Bursaries now available for vocational study
New for September 2024 - We are trialling a new vocational bursary scheme for students studying a vocational course at any UK college.
Students can apply for a £1,000 per year bursary for their course. Students must have a household income below £30,000 and have a parent or spouse or be employed themselves:
- In the Grocery Industry
- In a Community Pharmacy or as a registered Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician
- As a Commercial Traveller
How much are the bursaries?
The bursaries are £1,000 per year of your course. The bursary will be paid to the college and then transferred to you in instalments throughout the course.
What can you use a vocational bursary for?
You can use the bursary for any reasonable costs connected with going to college, including travel, equipment, food, and childcare.
Who can apply? – Eligibility
To be eligible to apply, you need to be:
- A student aged 16 and above (adults are eligible)
- Resident in the UK
- The child (including stepchild/under the care of), spouse (including widow), or those themselves who work:
- In the Grocery Industry
- In a Community Pharmacy or as a registered Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician
- As a Commercial Traveller
- Be currently employed and have worked in this capacity for at least 5 years.
Before applying, you should check that you are eligible by reading our detailed guidance on eligibility.
Are bursaries paid directly to applicants?
No – if your application is successful, your college will receive the bursary on your behalf, and pass the money on to you via instalments throughout your course.
Duration
You can apply for a bursary for each year of your course. Unfortunately, we can’t offer bursaries for previous years of study that you have already completed.
Do you need to re-apply each year?
No, we expect to continue awarding you a grant for as long as your course continues, provided that:
- You continue to study full-time, at the same college, on the same course
- Your college confirms that your academic performance is satisfactory each year
- You progress on to the next year of your course when expected
- There is no significant change in your financial situation
Your college is responsible for sending us this information in a yearly report.
Making an application – Application procedure
To apply, you need to fill in the online application form.
The scheme opens at 9am on Monday 9 September 2024 and closes at 5pm on Friday 13 December 2024, or until the funds have been depleted, whichever is soonest.