If you don't already have a degree, you can apply for teacher training programmes to graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). UCAS Undergraduate is the scheme to apply for the main university-led routes, and most (but not all) Level 5 post-16 teaching courses. Other more specialised teaching programmes, including Future Teaching Scholars, are not managed by UCAS and may have a different application process.
Bachelor of Education (BEd) degrees
Bachelor of Education (BEd) teacher training programmes are an undergraduate route for those who would like to follow a career in teaching, and graduate with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). BEd programmes typically last three years, and are a popular route for prospective primary school teachers. Some providers do offer secondary-level BEd programmes for specific specialisms.
Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS
Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degrees with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) are popular with prospective secondary school teachers, and focus on developing specialist subject knowledge required to teach. Not a common route for those wanting to study for primary teacher training programmes, most providers only offer BA and BSc with QTS for secondary teaching.
Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSC), and Integrated Master's (MA) opt-in QTS
This undergraduate route allows students to incorporate teacher training part way through their degree course, and graduate with both a degree in their subject and a recommendation for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Available in certain subjects, and from a select number of universities in England, opt-in QTS programmes are for prospective secondary school teachers only.
Undergraduate degree plus postgraduate teacher training
You can take a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree course and train to teach after you graduate. Following undergraduate study, you can apply for a postgraduate teacher training programme to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). If you are considering teaching after you graduate, you may wish to choose an undergraduate degree in a relevant national curriculum subject.
Future Teaching Scholars programme
If you’re planning to study a maths or physics-related degree at a university in England, this six year programme offers financial support during your undergraduate years, as well as employment-based teacher training after you graduate.
Troops to Teachers undergraduate bursary
A new Troops to Teachers undergraduate initial teacher training bursary was introduced from September 2018, to support Armed Forces veterans into teaching. The bursary, worth £40,000 over two years, is available to veterans who have left the forces in the last five years, and who study for an undergraduate degree with QTS in England, in a priority subject (biology, chemistry, physics, computing, maths, or languages).
Diploma in Education and Training
Diploma in Education and Training (DET) programmes are non-graduate Level 5 teaching qualifications for the further education and skills sector. You can choose a university or college-led pre-service training route, or work as an unqualified further education teacher while training part-time.