STEM Teacher Education Bursaries

Bursaries are available for students undertaking a one year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme in Scotland.

Background

The Scottish Government has announced a bursary scheme for people looking to change careers and become secondary school teachers, to develop Scotland's STEM capacity through school subjects such as chemistry, computing science, maths, physics, technical education and home economics.

Eligibility

Applicants need to have been in paid employment for at least 36 months out of the last 84 months (including career breaks). Applicants who can evidence they have been in receipt of carers allowance for 36 months out of the last 84 will be deemed to meet the employment eligibility criteria.

Applicants must hold a 2.1 degree or meet the minimum initial teacher education (ITE) entry requirement with a relevant masters qualification, the content of which would make them suitable to teach maths, computing science, technical education, physics, chemistry or home economics.

Normal entry requirements for PGDE ITE also apply. Including exceptions, applicants ordinarily need to have been out of full-time education since 30th September 2020.

Applicants must have an offer of a place on a PGDE ITE programme at a Scottish university before applying.

Applicants must have an offer of admission from the University of Edinburgh on one of the following eligible Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programmes.

• PGDE Chemistry
• PGDE Design and Technology
• PGDE Mathematics
• PGDE Physics

Those already in receipt of any other subsidised Initial Teacher Education (ITE) provision where salaries or allowances are already in place will not be eligible.