Education : Opportunities abroad

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More in this section

1. Overview
2. Job roles
3. Entry and progression
4. Typical employers
5. Opportunities abroad
6. Future trends
7. Jargon buster
8. Contacts and resources

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Case studies

• Montessori teacher: Marika Tozer
• Primary school teacher: Jane

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What are my chances of getting a job overseas?

Opportunities for graduates in education overseas fall into three main categories:

• teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) to people whose first language is not English;
• teaching English or other subjects in schools, colleges and universities abroad in English-speaking countries, or institutions where the medium of instruction is English;
• volunteering opportunities.

Prospects for TEFL posts are good because the worldwide demand for learning English as a global language is strong for economic and commercial reasons. TEFL is probably the most common type of work overseas taken up by recent UK graduates and is usually short-term for a year or two. A TEFL qualification is desirable but not always essential. The main skills needed are the ability to communicate and to teach small groups in English, so knowledge of the local language is not essential. For more information on TEFL, including training, see English as a foreign language teacher and i-to-i TEFL.

There are also many opportunities for qualified and experienced UK teachers to teach abroad in countries and individual schools where English is spoken.

Opportunities for voluntary work for recent graduates are normally short-term and volunteers may have to pay for living expenses as well as travel. There are also good opportunities for experienced professionals, including teachers, for medium-term voluntary work with organisations such as Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) .

Prospects for non-teaching posts in education overseas vary widely depending upon the kind of work, the qualifications, experience and language skills needed, and migration/visa restrictions.

Will my qualifications be recognised?

A UK degree is widely recognised in both English and non-English speaking countries.

For TEFL posts, the most widely recognised qualifications are those awarded by Cambridge ESOL and Trinity College. For short term posts, a short course at certificate level will usually be sufficient, but a diploma or postgraduate course and previous experience may be required for longer-term posts.

For teaching posts in other subjects in English-speaking countries and international schools, full qualified teacher status and post-qualification experience in the UK will normally be required. 

Where are the opportunities?

For TEFL work, there are opportunities world-wide with high demand currently in China, Japan, the Middle East, South America, parts of Eastern Europe, and Spain, Italy and Germany. Employers include commercial language schools, mainstream schools and colleges, and industry.

For teaching posts in English and other subjects, opportunities occur in English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other commonwealth nations. In many countries where English is not the main language there are schools for ‘ex-pat’ English-speaking communities, or international schools, colleges and universities, that teach in English.

Openings for voluntary work exist in a wide range of countries, including North America and Australia, where you can work with children in summer camps, providing pastoral care and leading sports activities. In developing countries, there are opportunities in informal teaching, community and welfare roles. For longer-term voluntary work you will usually need professional training and experience.