Teaching English Abroad Without a Degree

What schools actually require

Requirements come from two places: the school and the country's visa rules. Most schools and recruiters ask for a Bachelor of Arts (minimum, in any discipline) plus TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification — and where competition for positions is stiff, candidates holding a BA or higher have the advantage. But some schools accept candidates with a college diploma or high school diploma, valuing native English ability and a recognized TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate in its place.

Where it works without a degree

Oxford Seminars graduates without a bachelor's degree have been placed in Mexico, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Turkey, among other countries. A few practical patterns from those placements:

• Some countries prefer candidates who apply for positions in person, so the school can assess competency directly.
• While applying in-country on a tourist visa, schools are sometimes willing to sponsor teachers for a working visa.
• Schools that don't require a degree often weigh teaching experience more heavily — volunteer or tutoring experience helps.

How certification changes the picture

Without a degree, an accredited 120-hour TESOL/TESL/TEFL certificate is effectively your qualification — it demonstrates to employers that you know both the theory and the practical classroom techniques of ESL teaching. Oxford Seminars graduates also get lifetime access to the Job Placement Service, whose advisors know which schools and recruiters hire non-degree candidates.