UNISON operates a number of educational bursary schemes, which provide financial support to UNISON members who are:

• on trade union and labour studies courses
• in general, non-vocational education
• in vocational education relevant to work in the public services.

The UNISON Rule Book sets out the following general qualifications and conditions for receipt of an award:

1. Membership of UNISON for at least 13 weeks prior to the member applying for the grant concerned.
2. No arrears of subscription.
3. The member continues to pay all membership subscriptions required from him/her throughout the time that he/she is in education and training supported by the award, unless the NEC dispenses with this requirement in his/her case.

General points to remember

1. A member is only entitled to one award in any one year and up to four awards maximum.
2. Application forms must be endorsed by the Branch Secretary or Branch Education Officer. No application can be considered without this.
3. Applications must be made on the appropriate application form and returned to the following address:

Bursaries Administrator

UNISON Learning & Organising Services
1 Mabledon Place
London
WC1H 9AJ

Tel: 020 7551 1116
Fax: 020 7551 1758
Email: Learning&OrganisingEnquiries@unison.co.uk

One of these awards is applicable to members studying with the OU.

Open University awards (first come, first served)

Open University awards are available to UNISON members undertaking OU courses up to and including undergraduate-level courses at their own expense. No awards are available for Masters degree study.

Awards are made as follows:

• 60-point courses £120
• 30-point courses £60

Members are entitled to only one of these awards in any given year.

Funding becomes available at two points in the year:

• 1 January for courses starting in the spring
• 1 September for courses starting in the autumn.

Applications are dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis until funding is exhausted. Members are advised to apply as soon as funding becomes available to avoid disappointment.

A copy of your course registration and proof that you are meeting the cost of fees yourself will be required before an award can be paid. Enclosing copies of these documents with your application will help your application to be processed more swiftly.

To find out more please contact the:

Bursaries Administrator

UNISON Learning & Organising Services
1 Mabledon Place
London
WC1H 9AJ

Tel: 020 7551 1116
Fax: 020 7551 1758
Email: Learning&OrganisingEnquiries@unison.co.uk

Remember: UNISON members are also entitled to a 10% discount on a number of OU courses that are presented between now and August 2012. So, when registering with the OU, remember to ask for your discount!

* For more information on either of these discounts see Help from the OU.