language teacher
Is your dream to become a language teacher? You may be eligible for this scholarship. Source: Shutterstock

Good news for those who want to teach French, German or Spanish in the UK! You could be eligible to receive a scholarship from the Department for Education (DfE), according to the British Council.

Under the Languages Teacher Training Scholarships (LTTS programme), this scholarship comes in the sum of £34,000.

If qualified, you receive a tax-free scholarship of £28,000 while you train as a secondary school language teacher in England, as well as an additional £6,000 once you’re qualified as a teacher and start teaching.

Not only that but if you’re eligible for this scholarship, there are a number of resources and tools you can take advantage of to enhance your career.

This includes “access to a range of professional development opportunities and resources, including webinars for distance-based training for your Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and membership to the Association for Language Learning (ALL) for your training year,” as well as networking opportunities with fellow teaching professionals in the UK via conferences and events with cultural institutions.

Are you eligible?


You are eligible to apply for this scholarship is you have (or predicted to achieve)  a minimum of a 2:1 in a French, German or Spanish degree.

However, if you don’t, you still may be eligible based on your interest in teaching, language skills and prior experience.

According to the British Council, “You may also be considered if you have a 2:1 degree in a different subject and can demonstrate excellent language skills and significant cultural knowledge (e.g. experience of living/working in the target language country, or you’re a native speaker).

“If you have a 2:2, or predicted 2:2 degree in the language, a relevant PhD or master’s degree, or recognised equivalent and substantial relevant experience, you may be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you wish to apply, you must be able to demonstrate your interest and experience with clear examples.”

You should also hold UK or EU student status that qualifies you to become entitled for a tuition-free loan through Student Finance England. EU students should also have resident status in the UK for three years before starting the teacher training course.

You are not required to apply for financial support under this programme, but you must meet the criteria in order to be eligible for the scholarship.

However, if you’re not from the UK, you may still be eligible to meet the criteria under Student Finance England. You can check your status by contacting them.

To be eligible to apply, you should hold UK or EU student status, and be entitled to student finance support as follows:

For residents of Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, you must meet the eligibility critieria of your country’s student finance body (Student Finance Wales, Student Awards Agency Scotland or Student Finance NI).

Why become a Language Teacher?

Language teachers are high in demand. As the world becomes more interconnected, people are travelling overseas for work and study more than ever, working with companies that have offices all over the world. Learning a new language is now seen as a valuable skill that sets graduates apart from the rest.

According to the British Council, “As a language teacher, you can use your languages and share your cultural insights every day. You will play a part in equipping the next generation with the skills employers need. Take a step towards inspiring a new generation of young people to love languages as much as you do.”

To apply for this scholarship, please visit the British Council page and take note of the application requirements. Applications will be open from 13 January to 1 June 2020.

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