Guidance

Train to teach in England if you’re a non-UK citizen

Updated 6 March 2023

This guidance was withdrawn on

Guidance on training to teach in England as a non-UK citizen is now available on the Get into Teaching website.

Separate guidance on applying for qualified teacher status if you teach outside the UK is also available.

Applies to England

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/train-to-teach-in-england-non-uk-applicants/train-to-teach-in-england-if-youre-a-non-uk-citizen

Who this guidance is for

This guidance is for citizens from all countries outside the UK interested in training to teach in England.

The Department for Education’s Get into Teaching website gives an overview of the steps to train to teach in England and is a good place to start your research.

You can also get help from a train to teach adviser.

You will need the information on this page when you are ready to apply for teacher training.

Different rules about visas and funding will apply to you if you:

Check find out about fees and financial support and apply for your visa for more information.

Overview

To train to teach in England you will need:

  • a university degree (UK or non-UK)
  • a standard equivalent to a grade 4 in GCSE English and mathematics
  • a confirmed offer of a training place from an English teacher training provider
  • an immigration status which allows you to train to teach in the UK

You will also need to:

  • have the health and physical capacity to train to teach
  • undergo safeguarding and criminal record checks carried out by your training provider or employer
  • show your training provider you meet their standards for maths and English

The guidance on this page takes you through the process of applying for teacher training, step by step. When you have successfully completed your training, you will be awarded qualified teacher status (QTS). QTS allows you to teach in all schools in England.

1. Check your qualifications

To teach children aged 11 to 18 in secondary school, you’ll need:

  • a bachelor’s degree (this can be from a university outside the UK)
  • to meet a standard in English and mathematics equivalent to a grade 4 GCSE

To teach children aged 3 to 11 in primary school you will also need to meet a standard in physics, chemistry or biology equivalent to a grade 4 GCSE.

A GCSE is an academic qualification awarded for exams in England, usually taken at age 16. We can help you show your English, maths and science qualifications are the same standard as a grade 4 GCSE.

If you do not have qualifications that are equivalent to GCSEs, you may be able to sit a test set by training providers to show your knowledge of English, maths and science. You can contact us for advice about this.

If you do not have a university degree

If you do not have a degree, you can apply to study a 3 to 4 year undergraduate course in England which combines a teaching degree with QTS. When you have completed your studies, you’ll be able to apply for jobs as a teacher in England.

Visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs for lots of helpful information about studying at an English university.

2. Get help and advice

The Department for Education (DfE)’s Get into Teaching website contains lots of helpful information about training to teach, and life as a teacher in England.

To get advice, you can:

  • call +44 800 389 2500, Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 5.30pm (UK local time) – calls will be charged at your standard rate
  • use the live chat service on the Get into Teaching website
  • sign up to get an adviser – you’ll be asked for your phone number, email and location so a teacher training adviser can call you back in your time zone

Get help with international qualifications

If your qualifications come from a non-UK institution, your teacher training provider may want to see a statement of comparability from UK ENIC. A statement of comparability proves that your school and university qualifications are the same standard as UK GCSEs and a UK undergraduate degree.

Call us on +44 800 389 2500 for:

  • guidance on the UK equivalents of your qualifications
  • a free statement of comparability, once you’ve submitted your application, if your provider asks for this
  • advice about what to do if you do not have English, maths and science qualifications of grade 4 GCSE standard

3. Find out about fees and financial support

Teacher training fees

As a non-UK candidate, you will need to pay between £9,250 and about £32,000 for a teacher training course in England – fees vary between training providers. You’ll also have to cover your living costs.

Depending on your immigration status, you may get a reduction in your fees to the rate paid by UK applicants (set at a maximum of £9,250). If you are eligible, this fee will be the same for all courses offered by accredited training providers.

Most non-UK candidates will not be eligible for this type of financial support.

You can also apply for a salaried teacher training course.

