Bursaries: how to apply
At the City & Guilds Foundation, we are committed to supporting people who face barriers to developing skills and sustaining employment.
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The bursary programme is currently open for applications until Friday 11 October 2024.
We encourage you to register your interest as soon as possible and to submit your application by Friday 11 October 2024.
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:
Start your application
Register your interest and check your eligibility below to start the application process.
The below information is for those applying for a grant to study a City & Guilds or ILM qualification. The new application process is designed to save applicants time, with an initial registration of interest form to be completed and reviewed by the Foundation before a full application form needs to be filled in.
Before registering:
- Read all the details on this page, including FAQs, to familiarise yourself with what the bursary panel is looking for.
- Complete the online registration form. This will ask you basic details about yourself and the programme you would like to study.
- The bursary team will review your form and if you are eligible will follow up with a full application form where you will be asked to share more details about the course you would like funding for and when you would like to start.
- The strongest applications will then be shortlisted and applicants invited to interview either in person or online.
- Recommendations for grants will be presented to the bursary panel who will discuss and approve.
- Applicants who attended an interview will be contacted to be told whether or not they will receive a grant.
- All those granted a bursary will receive details of the amount of funding, and how it will be paid, as well as details of how they can request any learning materials or tools if covered by the bursary.
Green Skills Bursaries
The transition away from carbon to full sustainability by 2050 is essential for the future of our society. The changes required to build thriving, sustainable economies will require a ‘greener’ workforce, with some jobs reducing, others increasing, and the addition of new jobs.
For this round, we have additional funding for Green Skills. If you are aged 18-30 and looking to study a qualification that supports this greener workforce, you may be eligible to receive one of our Green Skills Bursaries.
Take a look at our Green Skills Bursaries page to see if you could be eligible.
