Troops to Teachers

Troops to Teachers non-graduate programme is a route to teacher training for service leavers, leading to an honours degree with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The programme provides an opportunity for exceptional former service personnel, who are currently in the resettlement cycle, to train as teachers in two or three years.

• The length of the course is dependent on the course provider and any Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) points acquired.
• To receive the £40,000 bursary, applicants must be planning to teach secondary maths, biology, chemistry, physics, computing, or modern foreign languages.

Entry requirements

Entry requirements vary depending on the training provider you're applying to. Check each provider's specific entry requirements before you apply.

You'll also need to pass the professional skills tests in numeracy and literacy before you begin your teacher training. Find out more in our professional skills tests blog.

In addition, you must have served for at least four years, and be within five years of your discharge date at the start of the programme. As teaching involves working with children on a daily basis, there are also some non-academic requirements you'll need to meet.

Fees and funding

You will need to pay fees for this programme.

A new £40,000 bursary, available from September 2018 across England, will support ex-service personnel who want to train to teach, and who are qualified to study priority subjects in:

• mathematics
• biology
• chemistry
• physics
• computing
• modern foreign languages

To be eligible for the bursary, you must:

• not already have a undergraduate degree
• have left full-time employment from the British Army, Royal Air Force, or Royal Navy no more than five years before the start of the course
• be entitled to support under the Student Finance England eligibility criteria

Your eligibility for will be assessed by your training provider, and they will pay the bursary to you directly. With or without the bursary, you can apply for a tuition fee and maintenance loan for the duration of the course.

The bursary will be paid in ten equal monthly instalments of £2,000, from October to July during the final two years of the course. You’re advised to confirm the actual payment schedule with your teacher training provider.

These payments are not taxable, but might be included as part of your capital income if you receive state benefits. Contact your local benefits office to find out how this might affect your situation.

To find the course that’s right for you, filter by ‘Education’ using our search tool.

For further information and advice, visit the Get Into Teaching website or call them on 0800 389 2500.

Explore your options

All undergraduate and non-graduate Initial Teacher Training (ITT) programmes will qualify you to be a teacher, but there are differing levels of qualifications that can be achieved. Find out more about university and college-led teacher training routes in England.