Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about teacher training, including when to apply, entry requirements, and funding.
What are the routes into teaching?
There are different types of teaching and ways to qualify, so it's important to choose the right training programme. Initial Teacher Education or Training (ITET) programmes across the UK are broadly similar, however, the routes differ depending on where in the UK you plan to train.
What are the entry requirements?
There are essential academic and non-academic criteria you’ll need to meet to be eligible to apply for teacher training programmes. Some training providers may also have specific recruitment criteria. Once you’ve decided on the type of training programme you want to study, you can speak to your chosen training providers to find out more information before applying.
Entry requirements may differ depending on the training programme, and where in the UK you plan to train. Read more about eligibility for teacher training in England, Wales, and Scotland.
What funding is available?
We don’t arrange student finance, but we can give you information and advice about funding and support to help point you in the right direction.
Whether you are a career changer, or taking the next step, training to teach can be a big investment. However, there’s often funding available to help you. What you’re eligible for will depend on what teacher training route you choose, where in the UK you live, and the subject you want to teach.
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How do I find training programmes?
Use our UCAS Teacher Training search tool to find postgraduate for training programmes in England and Wales. You can search using a number of criteria. If you’re looking for a specific training provider but can’t find them by name, try a broader search – for example, by region or town. Once you’ve found the training programme that’s right for you, you’ll be ready to begin your UCAS Teacher Training application.
If you're looking for teacher training at undergraduate level, or postgraduate programmes in Scotland, filter by 'Education' using our multi-destination search tool.
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When can I apply?
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Why can’t I sign in to my application?
Make sure you’re trying to sign in to the right application system. For UCAS Teacher Training, this will be:
- Apply if you're still filling in your application
- Track if you’ve sent your application
You will only be able to use Track once you've received a welcome email from us confirming your UCAS Teacher Training login details. If you are unsure of your login details for Apply or Track, you can use the ‘Forgotten login’ link.
For teacher training at undergraduate level, or postgraduate programmes in Scotland, find out more about UCAS Undergraduate Apply and Track.
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What do I need to include in my personal statement?
Your UCAS Teacher Training personal statement is your chance to sell yourself and tell your chosen course provider about your qualities, skills, expertise, and explain why you want to be a teacher. There’s a lot of help and information about what to include on the how to write your personal statement page.
You can only write one personal statement for all of your choices in both Apply 1 and Apply 2. You can’t change it or do different ones for university or school-based choices.
For teacher training at undergraduate level, or postgraduate programmes in Scotland, you can read comprehensive advice and watch a video on writing a UCAS Undergraduate personal statement.
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How do the references work?
You can't send your UCAS Teacher Training application until two references have been submitted online. Who you choose as a referee is up to you, but there’s lots of advice about what to consider on our References for teaching page.
Once you’ve added your referee’s details, they’ll be sent an email requesting information. If you want to send your application off quickly, get in touch with your referees before sending the reference request, to make sure they’re prepared.
For teacher training at undergraduate level, or postgraduate programmes in Scotland, the reference process will vary depending on how you choose to apply. Find out how to get an undergraduate reference.
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What happens once I’ve sent my application?
As soon as we have your UCAS Teacher Training application, we process it and send you a welcome email advising you to use Track to check your progress.
We’ll send your application to your chosen training providers who will consider it and decide whether to make an offer. The training provider has 40 working days to make a decision on your application.
If you apply on or after 1 July 2017 the number of working days a training provider will have to consider your application will reduce from 40 working days to 20 working days. You could be invited to interview by each of your chosen training providers, so you will need to make sure you can attend up to three interviews within 20 working days – find out more.
If you’ve applied for more than one programme, or to different training providers, you won’t be able to respond to any of your choices until you’ve received all your decisions. Once you’ve received all decisions, you’ll have ten working days to make your replies. Make sure you don’t miss your reply deadline!
For teacher training at undergraduate level, or postgraduate programmes in Scotland, find out more about how to track your application.
