Learning grants
UNISON offers grants towards course or exam fees for members studying at their own expense
UNISON College Bursary Scheme
To help members to further their education, UNISON offers grants towards course or exam fees for members studying at their own expense.
The process for applying is outlined below:
Grant Types
Learning Grant
Award of up to approximately one third of course fees is available to a maximum of £400. Includes any course for personal or professional development up to and including undergraduate level that doesn’t fall under either Open University or TULS courses.
This excludes any courses that fall under the following definitions:
- Courses leading to qualifications linked to licence to practice.
- Training or programmes of study intended to meet the employer’s statutory and/or legal responsibilities (e.g. health & safety).
Open University Grant
For Open University modules worth 30 or 60 credits (up to undergraduate level):
- 30 credit modules: up to £300.
- 60 credit modules: up to £600.
Trade Union & Labour Studies and Women’s Studies (TULS) Grant
For programmes of study specifically related to Trade Union & Labour Studies and Women’s Studies:
- A grant of up to £600 for members studying for a certificate, diploma or BA in Trade Union and Labour Movement or Women’s Studies courses (up to undergraduate level).
- Up to one third of fees for a union representative studying for a master’s degree in Trade Union and Labour Studies or Women’s Studies. Note that this grant is issued on a one-off basis for a single programme of study and cannot be claimed over successive years.
Grant guidance
You must read all of the grant guidance prior to applying for any of the grants.
Please read the content below to gain a full understanding regarding the eligibility criteria of the grants offered by UNISON.
You can apply if all of the following are true:
- You are not in subscription arrears.
- You have been a UNISON member for more than 4 weeks.
- You are not a retired member.
- You are not a student member who has never been a full member.
- You have not already received 4 education grants under the scheme.
- The course or module for which you’re applying begins in 2026.
- You have not already received an education grant in the current calendar year.
- You are not already receiving financial support towards your course fees.
As part of the scheme, members can receive:
- A maximum of one grant per calendar year.
- A maximum of four education grants in total.
Do I need to stay a UNISON member while studying?
Yes. Members are expected to remain in UNISON for the duration of the course/module supported by the grant. If there has been a lapse in membership for a sustained period following receipt of a grant, this may impact the award of any subsequent grant.
Can I apply if I have a student loan or maintenance grant?
Yes. Student loans and maintenance grants do not count as financial support for course fees under this scheme.
What if I am not sure whether my course is eligible?
You should check course details carefully before applying to ensure it meets the grant requirements.
Why does the course or module have to start in the same calendar year?
Grants are managed within an annual budget cycle, so the course/module must start in the same calendar year as the application.
Can I apply before the course or module starts?
Yes, you can apply in advance, but the course/module must still start in the same calendar year as the application.
What evidence do I need to provide?
Applicants must provide:
- Proof of enrolment
- Proof of payment of fees
These items of evidence do not need to be provided initially but you must specify via your application a date by which you can provide these details. If you are unsure then provide an estimate, for example, the first date the month you expect to receive confirmation of student finance.
More details about what evidence is required for specific grants can be found below.
Why do I need to provide proof of enrolment and payment?
This ensures UNISON can confirm the course/module is genuine, that the applicant is registered, and that the grant is supporting real learning costs.
What counts as proof of enrolment?
A confirmation email or letter from the course provider showing your name, course/module title, and start date.
What counts as proof of payment?
A receipt, invoice marked paid, confirmation email, or another clear record showing the amount paid. Information required specific to grant types is available via the link above.
Can I submit screenshots or digital copies of evidence?
Yes. Please pay attention to the quality of any images submitted, and if sharing files ensure they are saved in the correct format.
What happens if I submit an application without evidence?
You can apply at any point but your application cannot be processed until proof of enrolment and payment is received. These should be shared at the earliest opportunity.
Can I save the online application form and return later?
No. The online form cannot be saved and returned to, so applicants should prepare all details before starting the form.
What should I do if I decide not to study after submitting an application?
Please take a proactive approach to contact us when you’re no longer able to proceed with your application so it can be withdrawn and funds allocated to another members’ application.
What if I change my mind about the course I have applied to study but want to apply for a grant towards another course?
You will be required to start a new application to reflect this change.
Are grants guaranteed if I meet the criteria?
No. Funding is limited and grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget is fully allocated. Prior to receiving an application and making an assessment based on the details received, we are unable to make assurances about grants being awarded. This avoids any disappointment based on overpromising prior to receiving a full application.
The application process
Application is via an online form supported by emailed electronic evidence documents.
The application form doesn’t allow for saving your work and returning to it so it’s important that you read the summary of the form at the end of this page and make sure you have everything ready before you begin.
Once you are ready you can complete and submit the form. The timeline below outlines what to expect once your form is received.
Please note that we cannot process your application until we have received your completed application form, proof of your registration and of payment of course fees, and your BACS details.
Grant Evidence
When completing the application form you will be prompted to send evidence of your enrolment and payment of fees. The specific proof required is shown under the relevant heading below.
Please note that you are also able to submit evidence after completing the form but must provide a date by which you intend to send us the evidence.
- Your evidence of enrolment must show the start date for your module is in 2026.
- If paying for a course by instalments or in full, we will not accept bank statements as evidence of payment; we need to confirm that your institution has received payment, not that payment has been sent.
What should I provide as proof of payment?
- If you are in receipt of a student finance loan for your course fees please send a copy of your student finance letter/agreement, including the date the letter was issued, the academic year the loan is for and the details of your course.
- If you are paying the full course fees directly in advance, please send proof of payment including details of the modules you will be undertaking.
- If you are paying for your course in instalments, please send proof of payment of any deposit and a copy of the payment plan agreed between you and the course provider, with details of the course/modules you will be undertaking.
What should I provide as proof of enrolment?
Evidence for enrolment requires you to send proof that you have been offered a place to attend the relevant course. This can include emails, PDF documents or good-quality photographs of letters offering a place on the course.
What should I provide as proof of payment?
- If you are in receipt of a student finance loan for your course fees please send a copy of your student finance letter/agreement, including the date the letter was issued, the academic year the loan is for and the details of your course.
- If you are paying the full course fees directly in advance, please send proof of payment including details of the modules you will be undertaking.
- If you are paying for your course in instalments, please send proof of payment of any deposit and a copy of the payment plan agreed between you and the course provider, with details of the course/modules you will be undertaking.
What should I provide as proof of enrolment?
A PDF file of your Statement of Academic Record (this can be obtained via the StudentHome portal) OR a screenshot or good quality image upload of the email confirming that your enrolment is complete (usually sent by [email protected]).
Before you apply
As mentioned above, the application form doesn’t allow for saving your work and returning to it so it’s helpful to have all the information you need ready to input before you follow the link below.
Personal details
Your name, UNISON membership number; contact details, job title & employer; working hours and the highest level of previous qualification you have obtained.
Details of your course
The course name, provider and duration of the whole course. If the course lasts more than a year you will also need to tell us which year you are applying for.
You will also need to tell us the start and end date of either the course or the year/module you are currently applying for, as well as the fee paid for this part. For OU courses we will also need to know the number of credits the module is worth.
Finally, we will ask you for a brief statement on why you would like to study this particular course. This doesn’t need to be longer than a paragraph or so, and can be briefer, it’s just to give us an idea of why you’re interested in studying
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