Eligibility requirements for our Training Programme

Check if you’re eligible to apply for our fully funded teacher training programme.

This page goes through the requirements for:

your degree grade
right to work in the UK
existing qualifications
your GCSEs
your degree or A-level subjects

Degree grade

To do our Training Programme, you normally need a 2.1 degree or above.

We’ll consider 2.2 degrees for secondary teaching.

If you do not meet this requirement, you can also train to teach in a school near you on our one-year unsalaried teacher training. Compare our teacher training options.

Right to work in the UK

You must have the right to work in the UK full time for the duration of the programme. This includes the summer training period and the two-year Training Programme itself.

We cannot sponsor visas, so you will need to have secured one separately by April of the year you’re due to start training with us.

Existing teaching qualifications

If you have an existing teaching qualification (PGCE or qualified teacher status, QTS) you cannot do the Training Programme.

You also cannot apply for the Training Programme if you’ve already accepted a place on a PGCE course this year.

Your GCSEs

To train to teach, you must have at least:

grade C/4 or equivalent in GCSE maths
grade C/4 or equivalent in English language
for primary teaching, grade C/4 in one GCSE science subject as well

If you’re applying from overseas, we will check your qualifications if you receive an offer. You may need to do an equivalency test. Your offer will be conditional until we’ve done these checks. Read more about overseas applications.

Degree subject and A-levels

What A-levels and degree subject you need depends on whether you want to teach early years, primary or a secondary subject.

Primary and early years

To train to teach in a primary school or early years setting, you need:

Either…

One degree from the list below:

English
science degrees
maths
geography
history
religious education
ICT/computing
music
language degrees
design and technology
philosophy
art
PE/sports
classics
psychology
fine art
history of art

Or…

Two A-levels, grade B or above, from the list below:

English
science (biology, chemistry or physics)
maths
geography
history
religious education
ICT/computing
music
French
Spanish
design and technology
philosophy
art

Education degrees for early years

If you have one of these education degrees (2.1 or above) you can apply to teach early years only:

education
education studies
childhood studies
early childhood studies
child development

You must also be able to show evidence of working with primary-aged children for at least four consecutive weeks.

Business

To train to teach business, you must have a relevant degree such as:

economics
business studies
marketing

We’ll also consider other degrees such as sports management or accountancy and finance. We may also consider an MBA. For more information, talk to a recruiter about eligibility to teach business.

Computing

To train to teach computing, you need either a relevant degree, A-levels or BTEC.

We accept these degrees:

ICT
computer science
information technology
information systems
robotics software development
computer networks
web development
artificial intelligence
game software engineering

We may also accept related degrees such as cyber security. For more information, talk to a recruiter about eligibility to teach computing.

If you do not have one of these degrees, we’ll also consider A-levels (minimum grade B) or BTEC level 3 in:

computer science
ICT
applied ICT

Design and technology

To train to teach design and technology, you need either a relevant degree or A-levels (minimum grade B).

We accept these degrees:

food technology
civil engineering
3D design
textiles
graphic design
materials technology
product design
design engineering
product design technology
architectural technology
aeronautical engineering
design studies
materials technology
materials technology
architecture
resistant materials
product design
design and technology

We accept these A-levels (minimum grade B):

materials technology
product design
design engineering
product design technology
architectural technology
aeronautical engineering
design studies
materials technology
architecture
resistant materials
product design
design and technology

English

To train to teach English, you need either a relevant degree or A-levels (minimum grade B).

We accept these degrees:

English literature
English language
creative writing
linguistics

We accept these A-levels (minimum grade B):

English language
English literature
combined English literature and language

You may be eligible if you have a degree in journalism or law. For more information, talk to a recruiter about eligibility to teach English.

Geography

To train to teach geography, you need either a relevant degree or A-levels (minimum grade B).

We accept these degrees:

geography
human and social geography
international development
geology
ecology

We accept these A-levels (minimum grade B):

geography
human and social geography

We may also accept related degrees such as disaster management. For more information, talk to a recruiter about eligibility to teach geography.

History

To train to teach history, you must have a relevant degree.

We accept these degrees:

history
ancient history
modern history
American studies
American history
war studies

Maths

To train to teach maths, you need either a relevant degree or A-levels (minimum grade B).

For some degrees, you’ll have to do a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course after you get your offer.

We accept these degrees:

maths
further mathematics
statistics

For these degrees, you’ll have to do a subject knowledge enhancement course as a condition of your offer to the Training Programme:

economics
accountancy and finance

We accept these A-levels (minimum grade B):

maths
further mathematics
statistics
maths and statistics (as a single A-level subject)

Modern foreign languages (French and Spanish)

To train to teach modern foreign languages, you need either a relevant degree or A-levels (minimum grade B).

We accept these degrees:

Spanish
French
Hispanic studies
French linguistics
Spanish linguistics

If you do not have one of these degrees, you must have both of these A-levels (minimum grade B):

Spanish
French

You may also be eligible if:

you’ve spent significant time in a relevant country, or
you’re a native speaker in Spanish or French and have relevant teaching experience

For more information, talk to a recruiter about eligibility to teach modern foreign languages.

Music

To train to teach music, you need either:

a music degree, or
music A-level (minimum grade B) plus a performance qualification at grade 8

We may also accept related degrees such as music technology or popular music, as long as you have significant practical experience performing music and can read music notation.

For more information, talk to a recruiter about eligibility to teach music.

Religious education

To train to teach religious education, you need either a relevant degree or A-levels (minimum grade B).

We accept these degrees:

religious education
theology
Islamic studies
Bible studies
philosophy

We also accept A-level religious education (minimum grade B).

We will also consider A-levels in philosophy and ethics. For more information, talk to a recruiter about eligibility to teach religious education.

Science

To train to teach science, you need either a relevant degree or two A-levels (minimum grade B).

For some degrees, you’ll have to do a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course as a condition of your offer.

We accept these degrees:

biology
chemistry
physics
engineering (mechanical/chemical/ electrical/electronic)
zoology
equine science
marine biology
radiography
aerospace engineering
forensic science
pharmacy
medicine
physiotherapy
optometry

For these degrees, you’ll have to do a subject knowledge enhancement course in physics or chemistry:

BSc Psychology
BSc Sports & Exercise Science
BSc Health Science

We may also accept related degrees such as geology, neuroscience or environmental science. For more information, talk to a recruiter about eligibility to teach science.

If you do not meet all the eligibility requirements, you may still be able to train to teach in a school near you on our one-year unsalaried teacher training. Compare our teacher training options.

More about the Training Programme

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