Professional course iQTS - International Qualified Teacher Status

Entry year: 2025/26
Course code: UTLGYL303
Application: University
Level: Professional/Short Course
School: School of Education and Childhood
Campus: Frenchay
Duration: 36 weeks
Delivery: Online synchronous and asynchronus
Course Director: Karen Williams

Introduction

This course offers the unique opportunity to gain Qualified Teacher Status from the Department of Education (DfE) in England. Our expert team supports you along the way with a personal UWE Bristol tutor.

The International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) is an online, internationally focused teaching qualification and enables you to engage in English teacher training online, based in international schools. On successful completion of this module, the Department for Education (DfE) in England, will automatically award you Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), qualifying you to teach in schools internationally and in England too.

This award leads to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). The focus for achieving QTS is particularly in the practice modules. UWE Bristol has chosen Sheffield Hallam University (SHU) as our accredited provider for the iQTS elements of the course. We work with SHU to provide high-quality courses and share excellent practice. Together, our teacher training will help you shape the future of children and young people.

Who is it for?

This course is for people who are working in a school and wish to gain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and enhance their teaching and learning. Students on this course already have at least two years teaching experience, their school will support them on the course and provide a mentor.

Additionally, students should be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of teaching and learning pedagogy, that is required to meet the Teachers' Standards (DfE 2011).

Entry requirements

Criteria

For Primary (5-11 years), you should typically meet the following criteria:

a standard equivalent to a GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics and Science.
an undergraduate degree, or a recognised equivalent qualification. This is typically 2:2 or higher but we will look at all applications against the demands of the course.
your degree does not need to be in a particular subject or discipline to study the Primary course.

For Secondary (11-16 years), we offer this course in the following subject areas: Mathematics, Science, Geography, Business, Computer Science, Modern Foreign Languages, Physical Education, History and English.

You should typically meet the following criteria:

a standard equivalent to a GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics.
an undergraduate degree, or a recognised equivalent qualification. This is typically 2:2 or higher but we will look at all applications against the demands of the course.

You need to have robust knowledge, skills and understanding of your phase or subject at the appropriate age ranges in order to enrol on this course. This may have been part of your undergraduate degree studies, but we may also consider other qualifications and experience as evidence of subject knowledge. We suggest you explore the relevant English National Curriculum for your particular key stage. Prior subject knowledge will be addressed through the admissions process and at interview.

You must meet all of the iQTS Teachers' Standards, including those that relate to subject and curriculum knowledge, by the end of your training. Full support will be provided to ensure you are clear on the requirements of the iQTS Teachers' Standards.

When applying to this course, students should upload a personal statement which explains why they want to do this course and what they hope this course will allow them to achieve once completed.

To enrol on the course, you will also need:

School

This is a practice-based course. To enrol on the course, applicants need to be working in a school who will support their full engagement on the course and be able to confirm that the student has any safeguarding clearance required in that education system/context.

This will usually involve at least 120 days in teaching practice, including an intensive teaching block at the end of the year. At least two weeks of this teaching practice will need to include experience in an alternative school setting. If this is not possible we will explore alternative ways of ensuring trainees have experience and understanding of a different school context.

We will usually ask trainees to video record some of their teaching (the trainee as teacher, not the learners) to support self-reflection and tutor and mentor evaluation. The school will need to approve this feature of the programme.

We will liaise with the school, and provide full information, along with a contract of engagement detailing specific features and requirements of the course. The school will need to be able to deliver the school-based elements of the qualification. This needs to be agreed and signed by the Headteacher or delegate at the school, and by UWE Bristol. We may also need to undertake checks to ensure there are no barriers to undertaking an international teacher training course in the country the school is located in.

Mentor

To ensure each trainee is fully supported and co-evaluated with UWE Bristol, in advance of the course start, each trainee needs to be assigned a named in-school mentor in the trainee's placement school who can support the student's progress to achieve the iQTS qualification. UWE Bristol will liaise with the applicant and the school to ensure this, and mentors will receive full training.

English Language requirements

Due to a high level of placement-based learning and working with children, all applicants should have an effective command of the English language and be able to use it appropriately, accurately, and fluently in a school setting.

To demonstrate proficiency in the English language, International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5, with at least 6.0 in each component (or approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you will need in our English Language requirements.

