Awarded Grade 1
Penta International Inspection, 2024
Overview
Enter an exciting and rewarding profession that enables you to impact positively on the life of children and become the very best leader of learning.
If you are new to teaching or a teacher in employment seeking an internationally recognised professional qualification, the International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) course is for you. Our course is fully online, allowing you to train with no need to leave your home country.
The iQTS course will fully prepare you to meet the professional requirements of the International Teachers’ Standards alongside equipping you to engage in relevant academic skills. Studying in your country with other teachers, you’ll deepen your knowledge and understanding of policy and practice by studying and completing work-based activities.
Our training and assessment has an emphasis on developing trainees as reflective practitioners, through the weekly reflections journal, pre- and post-age range practice and robust mentoring. Flexible options within the course ensure training is matched to the individual needs and interests of trainees.
Successfully completing the iQTS course could help further develop your career both in your country or abroad. This iQTS course is suitable for those teaching in primary (age 5 years to 11 years) and secondary (age 11 to 16 years) in the following subjects: Art and Design; Music; English; Geography; History; Mathematics; Science; Physical Education or Modern Foreign Languages.
Why study International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) at CCCU?
- Awarded Grade 1, the highest rating on inspection for IQTS providers. (Penta International Inspection, 2024)
- We were ranked in the Top 15 universities in the UK in the category of ‘International’ in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023.
- Our Ofsted rating of Good for our Initial Teacher Education provision assures you of the highest quality when you undertake our course.
- CCCU was one of just five providers selected by the Department for Education (DfE) to deliver the innovative iQTS pilot from September 2022, which has established us as leaders in the field.
Entry requirements
Applicants would need to meet the following entry requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree from a UK or non-UK institution of higher education, or an equivalent qualification
- Have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 in the GCSE examination in the subject of mathematics *
- All who intend to train to teach pupils aged 5 to 11 additionally have achieved a standard equivalent to a grade 4 in the GCSE examination in a science subject *
- To demonstrate proficiency in the English language, candidates will need to evidence an average IELTS score of 6.5 or higher (or equivalent score in another English language testing system), or to have completed some of their education in English, for example a degree studied in English.*
Other entry requirements relate to professional practice as a teacher. These include providing references (one from your most recent employment), the capacity to meet the current professional standards for teaching and the physical and mental fitness to teach. Entrants must also satisfy the requirements concerning clearance in relation to criminal convictions and must remain in good standing in relation to such requirements.
We're interested in your potential as a teacher and so each application is considered on a case-by-case basis. We are looking for applicants who demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment to becoming the best teacher they can be. Your application will need to be supported by two professional references. (References from personal email accounts cannot be accepted).
*If you do not hold these qualifications, we can provide information on taking equivalent tests prior to undertaking the iQTS course.
All applicants will be asked to attend an interview. These will be held remotely.
For more information on the IELTS (International English language Testing System) requirements for this course, please click here to visit our dedicated web page.
How you’ll learn
You will be taught by expert, supportive tutors through a variety of activities. Some of these include group seminars and lectures, tutorials, and workshops. Delivery will include online taught session and materials and resources. Teaching sessions are scheduled at 12:00 pm GMT, enabling trainees worldwide to attend. In the case of absence, the recorded session is available to view online on demand.
Your professional placement will be supported by a school-based mentor who will be working with you in the school setting. You will also be assigned a Link Tutor from the university to support your personalised progression through placement. You will examine your teaching practice in your setting to further develop yourself as a reflective, confident and successful teacher and meet the International Teachers’ Standards by the end of the course.
CCCU holds a long-standing reputation and expertise in Initial Teacher Training (ITE), which we reflect in the high standards of our iQTS qualification. We have mutually beneficial and supportive partnerships with schools, which are underpinned by comprehensive partnership agreements. These partnerships contribute significantly to quality course delivery and development.
We offer placements in a range of countries including: Spain and Nepal (but please note that these training places are limited in number).
If you are already employed in a school or have the offer to work in a school abroad, you can still apply for the iQTS course. Your school must be able to support you through your course and arrange for an experienced teacher in the school to take on the role of school-based mentor. You will need to complete the Employer Endorsement Form as part of your application.
The aims of the iQTS course are to equip you to be a confident and capable teacher. On the course we will explore how education strives for deep learning and wisdom and how our knowledge, skill and understanding links to the development of ourselves as educators and the young people whom we teach. You will have the opportunity to communicate across cultures, showing that you value diversity of beliefs and experiences both locally and internationally. You will draw on these diverse perspectives to link theory with research, policy and practice in education development. You will have the opportunity to adopt creative and innovative approaches to practice and in school. This will enable you to develop skills of reflective practice, adopting an enquiry-based approach to high standards and excellence in teaching and learning.
iQTS at CCCU is a professional qualification which currently does not include a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. However, we will prepare you for masters level study should you chose to progress onto our masters level courses, including the MA Education.
The focus on continuous development and improvement by course leaders, ensures the course remains fully compliant with iQTS criteria and relevant to trainees in a global context.Penta International pilot inspection report 2024
How you’ll be assessed
Your teaching practice will be formatively assessed throughout the course by your school-based mentor and Link Tutor at the university.
This will involve observed teaching online and assessed practice. A range of tasks and approaches will be used to enable you to show your knowledge, skills and understanding. These may include written reflections, videos, images, presentations and relevant documents from practice. Assessment on the course is progressive, building evidence of your progress throughout in an e-portfolio. The final assessment will be through the e-portfolio demonstrating you meet the International Teachers’ Standards. Assessment schedules are shared with trainees from the point of induction, to support your time and workload management.
Our high quality mentor training programme, resources and continual and responsive support from our link tutors has been noted in our inspection report. Providing those supporting you, with the knowledge and skills to guide and develop you in becoming confident in the classroom environment.
Student teachers are required by the Department for Education to demonstrate competence against a set of fundamental maths and English skills by the end of their training. These will be assessed across the course, with additional support provided as required to enable all student teachers to meet the expectations.
Your future career
The iQTS may enhance your promotion prospects and allow you to teach in other countries. On successful completion you will achieve iQTS and you will also be awarded QTS to teach in England with no further fees or further training. Further details are available from the following website:
Introducing international qualified teacher status (iQTS) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
You also may consider continuing on to study on masters programmes to support development of your specialist knowledge and skills for institutional development in your educational setting.
Fees
2025/26 tuition fees for this course
| UK | Overseas | |
| Full-time | N/A | £8,000 |
ITT in the UK
The UK holds a reputation for high quality Initial Teacher Training (ITT) and the DfE aims to foster this in this new qualification, based on English standards and methods which are contextualised to reflect international requirements. We are working with excellent partner schools to offer placements in a range of countries including: Spain and Nepal (but please note that these training places are limited in number).
If you are already employed in a school or you have the offer to work in a school abroad, you can still apply for the iQTS. Your school must be in a position to support you through your course and arrange for an experienced teacher in the school to take on the role of school-based mentor.
This iQTS will prepare you for masters level study. You may choose to progress on to our masters level course including the MA Education.
Please note when applying:
You will need to upload the following information during the application process:
- Your degree certificate and transcript
- Proof of your GCSE equivalency in Maths
- Proof of English Language, GCSE or IELTS at 6.5
- If Primary is your chosen pathway, please upload your GCSE equivalency in Science.
On receiving your application we will contact you with an additional details form.
If you have any questions, our frequently asked questions document is here to help! If you can't find the answer to your question, contact our Course Enquiry Team.
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