Use UCAS Teacher Training to apply for postgraduate teacher training programmes in England and Wales leading to QTS. Here's a step-by-step walk through of the UCAS Teacher Training application.
Making a UCAS Teacher Training application
This in-depth video takes you through the entire process of making an application once you've decided which training programme is right for you.
UCAS Teacher Training is for postgraduate teacher training programmes in England and Wales. Apply through UCAS Undergraduate for all teacher training programmes in Scotland.
Before you get started there are some important points to note:
- Applications for programmes starting in 2021 can be submitted from 13 October.
- Apply 1 is the first stage in the application process. At this point, you can apply for up to three choices at the same time. Find out more about Apply 1.
- There’s quite a bit to fill in, but you don’t need to do it all at once – you can save your application and sign back in at any time.
- You will not be able to submit your application until both references are complete – to speed up the process, contact your referees ahead of time.
- You can only apply once in a cycle. Please don't apply more than once in a cycle, as you can't receive a refund for further applications. If you've applied in previous cycles and want to apply again, you'll have to submit a new application.
- When adding your choices to your application, double check the availability of the programmes – you don't want to waste your time applying to programmes without spaces!
- For training programmes in Wales, you can apply in Welsh.
- The Department of Education (DfE) is developing a new application service called ‘Apply for teacher training’. Some providers in England are using the system to accept applications for programmes starting in 2021. If you’re applying to a provider who is using the new DfE system, you can choose to apply via ‘Apply for teacher training’ or UCAS ‘Apply’. It’s really important you don’t submit the same choice via both systems, as duplicate choices will be flagged and we’ll request one is removed.
Step-by-step guide
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1. First you register to use Apply
Here you put things like your name, address, and date of birth.
- You’ll need a username – which is the email address you’ve given us – and you create a password.
- Then you’ll get a Personal ID.
You’ll need to accept the terms and conditions, and we ask you to agree to a declaration that we and training providers can process and keep a copy of your application, to collect data and detect and prevent fraud. You can request a copy of the information we hold.
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2. Then sign in to fill in the rest of your personal details
The information you’ve already filled in will show up automatically.
- Then you’ll give some information like nationality and residential status.
- If you state a disability, training providers will be able to make any adjustments you need.
- Since you’ll be working with children, we’ll need to know you agree to a Disclosure and Barring Service check, or if you have any criminal convictions.
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3. Some additional info (UK applicants only)
Here we ask about national identity and ethnic origin – not for selection, but it’s helpful for analysis.
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4. Then you add your programme choices
- You can make up to three choices. Once you’ve paid for and submitted your application, you will not be able to add any more choices until you’re eligible to use Apply 2.
- You can only apply for programmes with vacancies – it's a good idea to check with providers first whether your chosen training programmes have vacancies.
- Make sure your choices are accurate before sending your application, and if you’re applying for any programmes via the GOV.UK ‘Apply for teacher training’ system ensure you don’t apply for the same programmes with UCAS too – as duplicate applications will be flagged and removed
- If you're unsuccessful with your initial choices, you can make one additional choice at a time in Apply 2 (which is available in UCAS Teacher Training Track).
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5. Your education so far
Here you’ll tell us about your secondary and higher education and the qualifications you’ve achieved so far, or expect to achieve before the training programme begins.
- First tell us about GCSEs and A levels or equivalent qualifications – particularly your GCSEs in English and maths, and in science if you’re applying for primary teacher training. Some providers only consider applicants with appropriately graded GCSEs or equivalent in these subjects. Others consider you if you expect to achieve them before you start the programme, or they may offer an equivalency test. Providers normally state entry requirements in our search tool, as well as on their own websites. Contact them if you’re not sure if your qualifications are the equivalent of GCSEs.
- Then you need to tell us about your degree. Training providers need to know about the subjects you’ve studied and about the classification of degree you’ve got or expect to get.
- Then select the highest qualification you expect to have before the training programme starts.
- If you apply to study in England, we need to know if you’ve already passed the professional skills tests.
- If you’ve got qualifications from outside the UK, you’ll need to get a statement of comparability from ENIC. This can take some time so you should do this before you send in your application.
Successful completion of these qualifications may form a condition of an offer you receive.
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6. Your school and work experience
In this section you must give details of your school experience and work history. Training providers will be particularly interested in work in schools, but paid work is relevant too.
What to include:
- Your school experience and work history, including your present occupation.
- Periods spent abroad, placements and observations.
- For time in a school or college include details of the age groups and subjects you were directly involved with.
- For work not in a school or college include information that illustrates your transferable skills, particularly those that would be valuable in the classroom.
- For the ‘hours per week’ question give the average weekly time you spent in each school, establishment or employer.
Some training programmes, including all salaried School Direct training programmes, require your complete work history. If this will not fit in the space provided you can send the training providers your CV, or a summary of your whole work history. You must do this after you have submitted your application to us and have received your welcome email, as you will need to include your Personal ID as well as your full name.
If you want to go into additional detail about your classroom experience or work history you can include this in your personal statement.
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7. Then you write your personal statement
This is where you show training providers why you want to be a teacher and why you’d make a great one.
You only write one personal statement for all your choices, so it’s important to make it as good as you can.
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8. Then you get two references
You can’t send in your application until two references are attached to it.
- You give the names and contact details of two people and we ask them to provide a reference.
- We let you know when each reference has been received but you won’t be able to see them.
- We give referees two weeks to do this – if they take longer, we’ll send them a reminder and let you know.
There will always be some delay while you wait for references to be completed, and you must bear this in mind when you’re deciding when to make your application. If you want to speed up the process, contact your referees to ask them to respond as soon as possible.
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9. Now you pay your fee and send your application
You pay the application fee, whether you have made one, two, or three choices. This also covers any choices you make in Apply 2.
You can pay online using a debit or credit card. It doesn’t need to be in your name, but you must have permission to use it.
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10. Tracking progress and making changes
Once you've submitted your application, use Track to keep up-to-date with your UCAS Teacher Training application.
If you change your mind and want to change one or more of your choices, you can do this:
- but only once
- within seven days of sending us your application