Routes into Teaching in the UK

To become a teacher in the UK there are two requirements:

1. You must have a degree in a relevant subject
2. You must be recognised as a teacher in the country where you wish to teach

There are two basic routes through which this can be done:

1. The undergraduate route for those without a degree
2. The postgraduate route for those with a relevant degree

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you have to obtain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) by undergoing a training programme. Once qualified, you will be required to register with the General Teaching Council of the country in which you wish to teach.

In Scotland you have complete a recognised training programme in order to obtain registration with the General Teaching Council (Scotland).

In most cases it is possible to teach in a different country from the one in which you trained.

Click on the country where you would like to teach to find out more about qualifying as a teacher. Training options vary slightly between the four countries.

You should also think about the type of school in which you hope to teach as this may affect your choice of training route.