Frustrated teacher trainers believe prospective trainees are being put off applying for courses or deferring accepting offers because of a lack of information about bursaries. Providers reported applications were down by as much as 66 per cent compared to the same time last year, while some said acceptances had also dropped significantly. The Department for Education typically publishes details of which teacher training subjects will attract bursaries, and how much, in early October. Applications for the 2027-28 teacher training cycle opened a month ago, on 6 October. But a month on, no funding information for that year has been published. The DfE has given no timeframe on when the announcement might come, stating only that it would announce the incentives “as soon as possible”. Last year, bursary information was published by the DfE on 7 October. Bursaries have fluctuated greatly in recent years. After teacher recruitment picked up last year, four of the previous year’s 13 bursaries were axed completely, while five others were scaled back. Teacher trainers said they were bracing for further cuts to funding, as the DfE looks to save money. Drop in numbers The Universities’ Council for the Education of Teachers (UCET) surveyed its members overnight on Thursday. Of 27 training providers that responded, 19 said the delayed funding announcement had affected application numbers, while 20 reported an impact on acceptances. One university has had around 100 applications this year, down from approximately 300 applications this time last year – a drop of around 66 per cent. Another said secondary applications were down 46 per cent, and offers 35 per cent. Another provider reported: “Applications to secondary PGCE programmes [are] currently 42 per cent below last year’s levels, with physics experiencing the most significant decline at 70 per cent”. A third university told Schools Week they had had 185 domestic PGCE applications so far this year – 40 per cent below the 309 they had received this time last year. The year before that, they had 351. Meanwhile, offers are down 47 per cent. Acceptance change At the National Association of School-based Teacher Trainers’ (NASBTT) annual conference on Thursday, an admissions leader at a large school-based teacher training provider said they had seen over 300 applications so far – around the same as last year. But a significant number of applicants had yet to accept their places, as they awaited bursary information which will confirm whether they can afford to train. Another senior SCITT leader said: “Some are accepting offers but on the condition that there will be a bursary. That’s unusual.” They said the lack of information caused uncertainty to applicants as well as providers making staffing arrangements. SKE delays Funding for subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) programmes – usually published at the same time as bursary information – is also yet to be announced, compounding application frustrations. SKEs are designed to top up teacher trainees’ subject knowledge, and can be taken before or alongside ITT. Providers told UCET they were currently unable to interview or make offers to ITT applicants whose offer would be conditional on them carrying out SKEs. Jasper Green, head of initial teacher education and associate professor at UCL Institute of Education, said the uncertainty is “creating challenges…given that admissions decisions in specific subjects can depend on whether funded SKE courses are available.” One provider said they were receiving applications from strong science graduates, “who need a SKE because their degree is not science discipline specific, i.e. biology, chemistry or physics”. One said: “We are unable to process some offers for applicants who need SKEs”, while another reported having to reject applications due to a lack of SKE information. A university shared feedback from a candidate, who was “really keen” to do a maths PGCE but had not accepted their offer due to the SKE uncertainty. “I would want to be certain that I could complete the 28 week SKE before committing myself.” Disadvantage impact One teacher trainer told Schools Week the funding uncertainties will particularly affect trainees from less advantaged backgrounds, who are more reliant on bursaries, and “worsen the disadvantage gap” among applicants. A London-based university provider said those with caring responsibilities and “career changers with existing financial commitments” may also be particularly affected. “This could discourage otherwise suitable candidates from entering the profession.” He urged the DfE to announce bursary arrangements “as soon as possible” and “ideally before the opening of each recruitment cycle in future years”. “This would enable prospective trainees to make informed financial decisions and allow providers to communicate a clear and consistent recruitment offer.” Aimee Quickfall, director of initial teacher training at Durham University, added: “We know many of our students live on a knife edge in terms of cost of living whilst they train and the bursary is the difference between doing teacher education and doing something else.” Is teaching at risk of becoming an elitist profession? ‘Considerable frustration’ Quickfall said providers also faced dealing with “a tidal wave of applications” once bursary announcements come. UCET leaders Stef Sullivan and Jo McIntyre said the continued delay “is causing significant challenges” for both training providers and applicants. “Our members are reporting concerns that they are losing potentially strong future teachers who are being put off the profession as, in the cost of living crisis, they can’t accept offers without knowing the financial implications. “The delay raises questions about how much teachers are valued if financial arrangements are not in place at their point of entry to the profession.” NASBTT CEO Emma Hollis said the delay was causing “considerable frustration”. “Providers are fielding regular enquiries from applicants who need to understand what financial support will be available before deciding whether they can afford to train. “Some are delaying their applications, while others may be making decisions based on assumptions about funding that could ultimately change.” She said this is creates “unnecessary uncertainty and additional workload for providers”, but also “risks sending the wrong message to those considering entering the teaching profession”. “We should be doing everything we can to encourage people into teaching, and that includes giving them the information they need to make informed decisions about their future.” Funding changes threaten part-time training courses This year’s ITT census data is expected to be published in December, which will give a full look at recruitment in 2026-27. The first recruitment data for next year’s application cycle will be available later this month.