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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

Financial support available for your educational and professional development

Apply for an RCN Foundation education and career development grant.

RCN Foundation education grants aim to support nursing and midwifery professionals to develop their careers, gain new skills, and enhance the care they give to patients. Grants can be used to undertake postgraduate qualifications and professional training. You do not have to be an RCN member to apply. 

There are a total of six education grants and one research grant open. Each grant has specific criteria you need to meet – please read this carefully before applying. 

The education grants available range from £500 - £1,600, and applications are welcome from nurses, midwives, nursing associates, maternity assistants, healthcare support workers and students who will begin their study between 1 September 2025 and 1 September 2026. The closing date for applications is 5pm on 12 May. 

The RCN Foundation Next Generation Grant will open for the first time to graduates in any discipline wishing to become a nurse or midwife, and direct entry nursing associate students undertaking a foundation degree. This grant seeks to support with living costs whilst studying, with grants of up to £1,000 available. 

The research grant, the RCN Foundation LV= Quality Improvement Project, will fund opportunities for nursing and midwifery led QI projects, with grants of up to £2,500. This is open to applications from nurses, midwives, healthcare support workers, nursing associates and maternity assistants. The deadline to apply is 28 April. 

What grants can I apply for? 

  • RCN Foundation Professional Bursary Scheme: grants of up to £1,600 available for continuous professional development. Open to UK registered nurses, midwives, healthcare support workers, nursing associates and maternity assistants. 
  • RCN Foundation Next Generation Grant: up to £1,000 available to support with living costs. This is open to graduates (in any discipline) wishing to become a nurse or midwife and direct entry nursing associate students undertaking a foundation degree.  Please note: degree apprenticeship nursing students, degree apprenticeship midwifery students and foundation degree nursing associate apprenticeship are not eligible to apply.
  • 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) available. Please note, there is no deadline for this grant.  
  • 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 Leathersellers Foundation Grant: open to applications from non-mental health registered nurses working with children and young people who are experiencing challenges with their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Grants of up to £1,600 available. 
  • RCN Foundation LV= Education Grant: specific to healthcare support workers, nursing support workers, healthcare assistants, care home assistants and maternity support workers, with grants of up to £1,600 available to support with professional development.  

Deepa Korea, RCN Foundation Director said: “The RCN Foundation is proud to continue to invest in the future of nursing and midwifery through our education grants, and particularly through the creation of the RCN Foundation Next Generation Grant. This grant will help alleviate the financial burden that further education carries, providing more opportunities and assisting with the creation of the next generation of nursing and midwifery professionals.

Our grants are essential in supporting and giving access to those who wish to undertake learning and development activities, which ultimately enhance their careers and improve the care they give to patients. In 2024 we supported the professional development and training of 122 individuals through our education grants that totalled £183,000. Whether you are a nurse, midwife, healthcare support worker or student, I strongly encourage you to explore what funding we have available and apply for an RCN Foundation education grant.” 

How to apply

To find out more information about what grants are available and to apply, visit here.

Applications are open from 31 March until 5pm on 12 May 2025. 

Have any questions? Take a look at our FAQ page or hear from previous recipients.