Bursaries: how to apply
At the City & Guilds Foundation, we are committed to supporting people who face barriers to developing skills and sustaining employment.
Application
Process
Criteria for
Applying
Other funding
Options
Registrations for our October 2024 round are now closed and are due to open again in February 2025.
What’s included in a bursary?
Bursaries cover the total cost of studying, so learners can study for their qualifications without worrying about paying anything back. We want to make sure that receiving a City & Guilds bursary gives you the best possible chance of finding employment opportunities.
You can apply for funding to study towards a qualification in one of the industries listed below which we know is facing skills shortages and requires skilled workers now and in the future.
These include:
- Building Services Industry: electrical, gas, heating and ventilation, plumbing, refrigeration & air-conditioning, etc.
- Built Environment Services: planning, designing, constructing and maintaining the built environment
- Construction: bricklaying, plastering, construction operations, site supervision, painting & decorating, etc.
- Digital and IT: software design, network installation, cyber security, hardware support, etc.
- Engineering: fabrication & welding, aeronautical engineering, electrical testing, mechanical manufacturing, etc.
- Green Skills: skills needed to start a career which supports the UK’s net zero targets
- Health and Social Care: support worker, occupational therapist, youth worker, etc.
- Hospitality and Catering: hotel receptionist, room attendant, chef, waiter / waitress, etc.
- Land Based Services: agriculture, equine, floristry, environment, countryside and conservation, etc.
- Leadership and management (ILM): Level 2-7 qualification from ILM
- Manufacturing Industry: business improvement, food and drink, manufacturing, printing & graphic communications, etc.
- Skills for Work and Life: employability, personal & social development, English, Maths & ICT skills
You can apply for a bursary of up to £6,000. This is to cover the total cost of your training programme and any tools or learning materials required. In exceptional cases, we may award the costs for travel as required for training, which will be agreed upon in advance of the start date, and childcare which we will pay directly to Ofsted registered childcare providers.
Most bursaries granted are for amounts between £2,500 and £5,000. If you are awarded a bursary, it may be a partial award and not the full requested amount.
The application process
Our bursary programme opens three times a year – in Spring, Autumn and Winter.
Our application process is completed in 4 stages:
- The registration of interest form opens and application forms are sent to those eligible (check the criteria here)
- Application forms are reviewed by the bursaries team and a shortlist is created for interviews
- Interviews take place for shortlisted applicants and recommendations are made for each person on whether to fund
- Recommendations are reviewed by the City & Guilds bursary panel and a final decision is made
The entire application process can take up to 3 months from registration opening to final decisions being made.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants must meet certain criteria to be eligible for a City & Guilds bursary.
You must meet the following criteria to be able to apply for a bursary:
- You must be at least 18-years-old to apply
- You must be in genuine financial need (meaning: ‘When someone is unable to afford a course and has reached out and explored other options’)
- You must be living in the UK and wanting to study your course here
- You must not have started your course yet
The bursary panel are also keen to see evidence that applicants have thought about the employment opportunities available and possible career routes.
Bursary recipients will be required to keep in touch with the Foundation team to help us evaluate the impact of receiving a bursary, so we can continue to support those in need.
You must also apply for funding to study towards a qualification in one of the industries listed below which we know is facing skills shortages and requires skilled workers now and in the future.
These include:
- Building Services Industry: electrical, gas, heating and ventilation, plumbing, refrigeration & air-conditioning, etc.
- Built Environment Services: planning, designing, constructing and maintaining the built environment
- Construction: bricklaying, plastering, construction operations, site supervision, painting & decorating, etc.
- Digital and IT: software design, network installation, cyber security, hardware support, etc.
- Engineering: fabrication & welding, aeronautical engineering, electrical testing, mechanical manufacturing, etc.
- Green Skills: skills needed to start a career which supports the UK’s net zero targets
- Health and Social Care: support worker, occupational therapist, youth worker, etc.
- Hospitality and Catering: hotel receptionist, room attendant, chef, waiter / waitress, etc.
- Land Based Services: agriculture, equine, floristry, environment, countryside and conservation, etc.
- Leadership and management (ILM): Level 2-7 qualification from ILM
- Manufacturing Industry: business improvement, food and drink, manufacturing, printing & graphic communications, etc.
- Skills for Work and Life: employability, personal & social development, English, Maths & ICT skills
Free courses and other funding options
Not eligible for our bursary programme or want to start learning now? Here is a list of free courses, other sources of funding available and funding searches and directories.
You can also access support for some of the specific industries and careers we are unable to fund here:
