PGCE Fees & Finances
Tuition Fees
The tuition fee for Home/EU students for the University of Exeter's PGCE programme in 2010/11 is £3,290 and the tuition fee for international students is £9,100. The tuition fee for Channel Islands/Isle of Man students has not yet been set for 2010/11 but was £8,240 in 2009/10).
Home students can apply to the Student Loans Company online at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance for a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of the fees.
It is anticipated that a maximum non-repayable Maintenance Grant of £2,906 will be available to Home (UK) students starting their courses in 2010/11. £1,106 of the Maintenance Grant will be non-means-tested and all eligible PGCE students will receive this help. If you are eligible for the maximum Maintenance Grant, you will also be eligible to receive a bursary from the University for the difference between the maximum Maintenance Grant and the Tuition fee (this is anticipated to be £384 in 2010/11).
The fee amount of £3,290.00 needs to be paid to the University to cover Tuition fees and can be paid termly in line with payments received from the Student Loan Company.
TDA Incentives
In addition to the tuition support and student loans, the Training and Development Agency for Schools offers further financial incentives and support to offset the costs of PGCE training. (NB: these do not apply to the PCE programme; see the LLUK website.)
Secondary Maths, Physics and Chemistry
A shortage of quality secondary Maths, Physics and Chemistry teachers has led to the TDA offering financial incentives to encourage improved recruitment and retention of these priority areas. In 2010/11 Secondary Maths, Physics and Chemistry students will receive a £9,000 tax-free training bursary paid to them directly during their year of training. An additional £5,000 taxable ‘Golden Hello’ will be paid after the successful completion of their induction year (first year) of teaching.
Secondary Biology, Design and Technology and ICT
The TDA recognises these subject areas as shortage subjects and is offering financial incentives to encourage continued recruitment and retention of teachers in these priority areas. In 2010/11 trainees in these subject areas will receive a £6,000 tax-free training bursary paid to them directly during their year of training.(Note, these subjects attracted a bursary of £9,000 in 2009/10 but this has been reduced to £6,000 for 2010/11). For Biology, an additional £5,000 taxable 'Golden Hello' will be paid after the successful completion of their induction year (first year) of teaching. For D&T and ICT an additional £2,500 taxable ‘Golden Hello’ will be paid after the successful completion of their induction year (first year) of teaching.
Secondary English and Geography
Although not considered by the TDA to be priority subject areas, trainees will in 2010/11, receive a £6,000 tax-free training bursary paid directly to them during their year of training.
Secondary Citizenship, History, Dance and PE
In 2010/11 trainees will receive a £4,000 tax-free training bursary paid directly to them during their year of training (note these subjects attracted a bursary of £6,000 in 2009/10 but this has been reduced to £4,000 for 2010/11)
Primary and Early Years
Primary and Early Years trainees will receive a £4,000 tax-free training bursary paid directly to them during their year of training.
University of Exeter Financial Support
Ted Wragg Awards for Outstanding Trainees
Formally the Exeter PGCE Scholarship
The University of Exeter’s Graduate School of Education is a leading provider of teacher training courses. As such, we are looking for applicants who have the potential to become outstanding teachers in the primary, secondary or post compulsory phases of education.
The Ted Wragg Awards for Outstanding Trainees are in honour of Professor Ted Wragg, a nationally recognised advocate of the teaching profession and a man who inspired a great many of today’s best teachers and teaching practices. These awards have been developed to recognise, encourage and financially reward our best PGCE Students.
Why? Because a fundamental part of our PGCE programme is the sharing of experience, good practice and support not just from staff to trainee but between trainees themselves. We are looking for and rewarding excellent trainees because we know they are an important part of creating a programme that encourages all trainees to succeed and become great teachers.
So, what makes an excellent trainee? We are looking for those who demonstrate good subject knowledge, excellent communication and people skills. Excellent trainees are creative, able to think on their feet, confident and infuse enthusiasm both in the classroom and in their fellow trainees. Most importantly, we are looking for those who show us they are passionate about helping people learn and enjoy the challenges and rewards that teaching offers. If you think this describes you, then we want you on our course.
How does the award work?
Unlike a scholarship, recipients will not be selected based on entry criteria – instead they will be judged on their year as a trainee. Therefore, everyone comes into this equal. Those that are selected will do so because they not only proved they will make outstanding teachers, but helped others to become the same.
All PGCE students are eligible (including PCE) and will be considered for this competitive award. There is no application process. The awards are handed out towards the end of the training year. Trainees will be selected based on consultations with school mentors, tutors and course leaders. The number of awards handed out each year will vary. Last year 27 trainees received the award. The value of the awards will again vary depending on the number of trainees selected and the strength of each trainee. Typically, awards will be between £500 and £1,500.
Similar to the TDA training bursary (or DfES training bursary for FE trainees), the money is tax-free and will go directly to the awardees. These awards are discretionary and therefore will be administered based on the judgements of the School, the merits of each trainee and the needs of the PGCE programme. The School may reserve some awards for specific subject areas.
Access to Learning Fund
The University also has an Access to Learning Fund to assist UK students in exceptional financial difficulty such that continued attendance on their course may be at risk. Students eligible for other bursaries, grants or scholarships must apply to those schemes in the first instance. In assessing hardship, all available sources of funding, including training bursaries and student loans, must have been utilised by the student. All awards from the Access to Learning Fund are discretionary. Students with dependants may apply to their Local Education Authority for financial assistance from the 'Parents Learning Allowance'.
Further information on the Access to Learning Fund and other Student Funding Schemes is available on the Student Finance webpages. Alternatively, it can be obtained by telephoning (01392) 263858 or emailing: money@exeter.ac.uk