Teacher Education Funding Opportunities

The School of Education and Human Development's Teacher Education program participates in many award, fellowship, and scholarship programs.

This page highlights many of our fellowship and loan/scholarship programs available to students in Teacher Education degrees. The department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education offers additional scholarships as well. The Teacher Education office will contact incoming and current students as opportunities for additional awards arise.

Federal Aid: Students are encouraged to review options for federal aid. The aid process is managed through Student Financial Services. 

Student Financial Services Office

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

Under the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program, if you teach full-time for five complete and consecutive academic years in a low-income school or educational service agency, and meet other qualifications, you may be eligible for forgiveness of up to $17,500 on your Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans and your Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. Visit the Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program website for more information.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program

Teacher Education Funding Opportunities

Funding: $6000 for each year as a fellow

Commitment during the Teacher Education program: Participate in a summer institute, ongoing mentoring activities, and professional development activities

Post-graduation commitment: 1 year of teaching per year of funding; must teach in Albemarle County or Charlottesville City Schools (local independent schools may qualify as well)

Eligible students:

  • Review the eligibility requirements on the AATF website.
  • Students receiving this fellowship may accept an additional fellowship offer as long as the second fellowship does not require they teach outside of Albemarle County or Charlottesville City Schools.

Application:

  • Students not currently enrolled in the Teacher Education program must submit an application per the deadlines provided on each program page
  • Interested students must simultaneously submit an application to AATF through their website. The application for the next cohort will be posted in December. Applications are due in January of each year.

More information: 

AATF WebsiteInformational video

With the radical changes in schooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our community’s children and teachers need tutoring assistance more than ever. America Reads is a federal work-study program that assigns UVA students to tutor community school children in reading and math. While our tutors have worked in schools in the past, this fall they may primarily tutor students online. America Reads tutors not only provide a valuable service to our community, they build rewarding relationships with children, teachers and schools.

Funding: Federal Work Study Award

  • Undergraduate students: $15.98/hour
  • Graduate students: $22.64/hour (Students in the 1-year Master of Teaching program are typically unavailable for America Reads Tutoring due to the intensive schedule)
  • Graduate student mentors: $24-30/hour (Students in the 1-year Master of Teaching program are typically unavailable for America Reads Tutoring due to the intensive schedule)
  • Commitment: fall and spring semesters (both semesters preferred if possible)

Eligible students: 

Undergraduate and graduate students who have been awarded federal work-study awards
Note: Graduate students who were not awarded work-study as part of their financial aid package but are interested in a tutoring position should reach out to the program coordinator listed on the America Reads page.

America Reads Apply on Handshake

 

Funding: $18,000

  • Commitment during the Teacher Education program: Participate in a data collection activities
  • Post-graduation commitment: 3.5 years of teaching in a high-need school district within 6 years of graduation
     

Eligible students:

  • Students admitted to the Master of Teaching program for science education (biology, chemistry, earth science, physics)
  • Review additional criteria on the Noyce website linked below

Application:

  • The School of Education's Teacher Education program will reach out to eligible students during the spring semester. Students will complete a brief application. 

More Information

The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant is a program that provides up to $4,000 per year to students who intend to teach full-time in high-need subject areas for at least four years (within an eight-year period) at schools that serve students from low-income families.

Funding: up to $4000 per year (pro-rated for part-time students)

  • Full-time on-grounds students are eligible for fall and spring funding. Special circumstances may be considered, but if students are seeking fall and spring funding, they are not eligible for summer funding.
  • Part-time online students are eligible for funding in summer, fall, and spring.

Commitment during the Teacher Education program: None

Post-graduation commitment: 4 years (within an 8 year period) of teaching in a high-need subject area at schools that serve low-income families

Eligible students: 

  • This opportunity is open to undergraduate and graduate students; review the eligibility requirements.
  • Students receiving this fellowship may accept an additional fellowship offer with the exception of the Noyce Scholarship

Application: Review the application process. Note that you must complete several financial aid forms even if you are not applying for additional aid

Review UVA's full documentation on eligibility for TEACH Grants:

TEACH Grant Eligibility

High-need areas include:

  • Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition
  • Foreign Language
  • Mathematics
  • Reading Specialist
  • Science
  • Special Education

Other identified teacher shortage areas listed in the Department of Education’s Annual Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing.

Funding: up to $10,000 per year (pro-rated for part-time students)

Commitment during the Teacher Education program: None

Post-graduation commitment:

From the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) website:

"Upon program completion, the recipients of the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan are expected to teach in the public schools of the Commonwealth in the first full academic year after becoming eligible for a renewable teaching license and shall fulfill the teaching obligation in accordance with the Promissory Note by teaching full-time under contract continuously in Virginia for at least two years in a school division (i) in one of the critical teacher shortage disciplines as established by the Board of Education; or (ii) in a Virginia public school with 50 percent or more of the students eligible for free or reduced price lunch; or (iii) in a school division designated critical shortage subject area, as defined in the Board of Education's Regulations Governing the Determination of Critical Teacher Shortage Areas.  Scholarship recipients who only complete one year of the teaching obligation shall be forgiven for one-half of the scholarship loan amount. If the recipient fails to honor the obligation, the scholarship loan must be paid back to the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Eligible students:

From the VDOE website:

"Subject to available funding, these scholarship loans are for teacher candidates, including graduate students and paraprofessionals from Virginia school divisions enrolled in an approved teacher education program at an accredited Virginia public or private four-year institution of higher education in the Commonwealth.  Candidates must (i) be enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved undergraduate or graduate teacher education program or are participants in another approved teacher education program; (ii) have maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.7 on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent; and (iii) be nominated for such scholarship by the institution where they are enrolled and meet the criteria and qualifications, pursuant to § 22.1-290.01, Code of Virginia, except as provided herein.  Awards shall be made to candidates who are enrolled full-time or part-time in an approved undergraduate or graduate teacher education programs in one of the top ten critical teacher shortage disciplines; however, a minority teacher candidates may be enrolled in any content area for teacher preparation.  Teacher candidates who previously received funding through the Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan Program are not eligible."

Application: 

Each summer, VDOE contacts the Director of Teacher Education when the nomination period opens. The Director of Teacher Education will then email all eligible students to solicit applications. Students complete a brief online form indicating their interest. The scholarship committee will choose three nominees from the pool of interested students. The Director of Teacher Education will work with nominated students to submit their completed application as described below.

From the VDOE website:

"Nominees must submit a complete application for a Virginia Teaching Scholarship Loan directly to the regionally accredited public or private four-year Virginia college or university with a state-approved teacher education program. Only the dean/chair, director or other authorized designee of teacher education in accordance with the procedures established by the student’s home institution may submit completed applications to the Virginia Department of Education. Those students selected for the scholarship loan will be notified by the Virginia Department of Education."
 

More Information

Contact Us

For questions about any of these fellowship or scholarship opportunities specific to Teacher Education degrees, reach out to our contact for the Teacher Education program.

Funding Disclaimer

The information provided on the School of Education and Human Development's website regarding financial aid is intended for reference purposes only. While we strive to ensure the accuracy and timeliness of the information presented, it is important to note that this information should not be construed as a guarantee of funding.


Financial aid availability and eligibility may be subject to various factors, including but not limited to changes in federal or state regulations, institutional policies, funding availability, and individual qualifications. The information provided on these pages may change, and it is recommended that you verify the accuracy of details with the appropriate department administrator.