Signing in to your application
Once you've sent your application and received your welcome email, you can sign in at any time to see how it's progressing.
What happens next?
When am I likely to hear from my choices?
2025 entry
- 14 May 2025 – if you sent your application by 29 January.
- 17 July 2025 – if you sent your application by 30 June.
If a training provider you’ve applied to doesn’t make a decision by the appropriate deadline, that choice will be automatically unsuccessful.
Supporting documents
Once you have submitted your application through UCAS, you may be contacted by the admissions team to provide copies of your supporting documents.
These documents may include:
- your degree certificate, if applicable
- your academic degree transcript, listing all the modules you have completed, or equivalent, if applicable
- evidence of Higher English (or equivalent), with a grade between A – C, or equivalent
- evidence of National 5 maths (or equivalent), with a grade between A – C, or equivalent
The interview
Many training providers receive a large number of applications, so can't interview everyone who meets the essential requirements. In this case, they'll select applicants for interview using the academic and non-academic criteria.
- If you are unable to attend the interview date, get in touch with the training provider to ask if your interview can be rearranged.
- If you’re unable to attend an interview, or change your mind about attending, you MUST inform the training provider, and give them the reason why. If you don't, your application with them may be withdrawn.
- You should be given all the information you need about the training provider’s interview process.
What qualities are training providers looking for?
Training providers will be on the look-out for a wide range of qualities which would make you a good teacher. Here are some of them:
- Passion – show you care about teaching.
- Confident with and respectful towards children.
- Professionalism – in both your mindset and the way you conduct yourself.
- Personality – this can easily be reflected in how you present yourself, so dress smartly!
- Energy – enthusiasm is infectious!
- Resilience – being a teacher can be tough, so you'll need to show you're up to the task.
- Understanding of the commitments for teaching – even the most prepared interviewees can be nervous about some things. It'll be OK, as long as you demonstrate how you can overcome these in order to succeed.
What skills are training providers looking for?
At your interview, training providers will be looking for evidence of relevant skills a teacher must possess, including:
- good reflective abilities – if you're asked to do a presentation, training providers often look for your ability to reflect on your own performance
- ability to scale information to present to a range of audiences
- literacy and numeracy – some providers may carry out English and maths tests as part of the interview process
What questions could they ask?
- They could ask you to demonstrate an understanding of what helps children to learn.
- Why have you chosen to apply for the course?
- What have you learnt from your experience in schools?
- They could also ask you about your understanding of the subject you will be expected to teach – it's a good idea to look at the national curriculum before your interview.
Where can I find out more?
Your chosen training provider will often have specific information about their interview process on their website.
Decisions training providers can make
Unconditional offer
This means you’ve got a place. There are no academic requirements for you to meet, but there may be a few things you still need to arrange with your training provider. Refer to your offer letter, in Track, or contact them if you are unsure.
Remember, by accepting an unconditional offer, you are committing to go to that training provider, so you can't make an insurance choice or be entered into Clearing.
Conditional offer
This means you still need to meet the requirements – these will include academic requirements, such as passing your exams, or successfully completing your degree.
Withdrawn
Your choice has been withdrawn by you or the training provider. The reason will be given in Track.
If you don’t respond to their emails/letters, or don’t show up for an interview, your choice may be withdrawn.
Unsuccessful application
This means they’ve decided not to offer you a place on the course. Sometimes they'll give a reason, either with their decision, or at a later date. If not, you can contact them to ask if they'll discuss it with you.
Replying to offers
How to make your replies
- You need to reply to your offers in your application.
- You'll have a deadline shown in your application to do this by.
Types of reply
These are the types of reply you can make.
Firm acceptance – this is your first choice.
- If it's an unconditional offer, the place is yours! So that training provider will expect you as their student.
- Or if it's conditional, the place is yours if you meet the offer conditions. So just in case you don't, you can pick a second offer as a back-up – your insurance acceptance.
Insurance acceptance – the back-up choice to a conditional firm acceptance.
- Remember, you'll only attend your insurance choice course if you don't meet the conditions of your firm choice, but you do meet the conditions of your insurance. You can't choose between your firm and insurance when you get your results, so make sure you're happy with your choices before you reply.
Decline – you’ll need to decline any other offers you get.
Further requirements
As teaching involves working with children on a daily basis, there are some non-academic requirements you may also need to meet.
- If you’re training to be a teacher in Scotland, you are required to be a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme. This helps training providers in Scotland to identify potential trainee teachers who are barred from working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults. For more information, go to the Scottish Government website or visit the GTCS In2Teaching website.
- Some ITE providers may ask for you to have classroom experience before you begin teacher training. You can arrange school experience independently – if you’re not sure where to begin, contact Teach in Scotland to help get you started. While it is not essential, if you can spend some time observing and helping out with lessons in a local school before you apply, it will strengthen your application. You can use the experience in your personal statement, showing what you’ve gained from it, and how it has increased your motivation to be a teacher.