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RCN Foundation 15th Anniversary logo featuring a large star with the number 15 inside, smaller stars surrounding it, and the tagline '15 years of strengthening nursing and midwifery and advancing care'. Make a Donation

RCN Foundation Professional Bursary Scheme

For courses or modules starting between January 2026 and January 2027. Applications open from 18 August - 22 September at 5pm

Are you about thinking of taking a course to improve your skills?

Grants of up to £1,600 are available to support your continuous professional development.

To apply, you must be undertaking a UK accredited course that starts between January 2026 and January 2027. Please do not apply if your course falls out of these dates.

To apply for the funding, you need to be either a:

  • UK registered nurse
  • UK registered midwife
  • Healthcare support worker
  • Direct entry nursing associate in the UK (not apprentice nursing associates)
  • Maternity assistant
  • Care worker 

Student nurses and nurse apprentices are not eligible to apply. 

Funding for nurses in the North West

The RCN Foundation is delighted to announce that we have received generous funding from the Fort Foundation to support the ongoing development of nurses in Lancashire. The grant of up to £1600 is for nurses wishing to continue their professional development across all areas of nursing. Applicants must be working in East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, specifically at Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital or Burnley General Teaching Hospital.

Additional information

A key focus area for the RCN Foundation is addressing health inequalities and we are interested to receive applications from geographical areas in the UK that have high levels of health inequalities.

For more information, please look at our updated FAQs section.

How to apply

To apply for the RCN Foundation Professional Bursary Scheme, click here.

Please note: once you start an application it will automatically save and you can return to complete it at any time. However, once you reach section 9 you will no longer be able to go back to your application so please make sure you complete all sections before progressing to section 9.

This education grant may close early if we receive a high volume of applications. All applications will be reviewed after the closing date.

Below is a list of the questions that you will be expected to answer in your online application. 

1. What are your professional goals?

2. How will the activity improve health and well-being?

3. How have you demonstrated your commitment to self-development?

4. How will you share your L&D with others?

5. What challenges do you foresee in completing this activity?

6.  How will you evaluate the effectiveness of your L&D?

7. Budget breakdown