Help give the gift of education and support the City Lit Student Bursary!
Our Student Bursary scheme aims to support those with financial difficulties, ensuring they can enjoy the many opportunities that learning can bring. A bursary award helps directly with the cost of course fees. Applications have increased this academic year by 25% showing a need and demand for funding.
Donations to the City Lit Student Bursary Fund enables more Londoners to experience education that they wouldn't be able to afford, otherwise. The amount of the award varies, with students receiving between 25% and 90% of course fees.
Please note, 100% of all donations go to the City Lit Bursary Fund, so you can rest assured that your kind donation is making a great impact to someone's life.
How to donate
Online: By visiting City Lit's JustGiving page.
By post: You can send a cheque to City Lit Student Bursary c/o Development, City Lit, 1-10 Keeley Street, London, WC2B 4BA.
At City Lit: You can make a donation at the enrolment desk, reception area or Student Centre enquiry desk.
At registration: You can make a donation when you enrol online
There is a separate government funded scheme to help with costs of books and materials - this is the Discretionary Learner Support Fund (DLSF), please contact our Advice Team for more information on the DLSF.
For information on how to leave a last legacy, please visit our Leave a Legacy page email legacy@citylit.ac.uk for more information
If you are a student who is looking to apply for a bursary, please visit out Student Bursary page.
Student stories
Below are a few examples of some of our students' experiences receiving a bursary.
“Losing one’s hearing can often mean losing one’s work. The bursary helped me with a ‘life saving’ life skills course which was too expensive for me at full price. Lip reading is an essential skills for those with acquired hearing loss – without the bursary I could not have afforded the course.”
“I was desperately searching for employment when I approached City Lit in order to boost my employability. The public speaking course boosted my confidence at a time when it was at ‘an all time low’, and enabled me to add proficiency to my CV. Shortly afterwards I was interviewed by an employment agency who quickly found legal admin employment for me. I am very grateful to City Lit college for this and especially the bursary programme.”
“Going to City Lit has given me that rarest commodity – hope. I was made redundant in the beginning of 2008. Going back to study has made a huge difference to me, it is so exciting to be learning, moving forward and being active. Without the student bursary, it would not have been possible.”
“I’m a single mother, with no regular income, without the student bursary there is no way I could have afforded to do the foundation in acting. This course has changed my outlook on life. I am able to realise my dreams and now I have hopes for a new career, and I am way more confident. As a result I have work experience that I never thought possible.”
“If I had not been able to access these funds I would not have been able to continue my education.”
“I will be going to do teacher training in September and need a maths GCSE. I would have found it difficult to pay the full cost because I am on a low salary. The student bursary really helped me.”
Facts and figures
Students who have received a bursary tell us how their courses have helped to increased opportunities for them, improved their confidence, helped them achieve their goals and given them more hope for the future.
• 90% progressed in their career or personal development
• 75% of students who have received a bursary said their confidence in learning increased
• 70% of students said their bursary-supported course reduced their stress levels
• 65% of students say that receiving the bursary has improved their mental well-being, they feel able to progress to whatever the next step in life is for them