This year the Bursary Scheme will support the payment of fees for 83 police officers - up from 79 in 2021.

The College of Policing (CoP) has awarded bursaries to 83 police officers and staff - the highest number of recipients since the Bursary Scheme was established in 2016.

The bursaries exist specifically to support higher education study, with applicants able to apply for a maximum of £4,000 - divided equally across two years of study.

Since the scheme's inception, 59% of awards have gone to support PCs and sergeants, while 30% of successful applicants have never studied at degree level before.

One recipient who had not studied to degree level was PC Emma Bloodworth from South Yorkshire Police. PC Bloodworth had experience and specialism in County Lines and Child Exploitation but no formal qualifications.

She applied for a master's degree in criminology at Sheffield Hallam University at the suggestion of a lecturer, who advised she use the recognition of prior learning scheme due to her policing experience. 

Derbyshire Constabulary’s Business Change and Engagement Manager, Shrey Jhalani, was another recipient. Currently seconded to the National Digital Forensics Programme, he will soon begin the second year of a PhD examining the effectiveness of existing policing and forensic science processes.

A detective constable from Staffordshire Police looking into the shortage of female detectives within CID is another notable recipient.

Rachel Tuffin, the College of Policing’s What Works Director, said: “Now in its seventh year, the Bursary Scheme is open to everyone in policing, no matter their rank, role or previous qualifications.

“Since its establishment, the scheme has made a real and lasting difference to police officers and staff carrying out research and academic study, so that they can develop both professionally and personally.”

Applications for 2023 open next spring. Further information can be found by visiting this link.