International teacher training

Employed routes are open to you if you are already employed by a school, for example as a teaching assistant or unqualified teacher. You will continue to work in your employing school. However, for iQTS courses, you will complete a short second placement in a contrasting setting.

Our non-employed route is for postgraduate students who will be hosted on placement in two schools during the course. Students on this route must source their host schools themselves.

If you do not require iQTS, then you can choose to study our International PGCE.

All routes are available for Primary (5-11) and Secondary (11-16 / 11-19 age phases). Secondary subject specialisms offered in:

For 11-19: Art and design, biology, computing, chemistry, dance, design and technology, drama, English, English as an additional or second language (EAL/ESL), geography, history, maths, music, modern foreign languages, physical education, physics and religious studies.

For 14-19: Business studies, classics and psychology.

All routes can be taken full-time or part-time. Full-time trainees are in school 5 days per week for one academic year. Part-time students are in school 2.5 days per week for two academic years.

The assessment-only route to qualified teacher status allows teachers to demonstrate that they already meet all the QTS standards, without the need for any further training.

International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) could enhance your employability around the world, will provide excellent professional development in your current school and enable you to teach in England should you wish to.

The iPGCE with iQTS is a professional teaching qualification awarded by Coventry University’s National Institute of Teaching and Education (NITE).

The Department for Education (DfE) in England recognises iQTS as equal to QTS (Qualified Teacher Status). Those who have successfully completed the iQTS qualification with NITE will be automatically awarded QTS.

If the iQTS holder then wishes to teach in a maintained school or non-maintained special school in England, they will need to complete an induction period. They will be able to complete their induction either in a DfE-accredited British School Overseas (BSO) or in a relevant school in England.

As iQTS is a professional qualification, it does not necessarily grant holders with the required teaching licence or access to a teacher induction programme in their respective countries. Prior to accepting a place on our iPGCE with iQTS course, prospective candidates are advised to check any necessary local requirements for a teacher licence and/or induction programme with their teaching authority.