On this type of course, you will:

  • not need to pay a fee
  • be able to earn money while you train in a school

There’s a limited number of these courses and you may find there’s lots of competition for the places available.

Find teacher training courses.

Financial support for non-UK trainee teachers of languages and physics

There are 3 types of financial support you can get if you’re interested in training to teach languages and physics:

  • an international relocation payment worth £10,000 for languages and physics
  • bursaries worth up to £27,000 for languages and physics
  • scholarships worth up to £29,000 for French, German, Spanish and physics

If you are eligible, you can receive both an international relocation payment and a bursary or scholarship.

You cannot receive both a bursary and a scholarship.

Eligibility for other types of financial support

Depending on your immigration status, you may be able to get other kinds of financial help from the UK government.

You are more likely to get financial support if you have some type of settled status in the UK – for example:

Without settled status, most non-UK candidates will not be eligible for financial support.

Learn more

Visit the Get into Teaching website for more information on international relocation payments, bursaries and scholarships for languages and physics, and other types of financial support you may be eligible for.

4. Search and apply for teacher training courses

Find postgraduate teacher training courses lists courses in England leading to QTS.

You can search by location, teaching subject and age group. You can also search for courses which pay a salary, and courses where student or skilled worker visa sponsorship is available.

Choosing a training provider who can offer visa sponsorship

If you need a visa to train to teach in England, you must have a confirmed offer of a training place on a course offering student or skilled worker visa sponsorship before you apply for your visa.

Many training providers have experience in welcoming international candidates and can offer support. However, due to rules about immigration, not all will be able to accept your application.

If you do not have settled or pre-settled status, or indefinite leave to remain, you should contact your chosen teacher training providers directly before you apply online to get their advice about your eligibility and the application process.

If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or indefinite leave to remain, you can apply to any teacher training provider in England.

When you have selected appropriate teacher training courses on find postgraduate teacher training, you’ll be guided to the apply for teacher training service, where you can submit applications.

Types of teacher training leading to qualified teacher status (QTS)

If you have registered with an adviser, they’ll be able to explain the different types of courses available. You can train in a school or in a university setting, and study full-time (over a year) or part-time (over 2 or more years).

Fee-paying and salaried teacher training courses

You can choose to apply for a fee-paying or salaried teacher training course.

A fee-paying teacher training course means you pay a fee to study as a teacher. The majority of students training as teachers in England train on this type of course.

Fee-paying courses include:

  • university teacher training programmes
  • school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) programmes
  • School Direct unsalaried teacher training programmes

A salaried teacher training course means you are paid to work in a school while you learn to teach. However, these courses are limited in number and very competitive. You will usually need to have achieved highly in your bachelor’s degree and, for a School Direct salaried course, have at least 3 years’ relevant work experience.

Salaried courses include:

  • School Direct salaried teacher training programmes
  • the Teach First Leadership Development programme
  • postgraduate teaching apprenticeships

To apply for a postgraduate teaching apprenticeship you will need:

  • settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • to have been living in the UK or the EEA for 3 or more years before the start of your apprenticeship

If you do not have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you will need:

  • a visa or immigration status allowing you to work in the UK
  • to have been living in the UK for 3 or more years before the start of your apprenticeship

Qualified teacher status (QTS)

All of the courses training to teach children aged 3 to 19 listed on Find postgraduate teacher training lead to QTS. QTS is a legal requirement to teach in many English schools and is considered desirable for teachers in most schools in England.

Some teacher training courses lead to QTS and a postgraduate certificate in education (PGCE) or a postgraduate diploma in education (PGDE). You do not need a PGCE or PGDE to teach in England, but these academic qualifications may improve your employability inside and outside the UK.

QTS is recognised in many countries around the world – check with the organisation responsible for regulating teachers in the country where you want to teach.

You can find more information about ways to train on the Get into Teaching website. Remember to get advice from your chosen training provider before you apply.

Find postgraduate teacher training

Apply for teacher training

5. Apply for your visa

If you have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS), or indefinite leave to remain, you will not need a visa to train to teach in the UK.

