TEFL Jobs in India
Make a positive impact and see the world with our exciting TEFL jobs.
Teach English in India and discover an awe-inspiring destination, full of life and celebration! India eventually ends up on every adventurer's bucket list because of its rich customs and constant ability to surprise visitors at every turn. Explore ancient palaces, reverent temples, vast tea plantations, and vibrant markets while learning about the fascinating religions and traditions of the locals. Opportunities for teaching positions in India, which has more than 300 million youngsters, present a fantastic way to improve the lives of many people. Take a look at our exciting teaching jobs in India today!
Come for the experience, not the pay cheque
India isn't a salary market for foreign teachers, and it's better to know that now. The paid jobs that exist for outsiders are at a small number of international schools, and the visa rules keep them out of reach for most first-timers. What India offers instead is the most supported way into a real classroom we place people in: a structured internship with housing, meals and a living allowance, in a country that will change how you see teaching. Go in for that and it's one of the most memorable things you'll ever do.
- Kerala
- Punjab
- Tamil Nadu
- Delhi
- Bangalore
- Mumbai
What you need to teach English in India
The bar for an internship is the lowest of any country we work with. The bar for a paid job is one of the highest, because Indian immigration sets a minimum salary for foreign workers that few schools can meet. Knowing which route you're on decides everything else.
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A TEFL certificate
Required for the internship programmes and by any school that hires foreigners. You'll be teaching conversational and practical English to large, mixed-ability classes, and the course is what gets you through the first fortnight without sinking.
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A degree only for paid roles
The internships don't require one: fluent, adaptable, community-minded people are welcome. International schools and any employment visa do need a degree, usually with a teaching licence and several years' experience on top.
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The right visa for your route
India's employment visa requires a salary of around US$25,000 a year, which rules out almost every local school. Internship programmes place you on the appropriate visa for a fixed-term placement and walk you through the application; don't attempt to teach on a tourist visa.
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Fluent English and a flexible temperament
Programmes take native speakers and near-native speakers at IELTS 7.0 or above. More than any qualification, India asks for patience with heat, noise, paperwork and plans that change. Couples and friends can apply together, and arrivals run all year.
Visa categories and their conditions change, and states differ in how they treat foreign volunteers. Talk to our team before booking flights, and see our guide on how to legalise your TEFL certificate if a school or consulate asks for an apostilled copy.
Which TEFL course should you take for India?
Given that you're unlikely to earn much in India, keep the course cost in proportion. For the internship route the 120-hour course is the sensible choice. The heavier qualifications earn their keep if you're aiming at the international schools, or plan to move on to a better-paying market with Indian classroom experience behind you.
120hr Professional TEFL
£99
What the internship programmes ask for, at a price that makes sense for a placement with a living allowance rather than a salary. The practical starting point.
- Meets internship requirements
- Finish in 2–4 weeks
- Lifetime access to materials
170hr Combined TEFL
£279
Includes 20 hours of assessed practice with real ESL learners. Indian classes are big, lively and mixed-ability, and this is the one that means you've already managed a room before you arrive.
- Confidence for large classes
- Answers the "no experience" objection
- Free lesson plan bundle included
168hr Level 5 TEFL
£269
Ofqual-regulated and awarded by TQUK. Worth it if you're targeting the British and international schools in Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai, where pay is a different order of magnitude, or if India is your first step towards Asia or the Gulf.
- Regulated, not just accredited
- Opens the better-paying schools
- Travels with you to any market
Most internship placements are in primary and lower-secondary classrooms, often with very young children. The Early Childhood Education course (£15) is a small add-on that prepares you for the youngest ones. Or compare every package side by side.
What to expect teaching English in India
Pay and package
Think of it as a covered placement rather than a job. Your fixed costs are handled, and the allowance goes further than the number suggests.
