Are all PGCE students eligible for a government bursary?

Students taking PGCE courses at University of Bristol may be eligible for the bursary.

Which subject do you have to teach to receive the PGCE bursary or scholarship?

PGCE students studying at Bristol, who are training to teach any of the following subjects, are eligible for a bursary:

• Languages (French, German, Spanish)
• Mathematics
• Physics,
• Chemistry
• Biology
• English
• Geography

I'd like to teach Italian but that is not listed. Can I still get a bursary?

The government funded bursaries and scholarships are available to students training to teach German, French or Spanish. The Modern Foreign Languages PGCE at University of Bristol mainly offers places to students who will teach combinations of those languages.

There are some places for students wishing to teach French and Italian, or German and Italian, and such students would qualify for a scholarship or a bursary because they will also be training to teach French or German.

Can EU/International students receive the bursary or scholarship?

All EU nationals who are deemed home students for fee purposes, and are eligible for student funding, should be entitled to a tax-free bursary or scholarship and a tuition fee loan. Under current rules, EU nationals can access this support if they have resided in the European Economic Area or Switzerland for three years before the start of the course.

International students who are studying a PGCE in Languages or Physics should be eligible for the bursary.

In addition to the PGCE bursary or scholarship, can I apply for a student loan?

Yes, many PGCE students will be eligible for a loan for tuition fees and a maintenance loan to support them while they are taking a PGCE.

How do I apply for a student loan?

Funding for students from Wales and Northern Ireland is also available from the relevant funding provider. Visit Student Finance Wales and Student Finance NI for more information.

The Scottish funding system is different from the rest of the UK. Visit the Student Awards Agency for Scotland website for more information.

How much will I have to pay back?

Student loans for PGCE students are the same as the undergraduate loans. While the total amount you are borrowing will increase, taking out these loans will not affect your repayment amounts. These are linked to your salary once you start earning above the income threshold. Information on current thresholds is available on the government's website.

I am thinking of taking a PGCE via the SCITT GiTEP route. If I do this, how does it affect the funding?

School centred initial teacher training (SCITT) is offered by the University of Bristol via GiTEP in addition to the traditional University based PGCE route. Students taking either route are eligible for the same funding.

Can PGCE students apply for a postgraduate master's loan from the Student Loans Company?

No, PGCE students are not eligible to apply for the government's postgraduate loan scheme which is only available for students taking a master's qualification. PGCE students wishing to take a student loan are eligible for the same loans as undergraduate students.

If I receive the PGCE bursary or scholarship and later decide to study for a master's, can I apply for the postgraduate master's loan then?

Yes, this is possible but due to the current ELQ (Equivalent or Lower Qualification) rules if you take a PGCE and earn 60 credits towards a master's qualification it is not possible to use the credits towards a master's and take out a postgraduate master's loan.

Master's students who hold a PGCE need to choose between carrying forward the credit from the units and taking out a loan; you cannot do both.

It is possible to retake the units and take a postgraduate master's loan while studying for the master's qualification.