Can I get PGCE funding?

PGCE Funding isn't an easy thing to understand. Do you qualify? Do you not? It's tough to know, even if the information is readily available! We’d don’t doubt it’s been to understand exactly how it works.

So do you need a bursary or scholarship to study this degree, or can you push through without it? Let’s answer the commonly asked questions!

Can I get funding for a PGCE?

Yes, you can! Funding is available, either through the usual route of bursaries, grants or scholarships, but the Student Finance route is also available in most cases.

You can still receive funding from Student Finance England, even if you are receiving a bursary or scholarship.

Student Finance

Student Finance tuition fee loans cover the full course fees (which are currently up to £9,250). What’s more, all UK trainee teachers are entitled to PGCE funding, regardless of circumstance.

You’ll also need to consider maintenance loans. The size of your maintenance loan will depend on your personal circumstances. For example, if you live at home with your parents during term time, then you qualify for the lowest amount, while a full-time student living away from home in London will likely get the maximum.

Third parties

There are also third-party companies that will offer funding for students too. The Ambition Insitutite offers teacher training funding that is specifically geared towards the subjects you are looking to teach in. Other companies will also have funding options available if you don’t qualify through Student Finance.

PGCE bursaries and scholarships

That’s the basics covered, but funding PGCE courses doesn’t stop there! There are also bursaries and scholarships available from PGCE government funding to encourage students to take teacher training. It’s a highly skilled job, so the amount you can qualify for is linked to your undergraduatedegree classification and the current demand for teachers in that subject area.

Extra financial support for PGCE students

In addition to the government loans for PGCE fees and the subject-based bursaries on offer, you could also be eligible for extra help if:

• You have a disability.
• You are a parent.
• You have an adult dependant.

If you do qualify for extra help, then you don’t need to repay it. Specific help includes Child Tax Credits, Disabled Students’ Allowance, Parents’ Learning allowance (up to £1,716 a year), Adult Dependants’ Grant (up to £3,007 a year), and 85% of costs for childcare while you study (up to £169.31 a week for one child, or £290.27 if you have more than one child).

How to get funding for PGCE?

When applying for PGCE funding, you’ll need a few things. You will need evidence of acceptance onto a course, proof of identification and proof of residency and income. If you think you might be eligible for extra financial support, then you will also need evidence of your circumstances, such as your children’s birth certificates.

PGCE funding: how to apply

After accepting your place on a PGCE course, you can apply to Student Finance England for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan. You can apply online, although you may also need to submit paper documents in the post as well.

Other methods will vary. If you are applying for a scholarship, then you will need to see who is providing the scholarship, and what their eligibility criteria are. If you are applying for any funding through a third-party company, then you will need to do the same there too.

When should I apply for PGCE funding?

You can apply for funding as soon as you’ve received the offer for a place on a PGCE course. A quick heads-up, it’s not always a fast process! It’s sensible to request financial support in plenty of time (especially as they might request further evidence or information after your initial submission).

We generally recommend doing this as soon as possible. Even with the time consideration, the sooner the better! That way you can start allocating funding accordingly, especially if you need to draw up a student budget.