Bereavement Scholarship Scheme

Am I eligible?

The scheme is available to the children of deceased Service Personnel if:

• they are under 18. If over 18, they must be under 24 and either in full-time education or out of full-time education for up to one year between secondary education and Further Education or between Further Education and Higher Education

• their parent’s death was on or after 1 January 1990 and attributable to their service in the Armed Forces

What’s it for?

The Bereavement Scholarship Scheme is designed to give the children of deceased Service people a head-start in life by helping them progress in their post-16 education.

The scheme provides children with a scholarship allowing them to stay in further or technical education for up to three years.

It also includes a contribution towards the cost of a first undergraduate course at a publicly funded UK higher education institution, or one higher level technical education programme.

What do they get?

The further education rate is currently £1,500 for all students. For higher education courses and programmes, the scholarship contributes towards both tuition fees and maintenance costs.

The rate paid is dependent on the part of the UK in which the student is living and studying.

How do they claim this?

They should speak to  Veterans UK in the first instance.

Detailed guidance on how to claim can then be found by opening the first attachment on the AFBSS page on the government website. In summary:

1. They will need to complete Form AFBSS1  and submit a signed copy to the scheme administrator either by email to DBS-AFBSS@mod.gov.uk or by post to Veterans UK,  Armed Forces Bereavement Scholarship Scheme, Tomlinson House, Norcross, Thornton-Cleveleys FY5 3WP.

2.  Applications for further education should be made before 31 January in the academic year for which the scholarship will apply. Applications for higher education should be submitted after 1 April in the calendar year in which the course will start and no later than the 31 January of the following year and must include a copy of the letter from the education establishment confirming that an offer of a place to study has been accepted and proof of the tuition fees being charged

3.   The scheme administrator will then confirm in writing whether the child is eligible