Postgraduate study bursaries

Bursaries to support NHS knowledge and library service staff in England to undertake postgraduate study on CILIP accredited courses.

We continue to be keen to develop knowledge and library service staff to fill Band 5 posts as we know that recruiting to these can be a challenge.

The NHS Knowledge for Healthcare Learning Academy therefore offers another round of bursaries to:

• library assistants and paraprofessionals (at Bands 2-4)
• those in Band 5 roles who do not currently hold a CILIP recognised KLS qualification

Applicants for these bursaries need to be in substantive roles within NHS knowledge and library services in England. The bursaries will cover the costs of or contribute to CILIP-accredited postgraduate study.

We encourage applications for the masters rather than the PGCert or PG Diploma. This will improve employment prospects.

Applicants will be required to select a dissertation on a health topic and share their learning with NHS England and network colleagues.

We expect that applicants will commence study in September 2024 or January 2025 on a part time or distance learning course based in the United Kingdom or Ireland.

Bursary payments will be made via Education Contract payments to the Trusts employing the applicant.  Applicants should check with their managers that they are willing to handle the payments and communications with the chosen university.

Application process

Please complete the application form and return it to [email protected] using the email header “Postgraduate Bursaries.”

If we receive more applications than bursaries available, we will give priority to services where there have been recent vacancies in Band 5+ roles or from traditionally difficult to recruit areas.