Childcare Office

The Central Childcare Bursary Scheme

• General Information
• Pre School Childcare Bursaries
• Out-of-school/Holiday Childcare Bursaries
• Further questions?

General Information

The Central Childcare Bursary Scheme is only available to eligible EU and overseas students. Home students with dependent children should apply to the Access to Learning Fund.

The Joint Committee on Childcare for Students operate the Central Childcare Bursary Scheme, which awards means-tested grants to EU and overseas students to help with childcare costs. There are bursaries available to help with pre-school and out-of-school/school holiday childcare costs. These bursaries are funded by College contribution and therefore EU and overseas students are only eligible if their College has agreed to contribute. Colleges that subscribe to the pre-school and the out-of-school parts of the scheme are listed below.

Before making an application, students are expected to have applied for all loans, grants and benefits for which they are eligible (see Financial Information) and to have explored all avenues of financial support within their College. Self-financed students are expected to have made adequate provision for their dependents through their Financial Guarantee to the University. The bursaries are means-tested and depend on family income and expenditure. As funds are limited, bursaries can only make a contribution towards the cost of registered childcare and not the general expenses associated with having a child. If a student has a partner or spouse with them who is not working or studying, it is assumed that they will be responsible for childcare and an award is highly unlikely. However, the Committee is willing to consider exceptional circumstances.

You may apply for a bursary at any time throughout the academic year from October 2012. Note that the Committee anticipate most of the available funding will have been distributed by Easter Term 2013. If your application is successful, the award you receive is intended for the entire academic year. Students can only apply for a bursary more than once in one academic year if financial circumstances have changed significantly.

You can print off the 2012-2013 Application Form or pick one up from your College office, CUSU, the GU or contact the Childcare Information Service. Completed applications must be submitted through your College Tutor who should support your application.

If you have any further questions, try the Childcare Bursary Scheme Frequently Asked Questions page.

Pre-school Childcare Bursaries

The pre-school bursaries are available to help with fees at the University Nursery at West Cambridge as well as other Ofsted-registered childcare such as nurseries, childminders or pre-schools for children before they begin school. This includes nannies and home-carers that have joined the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register. (For more information on Ofsted-registered childcare, see the Childcare Bursary Scheme Frequently Asked Questions page).

The following Colleges take part in the pre-school scheme. EU and overseas students can only apply for a bursary if their College is listed below:

If you are an EU or overseas student looking for funding to help with pre-school childcare costs and your College is not listed above, contact your Tutor for information on College funds available. If your College does not make its own provision for assisting with the costs of childcare, contact the CUSU Women's Officers or Welfare Officers for support.

Out-of-school/Holiday Childcare Bursaries

Out-of-school bursaries are available to help with the costs of out-of-school and holiday facilities for school-age children, including the Cambridge Universities' Holiday Playscheme. The facility should have joined Ofsted's Childcare Register (For more information on Ofsted-registered childcare, see the Childcare Bursary Scheme Frequently Asked Questions page).

The following Colleges take part in the out-of-school scheme. EU and overseas students can only apply for a bursary for their school-age child if their College is listed below:

If you are an EU and overseas student looking for funding to help with out-of-school or holiday childcare costs and your College is not listed above, contact your Tutor for information on College funds available. If your College does not make its own provision for assisting with the costs of childcare, contact the CUSU Women's or Welfare Officers for support.

Further Questions?

If you have any further questions about the scheme please contact the Childcare Information Service or check the Childcare Bursary Scheme Frequently Asked Questions page.