Getting into Teaching After a Degree
Considering teaching at university, after graduation or as a career change? Explore the route into schools, what to ask a provider and how to plan the finances.
Teaching after your degree
You do not need to have studied education to explore teaching. For postgraduate primary and secondary training in England, a bachelor’s degree is part of the entry requirements. Secondary providers also assess knowledge of the subject you want to teach.
If you are still at university, use this time to explore age groups, visit schools where possible and ask providers how they handle applications with degree results pending. Your degree title alone does not settle which subjects a provider will accept.
Find out whether the work suits you
Explore the work beyond delivering a lesson: planning, assessment, adapting for different needs, classroom routines, safeguarding and working with colleagues and families.
- Visit a school or arrange classroom experience where possible. Ask to see ordinary lessons and discuss the wider working week.
- Consider whether you prefer teaching across subjects with younger pupils or developing a subject specialism with older pupils.
- Ask current trainees about mentoring, placement travel, feedback and the balance between study and classroom work.
- Discuss support and reasonable adjustments with providers if you have accessibility needs or caring responsibilities.
Understand the qualification and the training route
QTS and PGCE are different. Qualified teacher status is the professional status required for teaching in maintained primary, secondary and special schools in England. A PGCE is an academic qualification; check whether the course awards QTS, a PGCE, or both.
| Route to investigate | What to establish before applying |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate training with fees | Course outcome, provider requirements, placement locations, course length and funding eligibility. |
| Salaried postgraduate training | Whether a suitable place is available, recruitment criteria, salary, fees and how employment and training fit together. |
| Undergraduate routes | If you have not started a degree, compare degrees leading to QTS and available teacher degree apprenticeship routes. |
| Already qualified or experienced | Use the return guide if already qualified; ask an adviser which recognition or assessment route applies to your circumstances. |
Use the official route finder and search teacher training courses.
Plan the training year separately from your first salary
A training place with fees is financially different from a salaried training post. Depending on eligibility and the course, support may include student finance, a subject-related bursary or scholarship, or additional support for personal circumstances. Check the funding for your intended starting year.
Use official teacher-training funding guidance before making a budget. A headline funding figure is not necessarily paid evenly each month, and a loan remains borrowing.
| Budget item | What to record |
|---|---|
| Income and support | Confirmed amounts, eligibility, payment dates and any conditions. |
| Course costs | Fees, what funding covers and when payments are due. |
| Living costs | Rent, bills, food, travel to different placements and childcare. |
| Timing gaps | The weeks before funding starts, holidays and the period before your first salary. |
Use the budget planner with your confirmed monthly figures. The qualified pay calculator is for employment income, not bursary or maintenance-loan calculations.
Look ahead to your first teaching job
Compare the pay area and advertised salary with your likely living costs. Use the current pay tables and qualified teacher pay calculator to explore estimated take-home, including pension and student-loan deductions.
Ask the employer to confirm the actual starting salary, working percentage, allowances and support for your early career. Do not treat future progression or a forecast pay award as guaranteed.
Browse teaching vacancies to understand what schools advertise, even while you are researching training.
Before choosing a training course
- Confirm that the course outcome matches your goal, including QTS where required.
- Check entry requirements and subject suitability directly with the provider.
- Ask about placements, travel, mentoring, course attendance and support.
- Verify funding for the correct course year and build a monthly budget.
- Compare course options before submitting an application.