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.

Details for 2013/14 PGCE Exeter Bursary to follow shortly.

National College for Teaching & Leadership Bursary (NCTL) 2013/14

In addition to the tuition and maintenance support described above, the National College for Teaching & Leadership (formally known as the Training Agency) offers further financial incentives and support to offset the costs of PGCE training for some subjects. In 2013/14 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 2013/14 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 2013/14:

ITT Specialism

Physics^*, Mathematics^*, Chemistry*, Modern Languages
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 - £4,000
Trainee with 2.2 - £0

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

_{(1) Biology, English, Geography, History, Computer Science**, Classics, Latin, Greek, Music, Physical Education, Primary mainstream postgraduate ITT courses attract £9,000 bursaries for trainees with a first and £4,000 for trainees with a 2:1.}

_{* Trainees who successfully gain scholarship award in these subjects (with degree classifications 1st or 2:1) and satisfy all other criteria will receive an award of £20000.}

_{** Trainees who successfully gain a BCS scholarship in computing science (with degree classifications 1st or 2:1) and satisfy all other criteria will receive an award of £20000. For those Trainees in computing science who do not successfully gain a computing science scholarship will receive the bursary award in line with their degree classification, for a 1st the bursary award is £9000 and for a 2:1 it is £4000.}

_{***Trainees on the Direct School Program who spend the majority of their time (more than 50%) in a school with 35% or more pupils in Free School Meals will receive 25% uplift to their bursary award.}

Visit the Department of Education site for full details on NCTL Bursaries for 2013/14 entry.

How to apply for the NCTL 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 NCTL Training Bursary and you will be advised on the Bursary you appear to be eligible for and the payment dates. A copy of the ITT Teaching Bursary Terms and Conditions for 2013/14 will be available shortly.

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 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 NCTL.

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.