Are Bronze Tier Vacancies Still a Thing?

Yes, absolutely.

Bronze Tier vacancies are still very much part of the international school market in 2026. However, compared to previous years, there just aren’t quite as many of them.

One of the biggest shifts we’re seeing across international education is that qualifications such as a PGCE are increasingly becoming the “standard” expectation for many schools - particularly within Primary teaching roles.

As schools become more competitive and receive larger volumes of applications, many are now prioritising:

• Licensed teachers

• Recognised teaching qualifications

• Candidates with international classroom-based experience

• Teachers familiar with international curricula

That means some vacancies that may previously have been accessible to Bronze Tier candidates are now often being filled by applicants with stronger paper qualifications.

But importantly, Bronze Tier opportunities have not disappeared.

Schools still hire:

• Early-career teachers

• TEFL-qualified candidates

• Teachers entering international education for the first time

• Candidates with 1–2 years of experience

The market is simply more competitive than before.

Check out our 2026 Tier System Guide to help you understand the general, minimum requirements of the market.

For Bronze Tier candidates, flexibility, attitude, interview performance, and openness to location matter more than ever. Many teachers still successfully enter international education through these roles and go on to build long-term international careers.

Every experienced international teacher started somewhere. These vacancies can also be great options for more teachers looking to relocate between cities or as a first step into the Chinese teaching market.

Check out our top picks for our latest bronze tier roles.