Applying for an education grant?
Hear from recent beneficiaries about their experience of receiving an education grant
Whether you are established in your nursing career or just starting out, we offer a range of education and professional development grants for nurses, midwives, healthcare support workers, and those aspiring towards a career in nursing.
We offer different types of grants to support your educational and professional development so that you can have a longer lasting impact on patient care. You do not need to be a member of the RCN to be eligible for an RCN Foundation grant.
For more information about our grants programme, including funding available and eligibility, visit here.
Open grants
To keep up to date and find out when our grants open, sign up to the RCN Foundation email newsletter.
We currently have seven education grants open, and each have different funding and eligibility criteria attached:
- RCN Foundation Professional Bursary Scheme (PBS): grants of up to £1,600 available for registered nurses, midwives, healthcare support workers, nursing associates and maternity assistants wishing to undertake a course or module to enhance their professional development
- RCN Foundation Adult Social Care Nursing Fund: grants of up to £1,600 for registered nurses, care and support workers/assistants working in adult social care settings and seeking development opportunities
- RCN Foundation Next Generation Grant: up to £1,000 available to support graduates wishing to become a nurse or midwife, and for direct entry nursing associate students undertaking a foundation degree. The grant will support with living costs whilst studying
- RCN Foundation Marcia Mackie and Rae Bequest Grants: eligible to nurses registered in the UK and working in Northern Ireland in any sector wanting to undertake a course or programme that will improve patient care and develop practice. Grants of up to £1,600 (Rae) and £1,000 (Marcia Mackie) are available
- RCN Foundation Mair Scholarship: open to nurses working in occupational health in Scotland only. Grants of up to £500 available for continuous professional development
- RCN Foundation Kershaw Grant: grants of up to £500 available for healthcare support workers seeking continuous professional development opportunities
- RCN Foundation Monica Baly Grant: open to nurses, midwives and student nurses/midwives for research projects or activities related to the history of nursing and midwifery. Funding of up to £2,500 available
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.
Writing a successful grant application
Bally Dhaliwal, Grants Manager, and Michelle Legaspi, education grant recipient and Grant Reviewer, discuss what makes a good application, including useful hints and tips for potential applicants. Watch the video in full here.
