Get degree ideas using our A level explorer tool

studentstudents, parents, grandparentsgb, united kingdomteacher training

Teacher training courses

Do you see yourself working with young children to develop their essential social skills, helping a primary school class grasp a key idea you've taught them, or sharing your passion for a subject with secondary school students? Teacher training degrees combine the study of curriculum subjects with learning teaching techniques and putting these into practice during hands-on school placements. The course leads to QTS (qualified teacher status) to enable you to teach in a school or college.

Studying teacher training at university

Example course modules

  • Learning how to learn
  • Developing professional knowledge
  • Lifestyles and societies
  • Situated communication
  • Acknowledging diversity in the classroom
  • An integrated approach to meeting Children's needs
  • Excellence in English, mathematics and sciences
  • Wider curriculum: subjects in focus
  • Education, values and society
  • Reflective teaching: principles and practice

Teaching hours / week

Average for this subject

11
Low
14
Hours
17
High
5
14
Hours

Average for all subjects

The time you'll spend in lectures and seminars each week will vary from university to university, so use this as a guide.

More on studying and contact hours at uni

Who studies this subject

  • Female : 84%
    Male : 16%
  • Mature : 33%
    School leaver : 67%
  • Full-time : 86%
    Part-time : 14%

What students say about teacher training

What you need to get on a course

Subjects you need

A-levels (or equivalent) usually required

  • At least one from art, design and technology, english, modern language, geography, history, IT, maths, music, religious studies and sciences

Useful to have

  • CACHE (early years primary teaching/primary education teacher training)

Application checklist

Here's a guide to what to expect from the application process - also check individual university entry requirements, as these may differ.

  • January application
  • October application
  • Personal statement
  • Portfolio
  • Interview
  • Entry test
  • Work experience
  • Audition

Personal statement advice

Your personal statement is a core part of your university application, and getting it just right takes time. Before you start work on yours, take a look at our five quick tips on writing a personal statement. We'll help you past that writer's block!

Career prospects

Sources: HECSU & KIS
Teaching degrees for training and qualifying in education - the most popular of which is primary school teaching - tend to be three or four-year courses, but check with course tutors about how long you will need to study to get your Qualified Teacher Status. Most graduates go into teaching roles, usually primary school teaching, so these courses have good employment rates and starting salaries. But, be aware that primary school jobs are in short supply in some parts of the country, so if you hope to teach primary school children, don't expect to automatically be able to do so in your local area - you may still have to follow the jobs. That said, teaching roles are there to be found country-wide.
Professional and accrediting bodies:

Six months after graduating

Typical graduate job areas
  • Teaching and educational professionals

Longer term career paths

Jobs where this degree is useful

  • Primary school teacher
  • Private tutor
  • Special needs teacher

Other real-life job examples

  • Sports coach
  • Careers adviser
  • Learning mentor

What employers like about this subject

A degree in teacher training will help you develop skills in teaching and motivating students; child development; professional practice in teaching; theories of learning and safeguarding of young people. Other useful transferrable skills that a teacher training degree can provide include communication, time management, adaptability, problem-solving, motivation of yourself and others, team-working and leadership. Teacher training graduates at first degree level most commonly go into primary school teaching, but also work for secondary schools, in government (often as regulators or examiners), nurseries, colleges, hospitals and in business training.