Funding for PGCE Students

Loans and Grants

PGCE students can apply for loans and grants in the same way as an undergraduate student. For more information on how to apply please visit our Applying for Financial Support page.

PGCE Exeter Bursary

The University of Exeter is offering a £500 bursary to all UK students studying for a PGCE at the University in 2012/13, whose household income is £25,000 or less.  There is no separate application procedure for this bursary.  Instead, the University uses the information that you supply in your main student finance application. You must make sure that you give consent for details of your application to be shared with the university when you complete it. Students who do not apply for student finance will not be eligible to receive this bursary.

The bursary will be paid in one instalment in November 2012.

TDA Bursary 2012/13

In addition to the tuition and maintenance support described above, the Training and Development Agency for Schools offers further financial incentives and support to offset the costs of PGCE training for some subjects. In 2012/13 bursaries are available for Home and EU trainees on eligible postgraduate courses in England. Bursary amounts will vary depending on teaching subject and degree class.

The 2012/13 bursary scheme recognises exceptional achievement outside of degree results and allows flexibility in some cases. In exceptional circumstances trainees may receive a higher bursary than their degree class would otherwise allow. This allows the scheme to take account of, for example, trainees with a 2:2 and a PhD or proven exceptional subject knowledge gained from another career.

The information below summarises the standard training bursaries available in 2012/13:

ITT Specialism

Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Modern Languages ⁽³⁾
Trainee with First - £20,000
Trainee with 2.1 - £15,000
Trainee with 2.2 - £12,000

Other priority secondary specialisms and all primary specialisms ⁽¹⁾
Trainee with First - £9,000
Trainee with 2.1 - £5,000
Trainee with 2.2 - £0

General science and non-priority secondary specialisms ⁽²⁾
Trainee with First - £0
Trainee with 2.1 - £0
Trainee with 2.2 - £0

_{(1) Art and design, design and technology, economics, engineering, English, dance, drama, geography, history, information and communications technology (ICT), computer science, classics, music, biology, physical education, primary, and religious education mainstream post-graduate ITT courses attract £9,000 bursaries for trainees with a first and £5,000 for trainees with a 2:1.}

_{(2) General science, business studies, citizenship, applied science, health and social care, leisure and tourism, media studies, psychology, social sciences (except economics) ITT courses attract no bursary.}

_{(3) Physics trainees with a 2:1 or first are able to apply for an Institute of Physics scholarship. The scholarship is worth £20,000. Trainees who hold the scholarship will not also be eligible for the standard Department for Education (DfE) bursary. Physics trainees who are not awarded the scholarship will continue in 2012/13 to be eligible for the standard £20,000 bursary for those with a first, and £15,000 bursary for those with a 2:1.}

Please click here to go to the TDA website for full details on TDA Bursaries for 2012/13 entry

How to Apply for the TDA Bursary

There is no formal application procedure for the bursary but in order to receive payment, you must register for your course and provide details of your nominated bank account. You can do this after you have registered through the University’s on-line Student Records System. Nearer the time for registration you will be sent details of how to do this by the Admissions Team. As part of the registration process, you will be asked to accept the University's terms and conditions which will include the terms and conditions for receipt of the TDA Teacher Training Bursary. You can also see a copy of the ITT Teaching Bursary Terms & Conditions 2012/13 here. Once you have registered you will receive a payment schedule detailing the date that each payment will be made.

You will receive your first bursary payment in October, as long as you have provided your bank account details.  Subsequent payments will be made according to the dates stated on the payment schedule. Payments are normally made in 9 to 10 instalments.

If you are thinking of withdrawing from your course or interrupting your studies, you must inform your College immediately as you will no longer be eligible to receive the bursary. If any bursary payment is received after your last day of attendance the University will request an immediate repayment as the funds have to be returned the TDA.

If you interrupt your studies and return at a later date, you will only be eligible for the portion of bursary not already received.

International Students are not eligible for the training bursary. Payments made before eligibility has been properly assessed are made on a provisional basis and may be subject to repayment.

If you have any enquiries regarding the Teacher Training Bursary, please contact the Student Information Desk on 08444 724724 (UK callers) or +44 (0)1392 724724 (International callers) or sid@exeter.ac.uk.