Find out how an education and career development grant from the RCN Foundation can help you and your patients. Jane and Sukdeep share their experiences of applying for funding
Whether you’re taking a one-day training course or need extra funds for a nursing masters’ degree, it’s possible you’ll be eligible to apply for a grant from the RCN Foundation.
More than £300,000 was awarded in 2019 to fund further education and career development for around 100 nursing staff and students.
“Whether you’re established in your nursing career or just starting out, the RCN Foundation offers a range of education grants for nurses, midwives, nursing support workers, and those aspiring towards a career in nursing,” says RCN Foundation Grants Manager Katie Slater. “The grants are there to support the development of nursing staff, so their practice has a long-lasting impact on patient care.”
The grants can be used towards degree courses and further education as well as to apply for short courses and one-off training.
Sukdeep Dhadda is a critical care staff nurse from Birmingham. She received £1,000 to help pay for tuition fees for her master’s degree in public health
At the time of applying for the education grant I’d been a qualified nurse for three years and always worked in the acute sector.
However, I’d been interested in public health, health inequalities and inclusion health since my nurse training and wanted to develop my knowledge in these areas. My hope was that I would be able to move into this field of nursing in the future.
Taking on a master’s degree in public health seemed like the perfect opportunity, but I knew I’d need to apply for funding to be able to afford the course.
I’d heard about the RCN Foundation educational grants from one of my former lecturers who mentioned it as a potential source of funding to support learning beyond registration.
I applied for the Needlemakers Bursary, which is just one of the grants on offer. The application process was very easy. I explained why I was applying and what I hoped to achieve with the funding.
I really tried to focus on my passion for public health and reiterated how the bursary would help me achieve my ambition of working in this field, benefitting patients and wider society.
When I received the grant, it boosted my confidence that I was making the right move and it was encouraging to know I had the backing of the RCN Foundation.
As I was unable to apply for a tuition fee loan, I had to fund most of the master’s myself, so the grant really helped with this.
Nurse lecturer Jane Sedgwick successfully applied for a professional development grant of £2,600 to help fund her PhD in social, genetic and developmental psychiatry
I found out about the grants through being an RCN member and using its services including the library, online guidance and resources. When I started my PhD five years ago, I knew I’d need to get funding towards the fees. I have successfully applied for funding from the RCN Foundation each year of my PhD.
I think I was successful in gaining the grant because I’m already in the process of completing my studies. I’m able to show the work I’ve done, the progress I’ve made and how it will benefit others. My work is all about mental health and support for students with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and I’ve published articles and spoken at conferences about my PhD, which all goes on the application.
When applying, you need to really think about how it will benefit others, what you are hoping to achieve and how this will advance nursing as a profession.
I would not have been able to continue with my PhD without the help of the RCN Foundation, as a PhD is expensive, the tuition fees each year are over £3,000. I cannot express the difference this grant has made to me.
How to write a successful application
Katie's top tipsWhat makes an application stand out?
Those that focus on patients and the impact the activity will have on patient care. In addition, we look at how individuals will disseminate what they’ve learned from their activity with colleagues and the wider nursing team, whether this is through publication or a presentation at conferences.
What are you looking for?
We want a well-rounded application putting patients at the centre. We want to see that the activity has been well thought out in terms of challenges the applicant may face. It’s important individuals think about how they will evaluate the effectiveness of their activity.
What are the common errors applicants make?
Applicants often leave their submissions until the last minute and subsequently miss the deadline. Some applicants copy and paste from other funding applications they may have made and do not focus on the specific questions.
What advice do you have for this year’s applicants?
Allow plenty of time to complete the application - really read the questions and think about your answers. Ensure that you talk about how your activity will improve patient care.
Further information and how to apply
The spring round of education and career development grants opens on 22 March 2021.
Nurses, midwives, health care support workers, nursing support workers and student nurses can each apply for up to £5,000 for courses taking place between September 2021 and September 2022.
See what’s available and read more on how to apply on the RCN Foundation website before 31 May.
