UNESCO projects the world will need 44 million additional primary and secondary teachers by 2030 to meet basic education needs. That shortage is why international teaching qualifications now come with direct entry into public school systems, international curriculum posts, and roles that carry higher pay and relocation support.
Benefits of Studying Teaching Abroad
- Internationally recognised teacher training frameworks — PGCE, B.Ed. and M.Ed.
- Modern teaching methodology and inclusive education practice from leading systems
- Real classroom experience with students from genuinely varied cultural backgrounds
- A compulsory teaching practicum, which is what makes graduates employable straight away
- Eligibility to teach in international schools, or to move into education research
Types of Teaching Courses
B.Ed. — Bachelor of Education
- Duration
- 3–4 years
- Recognition
- Accepted across public and private schools
- Career Outcome
- Primary or Secondary Teacher, Early Childhood Educator
M.Ed. — Master of Education
- Duration
- 1–2 years
- Recognition
- Advanced roles, research and administration
- Career Outcome
- Curriculum Developer, Academic Advisor, Education Consultant
PGCE — Postgraduate Certificate in Education
- Duration
- 1 year
- Recognition
- Leads to QTS in the UK, and is recognised across the Commonwealth
- Career Outcome
- Licensed teacher in UK and Commonwealth schools
MA TESOL / TEFL Certification
- Duration
- 6–24 months
- Recognition
- Recognised across Asia, the Middle East and Europe
- Career Outcome
- ESL Instructor, Language Trainer, Online English Educator
Specialisations
Early Childhood Education
- What It Covers
- Ages 0–8, focused on child development and play-based learning
Special Education
- What It Covers
- Supporting students with disabilities and additional learning needs
Secondary Teaching
- What It Covers
- Subject teaching for middle and high school classrooms
Best Countries to Study Teaching
United Kingdom
- Focus
- PGCE, inclusive education, and STEM subjects — maths, physics, computing
- Licensing Body
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
Australia
- Focus
- B.Ed., Master of Teaching, early childhood and special education
- Licensing Body
- Teacher Regulation Board
USA
- Focus
- M.Ed., TESOL, STEM and special education
- Licensing Body
- State-specific teacher licensure
Canada
- Focus
- B.Ed., TESL, special education and French as a Second Language
- Licensing Body
- Provincial certification — Ontario College of Teachers, Teacher Regulation Branch and equivalents
New Zealand
- Focus
- Early childhood education, and secondary science and technology
- Licensing Body
- Teaching Council registration
Top Universities for Education
UCL Institute of Education London, UK
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #1
Harvard University Cambridge, USA
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #2
University of Hong Kong Hong Kong
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #3
Stanford University Stanford, USA
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #4
University of Cambridge Cambridge, UK
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #5
University of Oxford Oxford, UK
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #6
Beijing Normal University Beijing, China
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #7
Nanyang Technological University Singapore
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #8
University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, USA
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #9
University of Toronto Toronto, Canada
- QS 2025 — Education & Training
- #10
Admission Requirements
B.Ed.
- Academic Criteria
- 10+2 with a strong academic record
- Test Scores
- IELTS Academic 6.0+ or TOEFL iBT 80+
- Other Requirements
- Statement of Purpose and school references
PGCE / M.Ed.
- Academic Criteria
- An undergraduate degree in education or a related field
- Test Scores
- IELTS Academic 6.5+ or TOEFL iBT 90+
- Other Requirements
- Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, and police clearance
Police clearance is standard for any programme with a classroom placement — start it early, because it can take weeks.
Tuition Fees and Living Costs
UK
- UG Fees (annual)
- £15,000 – £36,000
- PG Fees (annual)
- £7,300 – £10,500
- Living Cost for Visa
- £14,130 in London, £10,827 outside, over 9 months
Australia
- UG Fees (annual)
- AU $20,000 – $35,000
- PG Fees (annual)
- AU $34,000 – $50,000
- Living Cost for Visa
- AU $29,710
USA
- UG Fees (annual)
- US $20,000 – $40,000
- PG Fees (annual)
- US $25,000 – $55,000
- Living Cost for Visa
- US $10,000 – $25,000, varying by institution and location
Canada
- UG Fees (annual)
- CA $7,000 – $22,000
- PG Fees (annual)
- CA $12,000 – $42,000
- Living Cost for Visa
- CA $23,448
New Zealand
- UG Fees (annual)
- NZ $30,000 – $40,000
- PG Fees (annual)
- NZ $35,000 – $52,000
- Living Cost for Visa
- NZ $20,000 a year
A UK PGCE at £7,300–£10,500 is among the cheapest postgraduate routes into a licensed profession anywhere.
Scholarships
Education students are unusually well served, because governments are funding against the teacher shortage directly.
Commonwealth Scholarship UK
- Coverage
- Full tuition, stipend and airfare
- Eligibility
- Merit-based, for students from Commonwealth countries who can show they will contribute to development at home
Australia Awards Australia
- Coverage
- Full tuition, return travel and allowance
- Eligibility
- Applicants from partner countries
Fulbright Foreign Student Programme USA
- Coverage
- Tuition, travel, living costs, accident and sickness cover
- Eligibility
- Citizens of 160+ participating countries with a bachelor's degree, meeting the language criteria
UCL IOE Centenary Master's Scholarship UK
- Coverage
- Full tuition, accommodation and a living allowance for one academic year
- Eligibility
- Residents of low or lower-middle-income countries holding an unconditional offer at UCL IOE who have not studied in the UK before
Chevening Scholarships UK
- Coverage
- Full tuition, monthly stipend, airfare and visa fees
- Eligibility
- Citizens of Chevening-eligible countries with two years of work experience and a commitment to return home for two years
Careers and Salaries
The UK has the clearest training routes and sustained demand in STEM, English language teaching and special education — which is why most international graduates start there.
Primary School Teacher
- Salary Range (UK)
- £28,000 – £39,000
- Licence Needed
- QTS
ESL / TESOL Instructor
- Salary Range (UK)
- £22,000 – £35,000
- Licence Needed
- TESOL or CELTA
Special Education Teacher
- Salary Range (UK)
- £26,000 – £43,000
- Licence Needed
- PGCE with a Special Education Needs specialisation
Curriculum Developer
- Salary Range (UK)
- £39,000 – £52,000
- Licence Needed
- M.Ed. preferred
Academic Advisor
- Salary Range (UK)
- £27,000 – £40,000
- Licence Needed
- A postgraduate qualification plus experience
Graduates work in international schools, public and private systems, NGOs and education technology companies. Progression runs through department headship, school leadership and consultancy, usually with an additional qualification in educational leadership.
Make sure your course actually leads to a licence
This is the single most common and most expensive mistake in teacher training abroad. We will verify the licensing route for every programme on your shortlist.
Qualified Teacher Status is the licence to teach in England's state schools, usually obtained through a PGCE. You need it to teach in the state sector, and it is recognised across much of the Commonwealth — which is what makes the UK route so portable.
A UK PGCE, by a wide margin. At £7,300–£10,500 for one year it is one of the cheapest postgraduate routes into a licensed profession, but it requires an undergraduate degree first.
Not automatically. Each country licenses separately, so you may need additional assessment or a bridging programme. UK QTS travels furthest across the Commonwealth; US state licences often do not transfer even between US states.
For English language teaching in Asia, the Middle East and parts of Europe, often yes. For classroom teaching in a mainstream school system, no — you need a full teaching qualification and the local licence.
