Entry Requirements

Entry requirements are specified separately for each course.  These are included in the relevant course information document which you can access via the buttons in our vacancy table. It is vital that you look in the programme document to check the specific entry requirements for the programmes you wish to apply for. The programme documents also include a section describing the sort of person we are looking for.  We set out a general overview below.

Degree

For all our programmes you need to have an honours degree, but it is OK to apply in your final degree year – any offer would simply be conditional upon you getting a degree at a specific level before the course commences.

For primary programmes, the subject of the degree is less relevant than for a secondary programme.

Third class degrees are not accepted by any of our partner universities but in some cases this problem may be overcome by a higher degree for example a Masters qualification in a relevant subject area. 

GCSEs

For all primary programmes you must have GCSE Maths, GCSE English Language and GCSE in a Science at C/4 – or the equivalent of that.  If you don't meet this requirement, please see guidance in our separate tabs 'Overseas Qualifications' if that applies, and 'GCSE Equivalencies'.

Those who studied abroad

Please see guidance in our separate tabs 'Overseas Qualifications' and 'GCSE Equivalencies'.

School Experience?

It is important to have a realistic awareness of the demands of the profession you are seeking to join, otherwise you might start the training and pull out if you realise that the role of a teacher is not at all what you expected. 

We therefore require candidates to demonstrate a realistic understanding of the role of a teacher and an awareness of current issues facing the profession. Please note that spending a couple of days observing relevant lessons in a state primary school can very much strengthen your application and may be extremely helpful to support your interview answers but we understand this can be hard to arrange and we would not reject a candidate on their lack of observational school experience if their application was otherwise good. 

For those applying for salaried primary programmes, be aware that many teaching assistants apply with substantial experience.  We do also welcome applications from those who have not worked as a teaching assistant but having some observational experience will help. 

For anyone applying for a programme at a special needs school, experience of children with special needs would be a significant advantage.  

See our School Experience tab for top tips on how to arrange school experience.

Something specific for salaried programmes?

It is important to understand that salaried programmes represent a significant commitment from the host school to fund your training and to pay you a salary and associated benefits such as pension contributions.  For this reason, schools will take care to select candidates who they feel have a level of maturity (irrespective of age) to operate as a responsible member of school staff. 

Occupational Health Care Check & Disclosure and Barring Check

These checks are carried out after an offer is made but need to be satisfactory to enable you to start the programme. 

• On an unsalaried programmes they are administered by our partner university.                                                                      
• On a salaried programme they are administered by the school.