- Internships: Rs 7,500–10,000 a month living allowance, plus accommodation and meals
- Local private schools: Rs 25,000–50,000 a month, rarely open to foreigners on visa grounds
- International schools: £2,000–£4,000+ for licensed teachers, often with housing
- Airport pick-up, orientation and in-country support on the programmes
- Weekly Hindi or local-language lessons included on placement
- Flights and visa costs are yours
Where you might teach
The internship is the door almost everyone walks through. The others exist, but they're for people with a licence and a track record.
- Internship placements in state and private schools — Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Chhattisgarh
- British and international schools — Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai; QTS or PGCE expected
- NGO and community projects — short-term, often unpaid
- Private tutoring and IELTS coaching — huge demand, but visa-dependent
- Online teaching to Indian learners — the way most teachers keep earning after they leave
Getting hired
Programmes run year-round with flexible start dates, so the calendar matters less here than in most countries.
- Four-month placements, arrive any month, some regions closed during school holidays
- Online interview, then visa guidance and pre-departure briefing
- Orientation on arrival before you're introduced to your school
- International schools recruit November to February for August starts
- A programme fee applies; it covers placement, housing, support and training
| Region | Climate | What it's like | Teaching |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kerala | Tropical, monsoon June to September | Backwaters, beaches, high literacy and a relaxed pace; Calicut and Kochi | Our main internship hub; friendly schools, English widely understood |
| Punjab | Hot summers, cold winters | Sikh heartland, the Golden Temple, generous food and hospitality | Internship placements in towns and villages, few foreigners |
| Tamil Nadu | Hot and humid | Temple towns, Dravidian culture and a distinct language and cuisine | Internship placements; Chennai has international schools |
| Delhi NCR | Extreme: 45°C summers, chilly winters, poor air | Vast, historic and intense; Mughal monuments next to tech parks | Largest cluster of international schools; licensed teachers only |
| Bangalore and Mumbai | Mild plateau; humid coast | India's tech and film capitals, cosmopolitan and expensive by local standards | International schools and corporate English; competitive |
Teaching in India: your questions answered
Can I get a paid English teaching job in India?
Only at international schools, realistically. India's employment visa carries a minimum salary of roughly US$25,000 a year for foreign workers, which is far above what local schools and language centres pay, so they don't sponsor foreigners. International schools clear the threshold easily but want a teaching licence and experience. For everyone else, the internship is the route.
How does the internship work?
You're placed in a school for four months in Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana or Chhattisgarh, with accommodation, meals, a monthly allowance of Rs 7,500–10,000, orientation on arrival and in-country support throughout. You teach conversational and practical English, take weekly local-language lessons, and can arrive in any month. See our India TEFL internship and the Calicut, Kerala internship.
Do I need a degree?
Not for the internship. You need fluent English, a TEFL certificate and the right attitude. A degree is required for any employment visa and by every international school, so if paid work in India is your long-term aim, you'll need one.
Can I live on the allowance?
Yes, because your rent and meals are covered and living costs in the placement regions are very low. The allowance stretches to transport, phone data and weekends away; it won't stretch to saving anything or to funding the flights, visa and programme fee, which you budget for before you go.
Do I need to be a native English speaker?
The programmes prioritise native speakers from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, but near-native speakers with IELTS 7.0 or above are considered. India has no nationality rule for teachers the way China does; the constraint is the visa salary threshold, not your passport.
Will I need Hindi?
No. English is one of India's official languages and is widely spoken in schools and cities. In Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Hindi is of limited use anyway; the programmes include weekly lessons in Hindi or the state language so you can manage markets and buses.
Is it safe?
The placement regions are settled, welcoming and used to foreign volunteers, and you arrive into a school community rather than on your own. The usual advice applies more strongly than in Europe, particularly for solo women travelling between cities: check your government's travel advice, follow local guidance on dress and transport, and lean on the in-country team.
What comes after India?
Four months of documented classroom experience in a demanding environment, which is exactly what the better-paying markets ask for. A lot of our India interns go on to Thailand, Vietnam or China with a reference and a story, and both programmes include job assistance for your next move.
Not certified yet? Start there.
Every placement on this page needs a TEFL certificate before you can apply. Get qualified in a few weeks, then our team will match you with an India internship and talk you through the visa.