If you are currently studying in the UK on a student visa, you may be able to apply for a graduate visa.

Get help with visas and immigration

If you’re not sure about your immigration status, you can check if you need a UK visa.

You can also contact UK Visas and Immigration for help.

Check whether you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme

If you are from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you might be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living, working and studying in the UK without applying for a visa.

The deadline for most people to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021.

If you or your family are from the EEA or Switzerland, you can still apply if you or a family member were living in the UK by 31 December 2020. You must also either:

  • meet one of the criteria for a later deadline to apply
  • have ‘reasonable grounds’ for not applying by 30 June 2021

More information is available about the eligibility criteria for later applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.

You can also apply to the EU Settlement Scheme if you already have pre-settled status and are applying for settled status. You must apply to the EU Settlement Scheme again before your pre-settled status expires to stay in the UK.

Apply for a visa for your teacher training course

You’ll need a visa or other immigration status that allows you to work or study in the UK unless you:

  • are an Irish citizen
  • have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
  • have indefinite leave to remain

The main visa routes for teacher training in England are:

  • the student visa
  • the skilled worker visa

Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be eligible for other visas.

Student visa or skilled worker visa

The type of visa you need will depend on whether you are on a fee-paying or salaried teacher training course.

Applying for a student visa for a fee-paying teacher training course

For a fee-paying teacher training course, you will need a student visa. Your visa must be sponsored by a licensed sponsor of student visas.

You can search find postgraduate teacher training for providers who can sponsor student visas. We suggest you contact them to check they can sponsor you before you apply for a training place.

You’ll be able to apply for your visa if you:

For your offer to be confirmed, you’ll have to be accepted on to a teacher training course, and may also have to pass criminal record and health checks, so we recommend applying to your training provider early.

Apply for a student visa

Applying for a skilled worker visa for a salaried teacher training course

For a salaried teacher training course, you will need a skilled worker visa. Your visa must be sponsored by a licensed sponsor of skilled worker visas.

You can search find postgraduate teacher training for providers who can sponsor skilled worker visas. Currently, places on these courses are very limited. Before you apply for a salaried teacher training place, we suggest you contact the training provider to check they can sponsor you.

You’ll be able to apply for your visa if:

For your offer to be confirmed, you’ll have to be accepted on to a teacher training course, and may also have to pass criminal record and health checks, so we recommend applying to your training provider early.

Salary requirement for a skilled worker visa

The salary threshold you must meet depends on the region you work in as a salaried trainee.

This table shows the minimum salary non-UK salaried trainee teachers must earn to be eligible for a skilled worker visa, by region.

Inner London Outer London London fringe Rest of England
£24,254 £22,924 £20,594 £20,480

Find more information about salary requirements if you’re applying for a skilled worker visa and you’re planning to work in education.

Part-time salaried teacher training courses

You may be able to train part-time, but your salary must meet the threshold for a skilled worker visa.

There are 2 requirements:

Apply for a skilled worker visa.

Studying and working as a teacher in the UK without a skilled worker visa or a student visa

This section explains the other visas and immigration routes you can use.

Graduate visa

If you are already an international student in the UK, you can apply for a graduate visa on successful completion of your degree. To apply, you will need to have been sponsored by a Home Office licensed student sponsor over the course of your studies.

The graduate visa will allow you to study, work, or look for work in the UK for up to 2 years after completing your studies (3 years for PhD students) without a sponsor. This includes training as a teacher on a salaried or fee-paying initial teacher training course, as long as your training provider does not sponsor student visas.

If your provider can sponsor student visas, you must apply for this type of visa.

You will be able to switch from a graduate visa to another visa (such as the skilled worker visa) without having to leave the UK, if you meet the requirements for the other visa route.

