Funding for PGCE (teacher training)

Legacy_user

I hope this is the right place to post this - if not, please let me know and I'll move it.

I'm finishing my undergraduate degree this year, and would quite like to go into teaching. I've been on the Student Finance website and various university pages trying to work out how PGCE training is funded, but I'm struggling to find the information and was hoping someone on here might be able to help out.

I know you're eligible for a bursary if your degree classification is high enough, for certain specialisations. I'm on track for a 1st and want to teach primary school, so I think I'd be eligible for £9,000 from that. It also seems like you can apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans for postgraduate training.

The directgov website says: "If you’re doing an undergraduate or postgraduate teacher training course, you can apply for the same student loans, grants and bursaries as other undergraduate students." I know this is fairly clear, but it seems so odd - I've always heard that you're not eligible for student loans if you've already completed an undergraduate degree. Can anyone confirm that this doesn't make a difference, and that you do get further student loans if you're doing a PGCE?

princessdon

Hi I am not sure - but when I did mine (many many moons ago) it was how long your degree was. Ie if 3 years you got your PGCE free if got a 2:1 or above, as the B.Ed was 4 years so in effect the same entitlement.

So out of wanting to be nosy (and for no other reason) how long is your current degree?

System

Only three years, but I did a couple of years in another school before that (changed degrees and started over). I had to pay the first year of fees for my new degree, otherwise I'd have had getting five years of fee support instead of the maximum four. I got a maintenance loan for all five years, though, as the requirement for that was just that you couldn't already have an undergraduate degree. I hope that doesn't cause problems! The simple answer would be to contact one of the universities and ask, obviously, but I was hoping I could get an idea on here first!

Loanranger

Have you thought about contacting your university's careers service for this info? They will know.

Loanranger

Here may help...

http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/funding/training-in-england/postgraduate-funding.aspx

a very very quick look suggests that a first degree and primary teaching will attract bursary of 9K but check with your university's careers service and also the institution where you wish to take the PGCE.

System

Thanks, Loanranger. I'd seen the information about bursaries, but I was less clear about where I stood with regards to tuition fee and maintenance loans. I was hoping someone on here might have been through the process recently, but it looks like contacting the universities will be my best route for information. Thanks for replying

ScorpiondeRooftrouser

Please be aware that you're entering a massively overcrowded market in teaching, despite the fact that they still offer you bursaries to do it. Getting on and completing the course is the easy part; it's getting a job afterwards that's the main struggle at the moment.

System

Thanks for the advice, scorpion. I'm aware it's a tough field to get into, but it's what I really want to do. My thinking is that if I can get onto the training, that's one hurdle I've got over. If I can't get a job afterwards, I'll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it. I really do appreciate the warning, though!

totallybored

You're too late to get a place starting this September so you'd need to apply for September 2013. There is no guarantee that the bursaries will be available next year too.

System

Totallybored, I knew I would have to apply for September 2013, but I hadn't thought about the bursaries being stopped this year! Looks like contacting the universities themselves and asking specifically about next year's funding is definitely going to be the best route for more information. Thanks for the reply.

Person_one

What's your first degree in?

If you can teach a shortage subject at secondary you'll give yourself a much better chance at a job afterwards, and a chance of some additional funding to train.

I don't think its possible to overstate how insanely oversubscribed primary teaching is, huge numbers of NQTs are having to work supply or as TAs for YEARS after qualifying. Also, you'd be up against people who'd done a dedicated 4 year degree in primary education, it might be even harder than you're anticipating.