If you're thinking about becoming a teacher, you'll need to either take a teacher training undergraduate course at uni or take a PGCE qualification as a postgraduate if you study a different subject at degree level.
Teaching training undergraduate courses are often called 'primary education courses'. They include something called QTS, which stands for 'qualified teaching status', and basically means the qualification will allow you to go straight into teaching (to become a primary or secondary school teacher).
You'll also need to decide if you want to specialise in a specfic subject – and it would be useful to have this as one of your A-level choices. Get more tips for picking the right A-level subjects with our six-step guide.
What A-levels are essential to getting on a teacher training degree?
Universities will often ask teaching applicants to have good A-level grades, but not necessarily in any specific subjects. You might keep your options open by focusing on A-levels that appear in the national curriculum. Here's the full list of subjects on the national curriculum:
- art and design
- citizenship
- computing
- design and technology
- English
- geography
- history
- languages
- maths
- music
- physical education
- religious studies
- science
It's worth noting that it's a goverment requirement for primary teachers to have grade 4 at GCSE maths, English and science. For secondary teaching, you may be able to get away with not having this grade for science.
Take a look at individual teacher training courses on The Uni Guide – and check the entry requirements when deciding where to apply.
What are the entry requirements to get onto a primary education course?
Below are a few examples of primary education courses offered by different universities and the A-level entry requirements they ask for in the September 2025 intake (as of 15 January 2025).
You should always check the entry requirements yourself before you apply, but this will give you a rough idea of what to expect. Bear in mind that many universities will make contextual offers for students who meet the eligibility criteria. These offers may have grade requirements close to or slightly below the typical offer.
University of Sussex – Primary and Early Years Education (with Qualified Teacher Status): BBB-BBC with at least grade 4 in GCSE English language, mathematics and science.
Liverpool Hope University – Primary Education with QTS BA (Hons): BBB with at least grade 4 in GCSE English language, mathematics and science.
Search for degree courses and narrow your search down by your predicted grades or Ucas points.
What other subjects are similar to taking a teacher training degree?
Not quite sure whether teaching is for you, but interested in the educational sector, or learning early behaviour? You could try:
These similar subjects may have different A-level requirements to teaching, so if you want to keep your degree options open, be sure to check before you finalise your choices.
What can you study at university with your A-levels? See what similar students went on to do with our A-level explorer
What about teaching assistants?
You don’t have to have a degree to be a teaching assistant, but you will need basic literacy and numeracy skills – and experience of working with children.
