Course Info

The University of Buckingham is one of a small number of universities granted permission by the UK government to offer the International Qualified Teacher Status course to teachers outside the UK, from September 2024. QTS is a requirement for teachers in many (not all) schools in England and QTS is often considered an excellent teaching qualification internationally. All Initial Teacher Training courses at The University of Buckingham are employment-based, so this course is only available to those who are employed as a teacher in their school. This course is open to anyone teaching primary ages (5-11), middle route ages (7-14) and secondary route ages (11-19). 

The iQTS programme offers teachers based in schools outside the UK who have not undergone a period of formal training the opportunity to participate in a structured programme of professional development leading to a teaching qualification. The iQTS will automatically be converted into the standard QTS by the UK Government.

The 37-week course starts in September 2024 (with online induction taking place in late August) and will be taught in English. Delivery of training will be online. Applicants can also choose to undertake the PGCE alongside iQTS. 

Why choose the University of Buckingham?

1. We have 15 years of experience delivering teacher training to schools abroad. In a typical year we have trainee teachers from 40 different countries.
2. Our lecturers have wide experience in schools overseas, having taught in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, China, the UAE as well as the UK.
3. You will be assigned a University of Buckingham tutor who will meet online with trainee and mentor throughout the course. You will receive one visit from a University of Buckingham tutor in the first term of the course.
4. If your English is good enough, you may be able to add a PGCE (Post-Graduate Certificate of Education) to your course.
    

The course

Starting every September, the iQTS programme is a 37-week school-based course during which trainee teachers work under the guidance of a mentor (appointed by the school in which they work) who observes them teach and meets weekly to review progress and set targets. In addition, there is a weekly programme of readings and reflective tasks that the trainee engages in. Finally, trainees are allocated a University of Buckingham tutor who will visit them in their schools in term 1 (depending on UK government travel advice) and then meet with them approximately once a month online to track progress and support where necessary. 

You will also participate in regular live lectures and seminars and you will be expected to attend these as a condition of the course. Dates of the Training Days will be released shortly.

Primary teachers will be expected to teach all subjects across the primary curriculum, depending on the local curriculum. 

For middle route and secondary trainees our subject specialists this year include: Art, Music, Design Technology, Food Technology, Business Studies and Economics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Computer Science, English, Drama, Classics, Modern Languages, Geography, History, Religious Studies, Psychology, Physical Education and Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE). 

There will also be some content specifically about working in international schools.

Training dates and times (all UK times). Subject Days in Bold. 

2024
•    Thursday 22 August (Induction) 9am-3pm
•    Friday 23 August (Induction) 9am-3pm
1.    Thursday 5 September 8.30 - 11.30am
2.    Thursday 12 September 8.30 - 11.30am
3.    Thursday 19 September 8.30 - 11.30am
4.    Thursday 26 September 1.30 – 5.30pm
5.    Thursday 3 October 8.30 – 11.30am
6.    Thursday 10 October 1.30 – 5.30pm
7.    Thursday 17 October 8.30 – 11.30am
8.    Thursday 7 November 1.30 – 5.30pm
9.    Thursday 14 November 8.30 – 11.30am
10.    Thursday 21 November 8.30 – 11.30am
11.    Thursday 28 November 1.30 – 5.30pm

2025
12.    Thursday 9 January 8.30 – 11.30am
13.    Thursday 16 January 1.30 – 5.30pm
14.    Thursday 23 January 8.30 – 11.30am
15.    Thursday 30th January 1.30 – 5.30pm
16.    Thursday 6 February 8.30 – 11.30am
17.    Thursday 27 February 8.30 – 11.30am
18.    Thursday 6 March 8.30 – 11.30am
19.    Thursday 13 March 8.30 – 11.30am
20.    Thursday 20 March 8.30 – 11.30am
21.    Wednesday 22 May 7.00 – 1.00pm

Your background

1. You must have a university bachelor’s degree from a UK university or equivalents; ENIC-NARIC provides advice on comparability. We will need to see your original degree certificate.
2. You must have the equivalent of a UK GCSE grade 4 in mathematics. If you are teaching pupils aged 5-11 you also need a GCSE grade 4 in science or a science. If you do not have an equivalent qualification you will be asked to sit a proficiency test. To check your qualifications meet the standard of a UK GCSE, refer to UK ENIC, where you can apply for a statement of comparability.
3. You must have good written and spoken English. This means you completed some of your education in English OR you achieve an IELTS score 6.5 OR you pass our own English language test. Read further information about language requirements.
4. You must pass child protection/safeguarding/ criminal record checks. If you have lived in the UK you will need to apply for an International Child Protection Certificate www.acro.police.uk.
5. You must have the health and physical capacity to teach
6. If you are teaching now, you should be able to provide evidence of your professional standing as a teacher
7. You must pass an online interview with staff from the University of Buckingham
8. You must have access to a reliable computer
9. You must be teaching within one of the following age phases (you do not have to teach children of all ages within any phase):
   • Ages 3-11 = primary
   • Ages 11-19 = secondary route

Your school

1. You must be employed in a school as a teacher. You must be in school for a minimum of 120 days in the year.
2. That school must be happy to support you doing the iQTS course and must be happy to recommend you.
3. Your school must be able to provide an experienced member of staff in the school to act as your mentor, observing your lessons, providing feedback and discussing the weekly tasks set by the University of Buckingham. This will take 2-3 hours a week.
4. Your school should be able to provide written confirmation that they have carried out safeguarding/ child protection checks and that you have been deemed suitable to work with children.
5. If you do not have any evidence of prior experience in another school setting, your school must be willing to support you in gaining a minimum of 10 days experience in another school setting by the end of the course.

Interview

Applicants who fulfil the criteria for entry onto the University of Buckingham's iQTS course will be invited for interview. During the interview, applicants will asked questions about the international teacher standards, subject knowledge and their suitability to teach. Successful candidates will be sent a conditional offer which will include a successful School Placement Approval Meeting between university and their school and any outstanding documents.