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Tes Institute

Become a qualified teacher anywhere in the world with iQTS

We’re excited to be launching a new route to becoming a qualified teacher for teaching staff living and working outside the UK. Our International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) course offers a flexible and accessible way for learners from anywhere in the world to gain English qualified teacher status (QTS) backed by the UK government's Department for Education (DfE).
10 May 23

Our iQTS course, which starts in September 2023, is a 10-month school-centred initial teacher training route designed to help address the global demand for high quality teachers. The new route forms part of the government’s initiative led by the DfE to deliver ‘a fairer approach to awarding QTS’ for international teachers and follows a successful pilot roll-out in 2022 in which Tes Institute was selected as the only non-university provider.

As schools worldwide continue to face recruitment and retention crises, this course offers a new route into teaching for the brightest and best from across the world, allowing them to train in their own country and become qualified teachers with an internationally transferable qualification.

Ian Hunter, Global Director of Tes Institute, stated "We’re proud to be the first non-university provider of the brand new iQTS course. From our work training teachers around the world, we know there is a global demand for high quality teacher training. This course will use our global presence to help address that need and increase the global pool of qualified, capable teachers. This new route into teaching means schools worldwide can develop and nurture their own local talent and the qualified teachers who come out of it will mean children all over the world will have excellent educators in their classroom."

Applicants must hold a degree from a UK higher education institution or equivalent qualification, as well as the appropriate qualities, attitudes and values expected of a teacher. The course is based in-school, so trainees will need to be employed in a school at the start of their course and working as a member of the school team to get the full benefit of learning from experienced professionals and gaining practical teaching experience.

Our iQTS course provides a flexible and supportive learning environment that is tailored to each individual's needs, with online study sessions that allow learners to study at their own pace and at a time that suits them. It allows trainees to develop their knowledge and understanding of teaching in an international context, improve their practical teaching skills and gain in-school experience.

Learners can also take an optional International Postgraduate Certificate in Education (iPGCE), which offers them the opportunity to further develop their teaching skills and advance their careers.

Learn more about iQTS

If you’re interested in gaining QTS and an optional iPGCE take a look at our iQTS course page. If you’re a school leader looking to qualify your staff, please visit our iQTS for schools page.

Alternatively, if you’d like to discuss the course with our enrolment team please email us at institute@tesglobal.com

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