Teachers trained in Nigeria, Ghana and India can no longer use England’s direct application service for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS), following changes introduced by the UK Department for Education (DfE) on September 9, 2026.
The decision removes the three countries from the list of nations whose qualified teachers can apply directly through the “Apply for QTS in England” service.
The DfE said the change followed concerns about its ability to verify employment references submitted by applicants. It specifically noted that more than 70 per cent of applications from Nigeria and Ghana contained work-history references using public email services such as Gmail or Hotmail rather than official school email addresses.
According to the department, the new requirements are intended to ensure that information provided by overseas teachers can be properly verified before QTS is awarded.
During the 2024–25 academic year, teachers trained in Nigeria and Ghana submitted 2,143 QTS applications. Nigeria accounted for 1,076 applications, while Ghana accounted for 1,067. Of the combined applications, 560 resulted in QTS awards, while 1,348 were declined.
Under the updated requirements, employment references must confirm an applicant’s work history and come from an email address associated with the relevant school or employer.
The change does not prevent qualified Nigerian or Ghanaian teachers from working in England. Under England’s four-year rule, qualified teachers from certain overseas jurisdictions can teach in eligible schools without QTS for up to four years. QTS is required in many state schools after that period, although some schools and settings have different requirements.
Teachers affected by the change also have alternative routes to obtain QTS. These include the assessment-only route, teacher training in England and International Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS).
The assessment-only route is designed for experienced teachers who can demonstrate that they already meet England’s teaching standards. Applicants generally need a degree, relevant teaching experience and other specified qualifications, with fees typically ranging from about £1,500 to £4,000 depending on the provider.
The iQTS route allows non-UK citizens to train through English teacher-training providers while remaining outside England. It follows the same standards as English QTS and can lead to QTS.
The DfE said the revised rules are intended to strengthen verification of overseas teachers’ qualifications, professional standing and employment history before QTS is awarded.
