. The scholarships are worth £20,000 and trainees will be subject to a competitive process. Trainees who hold the scholarship will not also be eligible for the standard Department for Education (DfE) bursary. Trainees who are not awarded a scholarship will continue to be eligible for the standard bursaries in 2013/14.
2 The Secretary of State announced on 14 June that trainees with a B or better at maths A-level on the new maths primary specialist courses would receive an extra £2,000 bursary, up to a maximum of £11,000.
3 Other priority secondary subjects include English, geography, history, computer science, Latin, Greek, music, biology and physical education. Trainee teachers in computer science with a 2:1 or first are able to apply for scholarships with the relevant subject association group. The scholarships are worth £20,000 and trainees will be subject to a competitive process. Trainees who hold the scholarship will not also be eligible for the standard DfE bursary. Trainees who are not awarded a scholarship will continue to be eligible for the standard bursaries in 2013/14.
If you're a candidate from the European Economic Area (EEA) you need to have a university degree or the English equivalent, and be a confident and competent English speaker. For more information about qualification comparisons and to help determine postgraduate bursary eligibility, you should consult your chosen training provider or equivalency table (PDF, 1MB). This is based on a grade comparison exercise carried out by UK NARIC of the majority of international awards that are considered comparable to British Bachelor (honours) degree standard.
Bursary payments are processed automatically for eligible candidates by their chosen teacher training provider. You will receive more information on the arrangements and how this is distributed prior to the start of your course.
For bursary awards up to £13,750:
- Trainees will receive the bursary in equal monthly instalments for the duration of their course, as they have done in previous academic years.
- Trainees are advised to confirm the actual monthly amounts that will be paid with their ITT provider.
For bursary awards of £15,000 or over:
- Trainees will continue to receive equal monthly instalments for the duration of their course, but this will be enhanced by larger payments in February and July, or in the final month of the trainee's course.
- The trainee would need to be on the course at 1 January to receive the first enhanced payment in February, and would need to have completed the course to receive the second payment at the end of their programme.
More details will be available in the training bursary and mainstream operational guidance shortly.
The potential range of options now available to trainees for ITT makes it important that you are fully informed of the financial support you may be able to access to complete your training. When considering your training options, you may wish to ask your training provider about what bursaries, grants and support are available to you for the choice you are making. Information and advice can also be sought from the Student Loans Company or by contacting the Teaching Line on 0800 389 2500.
School Direct bursary top-up
Trainees on School Direct places may be eligible for an additional payment worth 25 per cent of their standard bursary. To qualify for this payment, trainees will need to be based in a school where more than 35 per cent of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
The School Direct bursary top-up is only available in combination with a standard bursary and will be paid on top of the standard bursary amount the trainee is eligible for. Schools are not required to offer free school meals to participate in School Direct.
Pay and progression
Newly qualified teachers (NQTs) in England and Wales can expect a starting salary of £21,588 a year (or £27,000 for those working in inner London).
Teaching offers great career prospects and development opportunities. Find out more on teaching salary scales and how to develop your career with the early professional development (EPD) and postgraduate professional development (PPD) programmes.
