Teach First: does its training programme sponsor a UK visa?
No. Teach First does not sponsor its training programme for international students who need a visa. Teach First's own eligibility page states outright that it cannot sponsor visas for the Training Programme, and requires candidates to already hold the right to work in the UK for the full two years. This is a stated policy bar, not merely a pay shortfall, though year one pay of roughly £23,000 to £33,500 depending on region would also sit at or below the new entrant threshold for much of the range.
- Sponsors grads?
- No
- Pay vs threshold
- Below the threshold
- Opportunity
- graduate scheme
- Pay
- Year 1 approximately £23,000 to £33,500 depending on region
- Confidence
- high
What is covered: None for the Training Programme
“The right to work in the UK for the full two years (we can't sponsor visas).”
Sources
- https://www.teachfirst.org.uk/training-programme
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-licensed-sponsors-workers
Verdict last checked 2026-08-11.
Common questions
Does Teach First sponsor visas for its training programme?
No. Teach First does not sponsor its training programme for international students who need a visa. Teach First's own eligibility page states outright that it cannot sponsor visas for the Training Programme, and requires candidates to already hold the right to work in the UK for the full two years. This is a stated policy bar, not merely a pay shortfall, though year one pay of roughly £23,000 to £33,500 depending on region would also sit at or below the new entrant threshold for much of the range.
Does the pay clear the UK Skilled Worker salary threshold?
The pay for this scheme sits below the Skilled Worker salary threshold, which is itself a reason sponsorship is not possible.
What is the catch international students miss with Teach First?
Teach First does hold an active Skilled Worker sponsor licence on the gov.uk register. That licence is plainly not applied to the Training Programme itself, given the explicit statement above; it is presumably used for experienced or leadership hires elsewhere in the organisation.
How should I confirm Teach First's sponsorship before applying?
Read the specific vacancy on Teach First's careers site, ask its early-careers team directly, and check the employer on the gov.uk Register of Licensed Sponsors. Policies and thresholds change, so treat this page as a starting point and confirm for the exact role and cycle.
Other public sector schemes
- NHSSome tracks
- Civil ServiceNo
- Foreign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeNo
- GCHQNo
- Police NowNo
- FrontlineNo
- Unlocked GraduatesNo
- BBCNot published
- Bank of EnglandSome tracks
- Local Government AssociationNo
- HM Revenue and CustomsNo
- Met OfficeSome tracks
- Environment AgencyNo
- Transport for LondonNo
- Network RailNo
- Nuclear Decommissioning AuthorityNo
- National Crime AgencyNo
- OfgemNo
- Bank of EnglandSome tracks
Before you apply
Scan your CV against UK applicant tracking systems for free, then tailor it to the schemes that can actually sponsor you.
Sponsorship data: Home Office register + job ad wording. Not immigration advice, verify on gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.