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Professional Qualification Funding

Professional qualifications can help university students progress to the top level of their chosen profession. Below are funding opportunities for professional qualifications categorised by sector. Students can also apply for Career Development Loans (CDLs), which allows them to borrow from £300 to £8,000 to fund up to two years of learning.

Funding opportunities for professional qualifications categorised by sector

Accountancy and Finance

Kaplan Financial Accounting Scholarships offers all Year 11 students a chance to apply for an AAT accountancy scholarship. The winner of the accounting scholarship receives full AAT tuition, followed by their choice of ACCA, CIMA or ICAEW, completely free of charge, regardless of whether they obtain employment or receive any government funding. The value of this AAT accounting scholarship is in excess of £15,000 and creates increased employment opportunities for the winner.

Check out funding on offer for ACCA qualifications.

Actuarial and Statistics

Actuarial profession for international students.

Animals and Plants

What funding is available for veterinary students?
 
Many universities, including the RAC also offer bursaries scholarships.

Built Environment

There are bursaries and prizes available from The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

The Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) also offers bursaries.

The Royal Town Planning Institute offers a number of awards.

Charity and Voluntary Work

The Institute of Fundraising offers grants of up to £1,000 for courses in Fundraising Management.

Construction, Property and Land Surveying

The BIFM offers a 20% discount on its training courses to members.

Creative Arts and Design

Funding is often hard to come by, however, some professional bodies do offer advice on how find financial help, for example, the IOC.

Energy and Mining

There are many options for funding and scholarships in Energy. Individual establishments may also offer their own scholarships or help with funding.

Although scholarships and funding are not offered in Mining, major quarrying companies do sponsor students at the University of Derby and occasionally at other institutions.

Engineering

The IET Power Academy has brought together leading universities and major power sector organisations to develop an engineering scholarship fund that will provide students with support and finance throughout your university course - whether they are currently choosing a degree course, already have an offer, or are thinking of changing courses. The Power Academy also awards five research scholarships per year.  

Environment

Many references to funding arrangements can be found in the job specific sites already listed, but you might also be interested in these:

• Funds and grants available for farming
• And this link to Government’s portal, Directgov.

Healthcare

How much does it cost to become a counsellor? Are there any bursaries available?

Are students looking to develop their pharmaceutical skills?

Human Resources and Employment

Costs of courses vary, however the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) offer discounts to student members.

Information Services

Some funding is available via the SoA.

Law Enforcement and Protection

The Army offers various bursaries and grants to people looking to join.

The navy has similar arrangements in place.

The RAF offers support to potential officers and runs an apprenticeship scheme.

Legal

Funding is available in the form of training contracts.

Management

Initial managerial qualifications can be part of Further Education programmes and therefore for young people can be attained free of charge. Higher managerial qualifications are taught at universities and colleges where standard fees are payable, although these may be funded initially by student loans.

Beyond university other managerial qualifications are available that your employer might sponsor you to study.

Marketing, Advertising and PR

Available funding for courses varies between each institution.  However, the CIM offer a 10% discount on training courses for members.

Media and Broadcasting

There is funding available from Skillset, which is designed to ensure that the creative media industry is fed by a skilful and trained workforce. There is separate funding available for individuals, organisations, and those with physical disabilities.

Medical

Bursaries and awards are sometimes available for undergraduate or postgraduate pathology trainees and at Directgov.

Funding opportunities for aspiring psychologists can be found on the British Psychological Society’s website and on the Directgov website.

Publishing and Journalism

The Broadcast Journalism Training Council provide information about sponsorship and bursaries available to aspiring and training journalists.

Publishers in Wales can apply to the Welsh Books Council for grants for Welsh-language publications.

Social Care and Guidance Work

Bursaries are available for social work students. These are administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). Students can call NHSBSA direct on 0845 6101122.

Social Science

Funding opportunities for would-be psychologists can be found on the British Psychological Society’s website and on the Directgov website.

Also visit the Student Loans Company which, despite its name, is actually a public sector organisation.

Students studying for a social work qualification at either undergraduate or postgraduate level may be eligible to receive a bursary and a contribution to their fees.