Prospective students will be all too aware of the financial difficulties they will face while studying for their chosen qualification but there is help out there in many cases which isn’t always publicised as well as it could be. There is special help available for students from families on a low income, single parents and for students with disabilities. There are also special awards, bursaries and scholarships available from a variety of sources that you may not be aware of.
The DirectGov website has all the current details of what schemes are available and is often the first place to look but there are other sources of information which are easily overlooked. Some professional organisations, charities and large companies have their own schemes and your chosen college or university should have a list of what is currently available nationally and locally – and often if you don’t ask they won’t tell you. Here is just a small sample of what is currently on offer:
Alternative Sources of Funding
**This list is not exhaustive and it is very likely that places will be limited with a quick take-up rate.
The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) offer scholarships for under-graduates, post-graduates and practitioners who want to study for a CIOB accredited course.
The Deptartment of Real Estate and Construction at Oxford Brookes University offer a limited number of scholarships for post-graduates with a contribution towards the cost of studying for a Master’s degree.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) offer a scholarship in the form of a nine month course in building conservation.
Skills for the Future is backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund and will offer a range of learning and work experience opportunities within the field of building conservation and management.
The College of Estate Management (a distance learning college) offers a limited bursary scheme for students on Diploma in Surveying Practice, Diploma in Construction Practice and BSc programmes.
Kingston Univesity offers a number of postgraduate scholarships for UK and EU students as well as an international scholarship and loyalty bursary with limited eligibility.
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) offer six bursaries of £1,000 each for post graduates studying for the RIBA Architectural and Construction MBA
Training Wales can help with a React Funding grant of up to £1,500 to cover training costs for people in Wales who have or about to to be made redundant. The scheme is open for a range of course including health and safety and construction.
Funding and Sponsorships in Industry
Most large construction and civil engineering companies will have some form of graduate sponsorship and training program – here are just a few:
- Amey – graduate opportunities
- BAM Construction – work placements and scholarships
- Balfour Beatty – sponsorship grants and a graduate work program
- Barratt – graduate placements and apprenticeships
- Costain – sponsorship opportunities
- Galliford Try – career academy
- Interserve – graduate and trainee program
- ISG – Graduate placement and development
- Kier – graduate training and career opportunities
- Laing O’Rourke – scholarships and cadet Program
- May Gurney – trainee placements
- Skanska – trainee opportunities
- Wates – management trainee program
More Information
The best way of finding funding for your chosen course is to contact colleges and universities directly as there are often local award schemes and individual sponsorships arrangements that only they will know about.
Alternatively a regular internet search or news alert will bring up some interesting opportunities. The prospects.ac.uk website also has a useful list of resources as well as a post graduate course funding search facility which is constantly updated.
The Union Learning Advice Centre also has a comprehensive list of funding sources which is certainly worth checking.
I am seeking the bursary. I am doing quantity surveying and construction management.