The Social Work Bursary (SWB) is a grant to support eligible social work students who normally live in England.
If you’re an eligible undergraduate student, you can get help with your living costs while you study.
If you’re an eligible postgraduate student, you may be able to get help with your living costs and tuition fees.
Your university has a limited number of SWB places each academic year, so not every application is successful. They decide who receives a capped SWB place.
Eligibility
You’ll only receive SWB if you meet both the residency and course criteria, and your university nominates you for a capped place.
If you’re not successful in getting a capped place but you meet the residency and course criteria, you’ll still get the Placement Travel Allowance (PTA) element of SWB.
Residency criteria
To apply, you need to:
- normally live in England and be an English resident on the first day of your first academic year
- have normally been a resident in any UK country, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, for at least three years before the start of your course
Depending on your residency status in the UK when you start your course, additional residency rules may apply.
Course criteria
To apply, you need to be:
- studying a course that leads to a first registration in social work
- studying a university based social work course approved by either:
- Social Work England (SWE)
- Scottish Social Service Council (SSSC)
- Social Care Wales
- Northern Island Social Care Council (NISCC)
You’re not eligible if:
- you’re already a registered social worker
- you’re on an employment based course
- you’re studying a joint nursing and social work course
- you’re receiving funding for your course from any other public sector body, not including Student Finance England
- if a social care employer is paying you to attend your course or paying any of your tuition fees
What you could get
Undergraduate students
The 2025 to 2026 rates for undergraduate SWB are:
- a £5,262.50 non-means tested bursary if you are studying in London
- a £4,862.50 non-means tested bursary if you are studying outside of London
These amounts include the Placement Travel Allowance (PTA) element of SWB, which is £862.50 for full time students towards placement travel expenses.
Rates are paid on a pro rata basis for eligible part time students.
Read our SWB for undergraduate students page for more information.
Postgraduate students
The 2025 to 2026 rates for postgraduate SWB are:
- a £3,762.50 non-means tested bursary if your university is in London
- a £3,362.50 non-means tested bursary if your university is outside of London
- up to £4,201 for the means tested bursary if your university is in London
- up to £2,721 for the means tested bursary if your university is outside of London
The non-means tested bursary amounts include the Placement Travel Allowance (PTA) element of SWB, which is £862.50 for full time students towards placement travel expenses.
Rates are paid on a pro rata basis for eligible part time students.
If you’re on a postgraduate course, your SWB payments could differ based on:
- your and your partner’s income
- if you have an adult who is financially dependent on you
- if you have a dependent child or children
- your dependent child’s income if claiming childcare costs
- if you have a disability
Read our SWB for postgraduate students page for more information.
PTA only students
If you’re only entitled to the PTA element of SWB you’ll get £862.50 per academic year towards your placement travel expenses.
How and when to apply
New students
You can apply for SWB by creating a MyFunding account. You'll keep this account and will need to reapply each year.
You’ll need to give us evidence of your identity and residency. If you’ve received SWB before, you'll not normally need to do this again unless your UK residency circumstances have changed.
Before you apply, read our SWB guidance booklet in the Guidance section of this page for more information.
Continuing students
You can apply for SWB by signing in to your MyFunding account.
If you’re on an undergraduate course, we’ll email you from March 2025 inviting you to apply.
If you’re on a postgraduate course, we’ll email you from April 2025.
Only apply once you’ve received your invitation.
When to apply
If your academic year starts from 1 September to 31 December 2025, the application window is open from 1 March 2025 to 31 October 2025.
If your academic year starts from 1 January to 28 February 2026, the application window will open from 1 November 2025 to 23 February 2026.
If your academic year starts from 1 March 2026 onwards, the application window will open from 1 November 2025 to 22 March 2026.
We'll not accept applications submitted after the relevant application window has closed.
When you'll be paid
You’ll be paid in 3 termly instalments each academic year. Your university will need to confirm that you’re attending your course and you’ve been given a SWB place.
If you’re only entitled to the PTA element of SWB, you’ll be paid one lump sum at the start of the academic year.
You can sign in to your MyFunding account for details of any payments scheduled.
Guidance
Read our guidance booklet for more information about SWB.
Your guide to Social Work Bursaries 2025-2026 (PDF: 3.6MB)