Finance

Let’s talk about the money….

How much does it cost?

The tuition fee to train full-time as a teacher with Mid Essex ITT is £10,050. If you choose the part-time route, it is £6,250 per year, across two years, a total of £12,500.

How can I pay the tuition fees?

For 2027-2028, the post-18 current Student Finance system is changing to the Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE).

You can apply for a tuition fee loan through the LLE and they will pay the money directly to Mid Essex ITT to cover your fees. You will only have to repay the loan when your income is over a certain threshold. Interest starts being added to your loan from when you make your first payment. Depending on your circumstances, you might also be able to apply for a maintenance loan.

Find out all about the LLE and how to apply by clicking here.

To find out if you are eligible for student finance, there is more information here.

For those who will be joining our course for next year, when you apply through the LLE, you need to apply for either:

1 - Mid Essex ITT Teacher Training FULL TIME Unsalaried, or

2 - Mid Essex ITT Teacher Training PART TIME Unsalaried

Will I get paid?

Only School Direct “salaried” trainees receive a salary. This is an on-the-job programme that allows you to qualify as a teacher and pays a salary while you work. As an unqualified teacher, you will be paid a taxable income starting from £21,731. The school will cover the cost of your training to become a qualified teacher too. Please note that you will only be considered for this route with significant previous school experience, ideally in a teaching capacity.

Bursaries and Scholarships

Some subjects are eligible for a government-funded, tax-free bursary. This funding does not need to be repaid.

The amount of funding available depends on:

the subject you intend to teach (not your degree subject);
your degree classification; and/or
your highest relevant academic qualification.

You do not need to apply separately for a bursary. If you are enrolled on a non-salaried postgraduate teacher training course and meet the eligibility criteria, Mid Essex ITT will apply on your behalf. Bursary payments will begin from October of your first term.

Eligibility for a Bursary or Scholarship

Eligibility is based on two factors:

1. Your Qualifications

Bursaries are available to trainees holding a first-class degree, 2:1, 2:2, Master's degree or PhD. Availability depends on both your highest relevant academic qualification and the subject you are training to teach.

Scholarships of £31,000 are available for trainees in Chemistry, Computing and Physics, and scholarships of £22,000 are available in Modern Foreign Languages (French, German and Spanish only) for eligible candidates.

These prestigious awards are aimed at high-quality graduates with a first-class or 2:1 degree. A scholarship replaces the standard bursary. However, applicants who are not awarded a scholarship may still be eligible for the standard bursary.

For further information, please visit the relevant subject association website:

Chemistry - delivered by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC): Royal Society of Chemistry
Computing - delivered by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT: BCS
Physics - delivered by the Institute of Physics (IOP): Institute of Physics
Languages - delivered by the British Council: British Council

You can also find further information at https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk or GOV.UK.

2. Student Finance Eligibility

To receive a bursary, you must be eligible for student finance support under the Student Finance England criteria.

More information about student finance eligibility can be found here.

We strongly recommend that you apply for student finance as soon as your place on our course is confirmed, as applications can sometimes be delayed while assessments are completed. Bursary payments cannot be made until your eligibility for student finance has been confirmed.

If you intend to pay your tuition fees privately but may be entitled to a bursary, we recommend applying for a £1 maintenance loan. This allows Student Finance England to assess and confirm your eligibility for student finance support, enabling your award to be released.

Bursaries for the current, 2026 to 2027 training year

Biology - £5,000
Chemistry - £29,000 (Scholarship: £31,000)
Computing - £29,000 (Scholarship: £31,000)
Design and Technology - £20,000
Geography - £5,000
Languages - £5,000 (Scholarship: £22,000)
Mathematics - £29,000
Physics - £29,000 (Scholarship: £31,000)

I might need some extra financial support

You might be able to borrow money to help pay for university or college tuition fees, and to help with living costs. If you are already eligible for student finance, you might get extra money on top of this, for example if you’re on a low income, are disabled or have children. For example, you might be eligible for a:

Maintenance Loan for Living Costs of up to £5,740. This is for full-time students. You may need to give details of your household income;
Maintenance Grant for Living Costs of up to £3,387. You have to give details about your household income and your course start date. The grant is paid into your bank account at the start of term. You don’t have to pay the grant back, but any grant you get will reduce the Maintenance Loan you can get;
Special Support Grant (instead of a Maintenance Grant). You may be able to get this if you are a lone parent or have certain disabilities. Or if you qualify for Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit. The amount you get is the same as the Maintenance Grant, but it won’t reduce the Maintenance Loan you can get.

Take a look at the student finance calculator to see if you’re eligible.

Any other perks?

If you are following the non-salaried School Direct route, you are also a full-time student and can apply for an NUS Extra discount card.

Visit www.totum.com for information.

NUS

As a trainee teacher you are now also eligible to apply for a Blue Light Card. which offers numerous discounts with all sorts of brands and organisations.

Blue Light Card