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Teacher Training (now closed)

Student Money Week 2017

Join Phil to find about about training as a teacher.

Advisor for this Q&A

Phil Davis, Head of Student Advice and Learning Development

Phil is Head of Student Advice and Learning Development at Bishop Grosseteste University. He’s serviced on the National Association of Student Money Advisers’ Board of Trustees as Chair and Secretary over a period of seven years.

Ruth Round

Ruth is an Education Guidance Adviser at the University of Wolverhampton specialising in student finance.

Rob Marriot

Rob is a Student Adviser at the University of Brighton.

(edited 9 years ago)

Reply 1

Phil Davis

Official Rep

The National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) Teaching bursary is a financial incentive to attract and retain high quality graduates into the teaching profession. The NCTL funding is available in addition to the core funding package available from the Student Loans Company (SLC).

NCTL Bursaries are available to FT and PT PGCE trainees, and also for some Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) courses. From 2015/16, an undergraduate bursary is available to trainees on courses in Maths and Physics which lead to QTS – the bursary is payable in the final year only.

Further information about SLC funding (Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans/Grants, Disabled Students Allowances and Grants for Dependants) can be found on the Student Finance Zone of The Student Room.

Reply 2

Phil Davis

Official Rep

Eligible ex-armed forces personnel receive an additional bursary uplift if they are already entitled to a NCTL Teaching bursary. A MOD Certificate of Service needs to be given to the course provider in order to secure the uplift.

Reply 3

Ruth Round

Welcome to the Student Money Week chat on funding for teacher training courses. We will be here for the next hour if you have any questions you want to ask us.

Reply 4

Phil Davis

Official Rep

PGCE programmes are one of the few exceptions where SLC undergraduate funding applies to postgraduate study – so you can get all the assistance by way of Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans and Grants, and Grants for Dependants that are available to undergraduate students. The Disabled Students Allowance is also available for PGCE Programmes.

Part-time PGCE students can apply for a Tuiton Fee Loan from the SLC, but no maintenance funding.

PGCE School Direct qualifies for exactly the same package of funding, as long as you are following the unsalaried version of the programme. Salaried School Direct trainees are technically treated as employees and do not qualify for student funding.

Information regarding the SLC funding (Tuition Fee Loan, Maintenance Loan/Grant, Disabled Students Allowance and Grants for Dependants) is available from the Student Finance Zone section of The Student Room

Reply 5

Phil Davis

Official Rep

Visit http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/funding/postgraduate-funding for up to date information on funding for teacher training routes, including the various rates of bursary payable according to which subject you study on a PGCE programme, according to which classification of first degree you obtain.

Reply 6

Phil Davis

Official Rep

You will usually receive information about how to apply for your NCTL Teaching Bursary from your course provider. You do not need to apply in advance - the bursary funding comes as part of your place on the course. You will usually receive information on how to apply as part of the admissions process leading up to enrolment for the programme you are studying.

You should always ensure you apply for your core funding from the Student Loans Company as early as possible. The application cycle for 2015/16 entry is now live at www.gov.uk/studentfinance. You should apply even if you are only considering a place on a course in 2015/16 - there is no need to wait for confirmation from the course provider that you have been accepted onto the course.

Reply 7

Phil Davis

Official Rep

Teacher training courses often include elements of placement activity in Schools. This may involve travel. You should check with your course provider what arrangements are available for transport - some have schemes which make a contribution to travel costs you may face. It's also possible the provider may make transport available at a nominal rate per trainee.

If you do find yourself having to pay for travel and needing additional financial support, always ensure you enquire about the availability of any discretionary funds at the university/course provider, which may be able to help you meet these costs.