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Alongside Australia and UAE, China is one of the most popular destinations for native English-speaking teachers to flock. The number of UK teachers applying to international schools in China has rocketed in recent years, and more and more Chinese parents are looking internationally for their children’s futures.

Teaching in China – your options 

For most candidates, teaching in China can be achieved by one of two routes:Ìý

• Working at an international school 

• Teaching English as a foreign language 

Working at an international school means teaching children and young people from all over the world. Often, their parents have migrated for work or a better quality of life, and the children would not reasonably settle into a domestic school due to language or cultural barriers. To take this route, you need to be a qualified teacher with a few years of experience under your belt.  

Teaching English as a foreign language in China often means working at dedicated training centres, universities or schools, teaching native Chinese speakers English. You do not need to be a qualified teacher to take this route but do need a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate. 

What qualifications do I need to become a teacher in China? 

You cannot teach in China without a degree. To become a teacher at an international school in China, :Ìý

• A bachelor's degree from your home country 

• A valid teaching licence from your home country e.g. Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) 

• At least two years of teaching experience

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To legally work in China, you must whilst still in your home country. However, these are only temporary. Within 30 days of arrival in China, you must visit a government office and obtain a work permit. 

Additionally, you will need to:

• Be under the age of 60

• Be from an English-speaking country such as the UK, Ireland, USA, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa

• Have a clean criminal record and carry out a DBS check

Can I teach in China without prior teaching experience? 

If you’re not yet a qualified teacher, but have dreams of working at an international school in China, here are a few options to consider:Ìý

For any route into teaching, you’ll first need a bachelor's degree in the subject you wish to teach, or an undergraduate degree in Education. 

From here, you can take an approved postgraduate degree that leads to a recognised teaching qualification (e.g. QTS). 

If you’re starting out in England and Wales, you can complete an Initial Teacher Training course that combines a mix of theory and practical classroom experience. This will provide you with the teaching qualification you need to teach in the UK or at an international school. 

Alternatively, if you already have some classroom experience, Postgraduate Teaching Apprenticeships in England and Wales provide you with the knowledge, skills and classroom practice needed to advance your career. 

Or, if you already have a bit more experience under your belt as a non-qualified teacher or teaching assistant, there are other routes you can take, such as a Straight to Teaching programme (leading to Assessment Only and QTS). Note that Straight to Teaching and Assessment Only are both also available to international teachers.

How much do teachers earn in China? 

The salary you earn to teach in China depends on location and the type of school, as well as your qualifications and experience. 

Public schools in China often pay between ¥6,200-15,300 (£675-1,660) per month. 

However, the salary for a teacher at an international school in China is usually significantly higher, typically being closer to somewhere between ¥11,800-29,900 (£1,200-3,200) per month. 

What benefits can foreign teachers expect in China? 

Teaching overseas in China comes with a range of benefits – the biggest of which is arguably the cost of living, which is generally lower than many western countries, meaning your salary can stretch much further. 

For example, in 2025, the  defined the living wage in Shanghai to be ¥5,731. 

Teaching jobs in China also often come with benefits including medical insurance, housing allowance and an air fare allowance for trips home.

Prepare for an international teaching career with an iPGCE 

The Chinese international school market is one of the largest and most lucrative in the world, but it is also highly regulated. An iPGCE alongside a recognised teaching qualification can be the key to accessing top tier international schools in China. 

Additionally, the international school sector in China tends to move quickly due to expansion. As such, staff turnover can be high and teachers with an iPGCE may find themselves fast-tracked into leadership roles. 

If you’re already a qualified teacher and hold the necessary requirements listed above, but want to improve the quality of your classroom practice and gain a globally recognised postgraduate qualification at Master’s level (worth 60 UK level 7 credits), our iPGCE course could be ideal for you. 

By taking our iPGCE course, you will:Ìý

• Become an empowered, reflective practitioner and manager in education who can be an agent of change 

• Critically engage with a wide range of education issues from a multidisciplinary subject/phase perspective 

• Develop models of good practice by drawing on a range of literature and comparing your own teaching practice to existing good practice models 

• Build upon your professional experience to link theory with research, policy and practice in international education and development 

Learn more about iPGCE