GITEP offers a Subject Knowledge Enhancement (SKE) programme to enable ITT applicants to top up their subject knowledge prior to starting a teacher training course.

Our Distance Learning SKE courses are delivered in partnership with VIDLEARN. You will be fully supported during the course with 24/7 technical help and tutors and course leaders readily available during working hours.

You might benefit from an SKE course if:

• you completed your degree more than 5 years ago
• you have a different but related degree to the subject you want to teach
• you have an A level but not a degree in the subject you want to teach
• you have an unrelated degree but relevant professional experience
• you studied for a languages degree but need to improve knowledge in either a main language, second language or both to an acceptable level for teaching in schools.

How do GITEP’s SKE courses work?

The courses are online and range from 8-12 weeks, with trainees typically spending 25 hours per week studying. You can also do a part-time course and complete it over a longer period or complete it in a shorter time with compressed hours.

You will need to complete your course before starting your teacher training. Your provider may allow you to continue at the same time as your teacher training but if you get an SKE bursary, your payments will stop once your teacher training starts.

Getting an SKE bursary

If you are due to start your teacher training course between September 2025 and July 2026, you could be eligible for a bursary of £175 per week to complete your SKE course. For those that choose to do a part-time course and complete less than 25 hours a week, this will be paid in proportion to your course hours. If you complete your SKE course with compressed hours, this might reduce your bursary amount.

You can use your SKE bursary for any extra costs you may have while studying, for example, making up for any lost income.

Eligibility for an SKE bursary

You’ll need (one of the following):

• a bachelor’s degree class 2:2 or above
• a master’s degree
• a PhD

You can still do your SKE course while you do your teacher training but you’ll only be eligible for a SKE bursary up until your teacher training course starts.

Most bursaries are only for UK citizens. However, you may be eligible for an SKE bursary if you’re training to teach physics or languages.