The Herefordshire Futures Bursary, offered through Hereford College of Arts and Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College, is designed to help college leavers and career changers overcome financial barriers to higher education and develop the skills they need for their future careers.

Eligible students can receive £1,000 for each year of full-time undergraduate study, up to a maximum of £3,000, with support of £500 per year available for eligible part-time study.

Priority will be given to applicants from some of Herefordshire’s most disadvantaged communities, low-income households and those who were eligible for free school meals in further education in 2025/26. Other Herefordshire residents experiencing financial barriers to higher education may also be considered.

The bursary is part of a partnership between Herefordshire Council and local education providers, including Hereford College of Arts and Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College, to strengthen pathways from education into higher-skilled employment and help local people develop the skills needed by employers across the county.

Herefordshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth at Herefordshire Council, said:

“Working with our local education providers is an important part of our plans for a stronger local economy. We want people in Herefordshire to have the opportunity to develop their skills and build rewarding careers here in the county.

“This bursary is a practical way of helping remove some of the financial barriers to higher education. By working with our colleges and other education partners, we can help more local people gain higher-level skills while strengthening the talent available to businesses and employers across Herefordshire.

“It is about investing in local people and creating clearer routes from education into skilled employment, so that our residents can benefit from the opportunities created by the growth of our economy.”

Together with NMITE, these local education providers offer Herefordshire residents opportunities to study at higher-education level in areas including creative and digital industries, engineering, technology, health and other professional careers.

Herefordshire Council’s economic plans identify skills, education and stronger routes into employment as important to the county’s long-term growth, with a focus on helping residents develop the skills employers need and supporting the development of a future-ready workforce.

 

Abigail Appleton MBE, Principal of Hereford College of Arts, said:

“For many talented young people, the decision about whether to continue into higher education is not simply about ambition or ability. The cost of studying, moving away from home and supporting yourself through a degree can all have a real impact on the choices available to you.

“The Herefordshire Futures Bursary is a practical way of reducing that barrier. We want young people across the county to know that they can access high-quality higher education here in Herefordshire, develop their talent and skills in areas where there is an immediate jobs need, and take the next step towards a career they can be excited about.”

At Hereford College of Arts, local students can go onto undergraduate programmes in areas including illustration and animation, design, digital media, music and performance, content creation, fine art and games design.

Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College offers local higher-education pathways in areas including computing, engineering, health and social care, early years, community coaching and leadership and management.

David Williams, Principal and Chief Executive of Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College, said:

“Higher education should be an achievable next step for people with the talent and determination to benefit from it, whatever their financial circumstances.

“Being able to study locally can make an enormous difference, particularly for people balancing study with work, family commitments or other responsibilities. This bursary strengthens those opportunities and helps us create clearer routes from education into higher-skilled careers, while developing the talent and skills that employers across our county will need in the years ahead.”

The partnership supports a wider ambition to create clearer routes for local people from school and college, through higher education and into skilled employment in Herefordshire.

Together, the higher education opportunities offered by Hereford College of Arts, Herefordshire, Ludlow & North Shropshire College and NMITE give local people routes into sectors ranging from the creative and digital industries to engineering, technology, health and other professional careers.

• Applications for the Herefordshire Futures Bursary are open now for students beginning eligible courses in September 2026.
• Applicants must be a resident in Herefordshire and apply for and accept a place on an eligible course.
• Prospective students should contact their chosen institution for full eligibility criteria, application deadlines and details of how to apply.