What funding is available for Physics Teacher Training?

The fees for our full-time Physics Teacher Training, which leads to a QTS and a PGCE, are £9,790. In addition to their fees, trainees pay a non-refundable £100 Registration fee which covers their DBS and Occupational Health check.

Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans are available to eligible candidates, and you may also be able to access tax-free bursaries of £29,000 or scholarships of £31,000.

To determine your eligibility for DfE funding for teacher training, you should apply to Student Finance England (SFE) as early as possible. You do not need to have a confirmed teacher training place with a provider before submitting your application.

It is useful for all trainees to submit an application to SFE, as this is how eligibility to access public funding is assessed. All NMAP SCITT trainees are advised to register with Student Finance England.

Trainees currently registered with Student Finance Scotland will need to transfer or link their account to Student Finance England.

Teacher Training Bursaries

You may be eligible for a government teacher training bursary, dependent on your degree classification and residency status in the UK. The SCITT can help you assess your eligibility and advise you accordingly.

Teacher Training Scholarships

Scholarships are available and awarded by the Institute of Physics. You should apply directly to the relevant institution for this funding. They also have their own eligibility criteria, which you can find on their website.

Bursary and scholarship payments are made in 10 monthly instalments over your training year(s), so you may also choose to apply for a Tuition Fee Loan and/or a Maintenance Loan.

DfE Physics Teacher Training Bursaries and Scholarships

For courses starting in 2025, the following amounts are available for eligible trainee teachers. Please note that the level of teacher training bursary funding available is related to the subject that you wish to teach and is not determined by your undergraduate degree subject.

Funding rates and eligibility criteria for Physics and Engineers Teach Physics teacher training in 2025-2026 are as follows:

     
Physics £29,000 £31,000
     
Subject Bursary 2 Scholarship 3
 

Bursaries and scholarships are available to trainees on a tuition fee-based teacher training course in England that leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). Availability is dependent on your highest relevant academic award and the subject in which you are training to teach. To receive a bursary or scholarship, you must be entitled to support under the Student Finance England criteria. Residents of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland will need to be entitled to support as set out by your country’s student finance body (Student Finance Wales, Student Awards Agency Scotland or Student Finance NI). 

Please note that overseas physics applicants are not eligible for scholarships, bursaries, or student loans.

Candidates with overseas degrees may be asked to formally recognise any overseas qualifications through UK ENIC (formerly NARIC).  Get Into Teaching can help you with this. Contact them on 0800 389 2500, and they can provide you with guidance on your equivalent qualifications and a free UK ENIC statement of comparability (this usually costs £49.50 plus VAT) once you have submitted your application to teacher training, which will be required by the NMAP SCITT.

Bursaries are available to trainees with a bachelor’s honours degree at 2:2 or above or a master’s degree or PhD.

Physics trainees can apply for a teacher training scholarship with the appropriate professional body. Scholarships are awarded in place of a bursary. Each professional scholarship body sets its own eligibility criteria – find out more on Get Into Teaching’s dedicated scholarship pages.

Physics Teacher Training Scholarships

Physics teacher training scholarships are offered by the Institute of Physics (IOP). All scholars will be offered formal and informal opportunities throughout their training year to get involved with the scholar community and interact with your fellow scholars, allowing them to share ideas and draw on support.

Scholars are also offered super trips and masterclasses at education and science-related venues across the country to demonstrate how they might deliver an educational trip to that venue with their future pupils and to introduce them to Physics teaching ideas beyond the curriculum. They are also invited to workshops to learn from experienced Physics teachers and network with their peers.

Physics scholars get free IOP membership during their training year, which includes full access to the IOP in-house magazine Physics World, invitations to local branch meetings and free journal downloads.

How to Apply

You can apply for a Physics teacher training scholarship via the IOP website. If your online application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an assessment day in London. On the assessment day, you will sit a written test, participate in a small group discussion and attend a panel interview.

If your application is unsuccessful, you will still be eligible for a bursary – Physics funding options.

Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans

A Tuition Fee Loan may be available to cover the full tuition fee. If you take one out, you do not have to pay your course costs up front. A Maintenance Loan is available to help with living costs. The available loans are:

    • A Tuition Fee Loan of up to £9,790 to cover your fees
    • A Maintenance Loan of up to £13,762 to support your living costs

To find out more about Tuition Fees and Maintenance Loans, visit the Get into Teaching website.

Extra Financial Support

You may be entitled to additional financial support if you are a parent, have an adult dependant or a disability. This support does not have to be paid back but is income-assessed.

Further Information

To learn more about teacher training funding options, visit the ‘funding your training’ page on the Get into Teaching website.