Teacher Training Bursaries & Scholarships - 2025-2026

Best Practice Network is pleased to announce the following financial incentives are available for Initial Teacher Training starting in the 2025/26 academic year:

What are Bursaries and Scholarships?

Bursaries are tax-free payments you receive if you're training to teach certain subjects. If you're eligible for a bursary, you'll get it automatically.

Scholarships are awarded by organisations with a passion for their subject area. They combine tax-free payments with extra benefits like subject-specific support, mentoring and networking opportunities. If you're eligible, you can apply directly to the scholarship provider.

You cannot receive both a bursary and a scholarship. If you receive either a bursary or a scholarship, you do not need to pay it back. Bursaries and scholarships are not available for salaried teacher training.

Eligibility for Bursaries

You do not need to apply for a bursary. If you’re eligible, you’ll automatically receive it. You must be eligible for student finance to receive a bursary (unless you’re training to teach physics or languages). You’ll also need at least one of the following:

• a bachelor’s degree class 2:2 (honours) or higher
• a master’s degree
• a PhD 

How bursaries are paid

A bursary is paid over a minimum of 10 months by your teacher training provider across the duration of your course. They will confirm when you will get the payments. You will not need to pay tax or National Insurance on bursary payments.

How to get a bursary

You do not need to apply for a bursary. When you apply for teacher training, Best Practice Network will check if you’re eligible for a bursary. If you are, we will confirm this in writing before you start your course.

Eligibility for Scholarships

You must be eligible for student finance to receive a scholarship (unless you’re training to teach physics or languages). You’ll also need at least one of the following:

• a bachelor’s degree class 2:1 (honours) or higher
• a master’s degree
• a PhD

If you achieved a 2:2 in your degree, you may still be eligible. You would need to show you have enough relevant experience and subject knowledge.

Scholarships are awarded by independent organisations which set their own assessment requirements.

Scholarships offer more than just financial benefits. For example, they can provide professional body membership, subject-specific support, mentoring, events and classroom resources.

How scholarships are paid

A scholarship is paid over a minimum of 10 months by your teacher training provider across the duration of your course. They will confirm when you will get the payments. You will not need to pay tax or National Insurance on scholarship payments.

How to apply for a scholarship

You need to apply directly to the scholarship provider. Each provider sets their own application deadline and will confirm if you meet their eligibility requirements. You can out find about how to apply, deadlines and more details about each scholarship on the scholarship providers’ websites:

• the Royal Society of Chemistry (chemistry)
• BCS The Chartered Institute for IT (computing)
• British Council (languages – French, German and Spanish only)
• the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications, and partners (maths)
• the Institute of Physics (physics)

Learn More and Apply for Teacher Training

Initial Teacher Training