Potential exemptions

If you are a national of one of the following English-speaking countries (or have a Bachelor's degree or higher from one of these countries), you will not be required to provide evidence of English language proficiency. Exempt countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States.

Further information on the difference between the iQTS and the iPGCE requirements for the schools and mentors, and technical guidance is available on the UWE Bristol iQTS information page.

Selection process

Applicants who meet the entry criteria will be invited to an online interview, which will include some tasks:

A general interview for primary and subject interview for secondary will be conducted.
Each applicant will be required to give a short presentation - full details will be provided on invitation to interview.
A subject knowledge audit linking to the English National Curriculum in the chosen secondary subject or primary phase will be required prior to the interview and used to form a discussion during the interview process.

Additional criteria

All schools will be required to provide information about the safeguarding clearance required in that education system/context, and evidence that the applicant has achieved this in the appropriate timeframe for the course. This must include a check to ensure the trainee has not been disqualified from a childcare role.
If the applicant has recently been resident in the UK, UWE Bristol will require a clear Enhanced DBS Disclosure including check of children's barred list. These checks would also be carried out prior to working in the UK.
Criminal records checks overseas. If you have lived, studied or worked overseas for three months or more in the last five years, you will need to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct from the country of residence will be required even if you are a UK applicant.
Two satisfactory references received directly from the referees, relating to work with children, including one from the host school.
Assurance that the applicant has the health and physical capacity to train to teach. Applicants will be required to complete a fitness questionnaire.

All information will be treated in confidence.

Standards and requirements

Our PGCE courses have been designed to be compliant with the latest relevant Initial Teacher Training standards and requirements.

Deferrals

We do not accept deferrals for this course.

Careers / Further study

Upon completion of this module, you may wish to apply for one of the following courses:

MA Education (three to five year version and two year version)
EdD International

Structure

Content

International Practice

You need to be employed by a school to be successful at gaining a place on the iQTS course and this component involves completing at least 120 days in teaching practice over a 36-week period.

Learning and Teaching

This professional development course comprises of subject knowledge audits and associated workbooks, in addition to a range of school-based tasks with reflective elements. This content will be accessed via an online platform called PebblePad and can be accessed from wherever you are in the world. The live aspects of the course will include the course induction and tutor meetings.

Assessment

An online portfolio of evidence is produced, in addition to assessment by the school mentor and UWE Bristol tutor; this will be completed through lesson observations, professional conversations in meetings and monitoring of evidence/paperwork. This will be judged at pass or fail dependent on your ability to meet the iQTS Teacher's Standards.

Additionally, there is the expectation to complete a six-week final assessed section of practice and a viva voce (oral examination) which will contribute to this assessment.

Features

Study facilities

The School of Education and Childhood at UWE Bristol runs a variety of courses in early childhood and education studies, and is one of the largest providers of initial teacher training and continuing professional development in the region. Experienced tutors and leading researchers and practitioners in their fields teach in the department. We have an excellent range of support facilities and online learning tools for our students.

Take a personalised virtual tour of the Education and Teaching facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.

Prices and dates

Supplementary fee information

The fees for this course are £4,750.

These can be paid in instalments and you can find out more about the ways to pay.

Dates

Please click on the Apply Now button to view dates.

How to apply

To apply, you need to have been a full-time main class teacher for two years or more, teaching to class sizes of six or more.
Before applying on the system, you will need to complete the Additional Information Form. Please ensure you state (in 300-500 words) your reason for application and why you wish to do the course. Failure to do this will result in your application being cancelled.
Please apply online using the Apply Now button located on this page.
If you are new to UWE Bristol CPD, you will need to register via the UWE Bristol Professional Development portal.
If you have already registered on the Professional Development portal, sign in and complete the application.
Once you have made your application, please upload documents and certification to include degree certificate and/or transcript, evidence of GCSE Maths pass grade C/level 4 (and Science, if applying for primary) or above in English and Maths (also Science if applying for primary), and IELTS (please see 'English Language requirements' on this page for further information).

Please read our Terms and Conditions.

For further information

Email: uweiqts@uwe.ac.uk or pd@uwe.ac.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)117 32 81158

You can also follow us on Instagram @UWEeducation.