Training bursaries
In 2011 the Government consulted on a new ITT strategy, which proposed a new system of financial incentives for trainees with good degrees in shortage subjects.
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.
Teaching is a prime career choice for high-quality graduates. To encourage the best people to enter the profession, from 2012/13 trainees will need at least a 2:2 to be eligible for a training bursary.
The 2012/13 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 2012/13:
|
ITT specialism |
| Physics, mathematics, chemistry, modern languages |
Other priority secondary specialisms1 and primary |
General science and non-priority secondary specialisms2 |
| Training bursary 2012/13 |
Trainee with first |
£20,0003 |
£9,000 |
£0 |
| 2:1 |
£15,0003 |
£5,000 |
| 2:2 |
£12,000 |
£0 |
1Art and design, design and technology, economics, engineering, English, dance, drama, geography, history, information and communications technology (ICT), computer science, classics, music, biology, physical education, primary, and religious education mainstream post-graduate ITT courses attract £9,000 bursaries for trainees with a first and £5,000 for trainees with a 2:1.
2General science, business studies, citizenship, applied science, health and social care, leisure and tourism, media studies, psychology, social sciences (except economics) ITT courses attract no bursary.
3Physics trainees with a 2:1 or first are able to apply for an Institute of Physics (IOP) scholarship. The scholarship is worth £20,000. Trainees who hold the scholarship will not also be eligible for the standard Department for Education (DfE) bursary. Physics trainees who are not awarded the scholarship will continue in 2012/13 to be eligible for the standard £20,000 bursary for those with a first, and £15,000 bursary for those with a 2:1.
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 £5k/£9k/£12k bursary awards:
- 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 £15k/£20k bursary awards:
- 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 2013 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, available 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 Information Line on 0800 389 2500.
School Direct bursary top-up
In 2012/13 a new scheme called School Direct will enable more trainees to choose training that is linked to a particular school.
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 a quarter 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.
If you are interested in the School Direct scheme, register with the Teaching Agency and we will send you more information when it becomes available.
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.