High potential individual visa

To be eligible for a high potential individual visa, you must:

  • have a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or PhD from a university listed in the Global Universities list
  • have been awarded your qualification no more than 5 years before you apply
  • have English language skills to B1 intermediate level
  • have personal funds of £1,270
  • pass a security and criminality check

You do not need an offer of a place on a teacher training course to apply for this visa and you’ll be able to stay in the UK for 2 years with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, and 3 years with a PhD. If your visa application is successful, you will be able to train as a teacher on either a salaried or fee-paying initial teacher training course, as long as the training provider does not sponsor student visas.

If your provider can sponsor student visas, you must apply for this type of visa.

The Youth Mobility Scheme visa

The Youth Mobility Scheme allows young people from certain countries to come to the UK to study or work without a sponsor. This includes training as a teacher via either a salaried or fee-paying initial teacher training course.

A Youth Mobility Scheme visa lasts up to 2 years. You may be able to switch from a Youth Mobility Scheme visa to another visa route (for example, the skilled worker visa) without having to leave the UK. You’ll need to meet the requirements for the other visa route.

Other visas

Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be able to work or study in the UK on alternative visas – for example, a Family visa, a UK Ancestry visa or, if you are from Hong Kong, a British National (Overseas) visa.

Refugees and asylum seekers

If you have been granted refugee status, you can apply for teacher training – either salaried or fee-paying – and will usually be eligible for financial support to train to teach on a fee-paying course.

If you are in the process of seeking asylum, you should refer to your immigration bail conditions to see if you have permission to study on a teacher training course. You will not usually be eligible for financial support to train to teach on a fee-paying course. You are also unlikely to be able to undertake salaried teacher training while your asylum claim is considered, because asylum seekers do not usually have the right to work, although there are some exceptions.

Learn more about:

Visa fees and other charges

You may need to pay for UK healthcare as part of your immigration application – this is called the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).

However, students can usually claim a refund of the IHS if they:

  • are a full-time student in UK higher education
  • have a visa starting on or after 1 January 2021
  • have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued in an EU country
  • do not work in the UK

Learn more about getting an IHS refund.

You’ll also have to pay visa fees. Use this tool to calculate how much your visa will cost.

Finally, you will usually need to show proof of a certain level of savings or income, depending on which visa you are applying for. You’ll be guided through this process when you apply for your visa.

6. Plan your move to the UK

The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) delivers independent advice about all aspects of the international student experience, including immigration, finding a place to live and opening a bank account. Their Student Advice Line also offers support over the phone.

Contact your teacher training provider to ask if they can offer any advice about your move to the UK.

7. Complete your teacher training and gain qualified teacher status (QTS)

If you’re accepted on to an English teacher training course, you’ll train for one year (or longer if you’re part-time) to gain QTS.

You may need to apply for a different visa to work in England as a qualified teacher. Our guidance for non-UK nationals wishing to teach in England explains the skilled worker visa and covers other ways you can update, extend or switch your visa when you finish your training.

8. Apply for your first teaching job

When you have QTS, you will be able to apply for paid teaching jobs in all schools in England. Many schools will accept applications from trainees who will soon complete their training and gain QTS, as well as those who have finished their training.

Search Teaching Vacancies for teaching jobs in England

Early career teacher induction

After QTS, many schools will require you to complete an early career teacher (ECT) 2-year induction period, when you’ll work and be assessed as a paid teacher in a school. This induction period is part of the UK government’s early career framework for teachers in England, which helps teachers succeed by developing their professional practice, knowledge and working habits. You’ll get training and support from a mentor to help you meet the Teachers’ Standards.

Further reading

Visit the following websites for more information about English education:

Contact

You can register with DfE’s Get an adviser service for personalised advice about teaching in England over email and phone, and use Get into Teaching’s online chat function.

Visit the Get into Teaching website to learn more about life as a teacher in England.

DfE does not administer teacher training courses, or appoint teachers, so we cannot help with individual applications to training providers or schools. However, for help with the information on this page, you can email us at teach.inengland@education.gov.uk.

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