When I first considered teaching abroad way back in 2018, the first question I had was “am I qualified?”. I couldn’t see how a plucky 22 year-old fresh out of university would have what it takes to teach a classroom full of students halfway across the world.
But seven years on after teaching in China and Thailand, and working as Marketing Manager for Impact Teaching for over two years, there’s nobody better to answer the question on the forefront of your mind. Read on to discover if you have the qualifications you need to start your very own overseas teaching adventure in 2025!
Do you need a university degree?
The short answer to this question is yes, you do need to be a graduate to teach abroad, but you can apply in your final year at university. Most countries see a degree as proof that a teacher can not only work hard but is also dedicated. Of course, there are plenty of amazing people without a university degree who would be fantastic teachers, but it is more often than not a necessary requirement to acquire the legal documents needed to work as a teacher abroad.
But what you study is not important. I spent three years learning how to make films on a filmmaking course, not the ideal preparation for teaching young students pronunciation and grammar, but it was no problem at all. Any bachelor’s degree from any university will allow you to move to the next step.
For those without a university degree, there are still fantastic opportunities to get a taste of teaching at summer camps. The US, Romania, or China are great options that are also open to first and second year students too.
Do you need a teaching qualification?
Generally, a TEFL is the only teaching qualification that is required for teaching abroad. It is a 120-hour online course that prepares you to teach English as a foreign language. Studying usually takes a lot less than 120-hours and can be done from the comfort of your own home. Similarly, the test is done online, meaning you can have your notes by your side the whole time.
All of our programs include a TEFL from one of the UK’s top providers at a discounted price.
But what if you already have a higher qualification than a TEFL? Well then, I have good news for you. If you hold a PGCE or equivalent teaching degree from whatever country you are from, then you are eligible to work in an international school. They support career teachers with their progression and offer higher salaries, there’s no need for you to get a TEFL in that case.
What else do you need?
Once you have your degree and TEFL, or other teaching qualification, then there is one more thing to factor in. As you will be working with children it is important that you have a clean criminal history. It is therefore required to get a background check done, this is a DBS in the UK, and each country has their own system. It is cheap and doesn’t take long, but is a necessary requirement for getting a job as a teacher.
Are there any requirements regarding nationality?
We know full well that there are plenty of talented teachers from countries across the world with fantastic English and a passion for the job. However, it is very common that schools only want to hire native speakers from the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. It wasn’t long ago that South Africans also fell into this category, but it is now increasingly hard for them to find work easily.
It may not be fair or right, but if you are a native speaker from one of the six countries mentioned above then you won’t have any issues getting a teaching job, if you are not then it can be a lot more difficult and in many cases impossible. This is being driven from the top and the bottom by governments and parents, with the schools in the middle. But there is one exception, non-native English-speakers who have a university degree in education and could work in an international school.
So now you know what’s needed to teach abroad, if you’ve got what it takes, all you need to do next is decide where you’re going!
But time is running out to join our 2025 cohort for the autumn of this year, the deadline for application is the 1st April.
We have options for graduates in China, Thailand, Hungary, and there are a few spots left in Poland.
Our new international school program offers qualified teachers the chance to work in Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, Albania, Thailand, Vietnam, or Cambodia.
And those without a degree can have the summer of a lifetime at a camp in the US, Romania, or China.
Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, you can email me at josh@impact-teaching.com.
