Teacher Education Abroad

Usually a Bachelor’s program in education lasts 4 years. Programs are offered in General Education, Arts and Science, and specializations include: Preschool/Elementary/Secondary Education, English as a Foreign Language (ESL), Educational Psychology, Special Education, Art, Music, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences, etc. The main choice of direction in teacher education is between primary and secondary education (within which you can choose a specialization in a particular subject), as well as between age groups.

During their studies, future teachers undergo internships at schools. There are also short courses (6 months) in the USA for specialists in other fields who wish to become teachers. After graduation, it is necessary to gain experience in teaching, often under the supervision of a more experienced teacher, and apply for a teaching license. Only then can the licensed professional start working. Different states may have different requirements for teacher certification.

Many community colleges offer transfer programs, certificates and two-year associate degree programs, such as Associate of Arts in Teaching (AAT), Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in early childhood education, and Associate of Arts (AA) in elementary education. Community colleges often have agreements with four-year colleges and universities to facilitate simplified transition to undergraduate programs.

For admission to Bachelor's degree programs, the following is required:

• Certificate of complete secondary education with a transcript;
• Proof of knowledge of English (IELTS/TOEFL);
• Standardized tests (SAT/ACT);
• Motivation letter;
• Letters of recommendation;
• Select university requirements (threshold grades, interviews, etc.).

To teach in the United Kingdom, you need to obtain the Qualified Teacher Status, or QTS. After completing Initial Teacher Training, or ITT, graduates receive one of the following degrees:

• Bachelor of Education (BEd) with QTS. Usually it is given to future primary school teachers (sometimes universities offer programs for secondary education teachers);
• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BSc) with QTS. Popular with prospective high school teachers and are more subject-oriented.

To teach in elementary school, you need to meet the minimum requirements of GCSE in English, Mathematics and Science. Without QTS, you can work in independent schools, academies and free schools.

Training usually lasts 3-4 years. For admission you need:

• A Lower Second-Class Honours Degree, or 2:2 (GPA 50-59% or 3.5-3.8 out of 5.0) or higher;
• Compliance with the requirements of GCSE/A-Levels (as a rule, in English and Mathematics there must be an equivalent of grade C);
• Proof of knowledge of English (IELTS/TOEFL);
• Work experience;
• Additional tests and exams may apply.

In order to become eligible to teach in a public school in the UK with an existing higher education, you need to obtain a QTS, by studying in the initial teacher training program^[1].

Admission requirements and teaching standards to start a career vary by region of the UK. More information can be found on the UCAS website.

Studying education in Finland is a prospective choice, since the country's educational system is considered one of the best in the world^[2]. It is even ranked #1 in some ratings^[3]. Teacher training in Finland is carried out by universities and vocational higher education institutions.

• Preschool teachers must graduate from a Bachelor’s program in Education (180 ECTS). This degree entitles you to work as a kindergarten teacher and preschool teacher.
• Homeroom teachers should complete a Master's degree in Educational Sciences (300 ECTS). The degree entitles you to work as both a homeroom teacher and preschool teacher. Compulsory education in Finland lasts 9 years, from 7 to 16 years old.
• Subject teachers receive a Master's degree (300 ECTS). There are two ways to obtain a qualification: to start studying a subject first within a bachelor’s program at the university, and then at a graduate school of education, or to master the subject from the ground up within a teaching program. The latter method is less common, since it is possible in few subjects.
• Special education teachers must complete a Master's Degree in Educational Sciences (300 ECTS). After that, one can work as a special education specialist or as a homeroom teacher.
• Teachers of vocational schools, as a rule, study at a university in some other specialty, then work for several years. After that, they study at a vocational institute.

For admission, a foreigner provides a school graduation certificate with translation into English/Finnish/Swedish and a language certificate in English/Finnish/Swedish (depending on the language of the study program). Sometimes it is necessary to additionally pass entrance exams (for example, SAT). A benefit for a foreigner is that you can study in English here, and most Finns speak it fluently.

Japan is progressive not only in technology but also in education. According to the International Student Assessment Program (PISA) from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, students in Japan score higher in reading, math and science than the OECD average. And in Mathematics and Science, Japan took 5th place among all countries^[4].
You can become a public school teacher in Japan after receiving a teacher’s education as a teacher of a specific school level (elementary, secondary or high) and in a specific subject. Teaching certificates are issued by the educational council of each prefecture or capital area.
To enter a university in Japan, a foreigner from a country with a non-equivalent secondary education system (for example 11-year school in some CIS members) must pass a Foundation program and know the Japanese language.

Teacher education at the bachelor's level in Russia, as a rule, lasts 4 years if face-to-face and 5 years if in correspondence. You can learn to be a teacher in universities and specialized pedagogical institutes. Programs vary: primary/preschool education, foreign languages, education management, defectology. To enter, you must provide a certificate and the results of the exams (in Russian, Social Studies and the specialty subject), some universities also enforce additional entrance tests.