A pilot study is presented of a multimode teacher education programme as a variation of the research-based approach to teacher education. The research-based approach has been characterised as one of the paradigms of teacher education. In this article, we discuss the opportunities and challenges that a multimode programme, which makes it possible for students to work as a teacher and to study at the same time, provides for research-based teacher education. The students' work in school offers excellent opportunities to integrate theory and practice in a real context. However, this context may also work as a restriction regarding general teacher competence and its all-pedagogical circumstances. As a result, the characteristic elements of the multimode programme are suggested as a focus for further research.