Teacher Certification/Training: How much will it cost?

Hello!

We are looking to relocate to the UK in the next 6 months or so (my spouse is British and we've been married 8 + years). I'm currently in the process of applying for a spousal visa.

My question -- and apologies if the answer is already listed some place on the forum! -- is I'm interested in teaching once we are settled in the UK. (Preferably special education) and I wonder what it will cost to become qualified/trained...

I currently have a bachelor's degree (not in education), and it would cost me approximately $30,000 USD for a master's (plus teacher certification) here in the U.S.

I do intend to apply for British citizenship once I'm eligible to do so.

Many thanks!

Tuition fees for a Masters vary a lot, but as an overseas fee payer you can expect to be paying at least £10,000.  If you are prepared to wait 3 years, you would be eligible for the "home" rate of fees, but you would need to check directly with the university what that would be.

Sounds about right. One point though - a UK masters only takes one year, not two like in the US.

Tuition fees for a Masters vary a lot, but as an overseas fee payer you can expect to be paying at least £10,000.  If you are prepared to wait 3 years, you would be eligible for the "home" rate of fees, but you would need to check directly with the university what that would be.

Thank you for the reply! Once we find out where exactly we will be living I'll check with the university. But it's helpful to have an estimate at least. Thank you again!

Sounds about right. One point though - a UK masters only takes one year, not two like in the US.

1 year? That is REALLY good to know! Thank you.

Teacher training is normally done as a PGCE rather than a masters though - again, 1 year, not sure on overseas fees for that though. One website I found (http://www.chilterntraininggroup.org/funding.html) did suggest that they might not be all that high in all circumstances though - as I understand it university-based courses are a lot more expensive though.

as I understand it university-based courses are a lot more expensive though.

PGCEs are university-based courses... I have several friends who have done or are currently doing PGCEs and all of them have been done at a university (Bristol Uni, Exeter Uni, UWE, Cardiff Uni etc.).

In terms of fees, the Exeter University PGCE fees for 2011/12 are:
- £3,375 for Home and EU students
- £12,200 for international students

The one I linked to is accredited by a university (Bedfordshire), but they don't do any of the teaching. Possibly why it's so comparatively cheap.

If you are prepared to wait 3 years, you would be eligible for the "home" rate of fees, but you would need to check directly with the university what that would be.

Does anyone have any additional information on when one is eligible for "home" fees and how that works? I have no idea how that works.

I am entering the UK in December on a spousal visa and was really interested in applying for a GCSE course but would need to know which tuition rates apply to my current situation.

Thanks!

Mandi

In answer to my own question, after doing some research I have found a very helpful link at http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/tuition_fees_ewni.php#cat1 [nofollow]

which states:
Special Provision:

For people studying in England on higher education courses starting on or after 1 September 2011
You do not have to meet the Category 3 (b) or (c) criteria (above) if you are studying on a course in England only, which starts on or after the 1 September 2011, and you are:

the 'relevant family member' [see Box 7] of a non-UK EU national, and that non-UK EU national is in the UK as a self sufficient person or as a student;

OR

the 'relevant family member' [see Box 7] of a UK national who has exercised a right of residence in another EU member state, for more than three months, as a self-sufficient person, a student or a worker

AND

your 'relevant family member' has been ordinarily resident in the European Economic Area (EEA) and/or Switzerland and/or the overseas territories for the three years before the 'first day of the first academic year of the course' that you are studying.

Which means I can afford to at least apply to grad school beginning next year! Hurrah!

Mandi

I'm confused though, that provision was meant for Category 3 or EU Nationals (aka Non UK Nationals) and their family members. Your spouse is British so I believe you would be under Category 1. Also, your husband, who would be your 'relevant family member' has not be resident in the UK or EU for the last three years so you don't fit the requirements.

CATEGORY 1:
Those who are 'settled' in the UK and meet the main residence requirements

In order to qualify for ‘home’ fees under this category, you must meet all of the following criteria:

(a) you must be 'settled' in the UK [see Box 1] on the 'first day of the first academic year of the course' [see Box 2],

AND

(b) you must be ‘ordinarily resident’ [see Box 3] in the UK on the ‘first day of the first academic year of the course’ [see Box 2],
AND

(c) you must also have been 'ordinarily resident' [see Box 3] in the UK and Islands (the Islands means the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man) for the full three year period before the 'first day of the first academic year of the course'. For example, if your course begins in October 2011, you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands from 1 September 2008 to 31 August 2011,

AND

(d) the main purpose for your residence in the UK and islands must not have been to receive full-time education during any part of that three-year period.

OT: If the OP has been married to her spouse for more than 4 years, shouldn't the OP be applying for ILE and not the spousal visa?

It's probably worth remembering that fees even for home students will shoot up next year.  I think the government agreed a rate of GBP 9000/year, and you can bet that a lot of universities will charge the top rate.

Also, if you are planning to teach a subject for which there is currently a shortage of teachers (eg. science, math), then there may be more financial incentives..

I would suggest looking into the Graduate Teacher Programme.  It's designed for people who have had other careers and want to switch into teaching.  You get to teach and earn an income while training.  I've heard it's difficult to get a spot, but worth looking into.
http://www.tda.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options/gtp.aspx

I'm confused though, that provision was meant for Category 3 or EU Nationals (aka Non UK Nationals) and their family members. Your spouse is British so I believe you would be under Category 1. Also, your husband, who would be your 'relevant family member' has not be resident in the UK or EU for the last three years so you don't fit the requirements.

I believe (and will have to call the UKCISA help line for help sorting this out) that spouses should be fine as I qualify under section a of Category 3 being a "'relevant family member' [see Box 7] of a UK national" and I don't have to meet and do not need to qualify for sections b or c due to the Special Provision.

I'll make some calls and post my findings.

Also will look into the GTP. Thanks for the advice!

I still think you're mistaken, this provision reads that it is for family members of Non-UK spouses and still requires the 3 years of residency from UK spouses.

    the 'relevant family member' [see Box 7] of a non-UK EU national, and that non-UK EU national is in the UK as a self sufficient person or as a student;

OR


    the 'relevant family member' [see Box 7] of a UK national who has exercised a right of residence in another EU member state, for more than three months, as a self-sufficient person, a student or a worker

AND

    your 'relevant family member' has been ordinarily resident in the European Economic Area (EEA) and/or Switzerland and/or the overseas territories for the three years before the 'first day of the first academic year of the course' that you are studying.

If your partner has been living in the US for the last 8 years with you than you wouldn't qualify for that provision. I would still recommend calling the UKCISA and getting an answer from the horse's mouth.