Time to take your chance of a lifetime

Would you like to study full-time with the help of an Usdaw scholarship? If the answer is yes, then read on. The Union's Executive Council offers annually one scholarship award tenable at each of the following adult residential colleges.

• Coleg Harlech, Harlech, Gwynedd LL46 2PU
• Hillcroft College, South Bank, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6DF (Women only)
• Newbattle Abbey College, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 3LL
• Northern College, Wentworth Castle, Stainborough, Barnsley, S75 3ET
• Ruskin College, Walton Street, Oxford OX1 2HE

Starting from September 2009, most of these courses will last for one year. The value of the union grant is currently £3,497, plus a book allowance of £75. This is supplementary to any award that the student may be eligible for.

Who can apply?

Any fully paid up member of the Union over the age of 20 who has been an Usdaw member for at least 12 months can apply. To give you an idea of who will be likely to get the scholarship, it might help you to have a few particulars of successful applicants over the last five years.

• They had been members of Usdaw from between 18 months to 20 years and had a good record of voluntary work on behalf of the union.
• They had left school with few, if any, formal qualifications, such as GCSEs, etc.
• They had taken some advantage of the Union’s Education Scheme, felt the need for further knowledge and had a strong desire to be of still more service to the Labour Movement.

Selection of candidates

Interested members should apply early in the New Year direct to the individual colleges for application forms and details of selection procedures.

Courses

• Courses are residential for 30 weeks from September to June with the usual Christmas and Easter vacations.
• Learning methods include – tutorials, class-work and regular essays.

Maintenance grants

Candidates will be eligible for a mandatory State grant provided they have been resident in the United Kingdom for three years. The grant covers board, accommodation and tuition at the college. Successful candidates will also be eligible for the supplementary union Scholarship Award.

Eligibility for a discretionary Usdaw Scholarship Award will be dependent on candidates informing the Union’s Education Department that they have applied for a place at the college, prior to attending for college interview. This should be in writing and no later than the end of June (in the year that they plan to begin their studies).

Subjects available

The colleges offer one year courses from which students may choose their pattern of studies from a wide range of subjects, very typically including:

• Economics
• Industrial Relations
• Politics
• Community Studies
• Women’s Studies
• French
• Sociology
• Social Policy and Administration
• Literature
• Computing
• History
• Labour Law

For more precise details, get in touch with the college of your choice at the following addresses:

• Coleg Harlech, Harlech, Gwynedd LL46 2PU Tel: 01766 780363
• Hillcroft College, South Bank, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 6DF (Women only) Tel: 0208 399 2688
• Newbattle Abbey College, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 3LL Tel: 0131 663 1921
• Northern College, Wentworth Castle, Stainborough, Barnsley, S75 3ET Tel: 01226 776000
• Ruskin College, Walton Street, Oxford OX1 2HE Tel: 01865 554331

After college – what?

The union does not accept responsibility for finding employment for any student after the termination of his or her tenure of a scholarship. We can, however, give examples of what some Usdaw members are doing after having been to such colleges. The members selected came from the full range of occupations covered by the union and included shop assistants, process workers, transport drivers and clerical staff. Below are just a few examples of what they have gone on to do.

• Senior Training Officer with Usdaw
• Training Officers with Usdaw
• Area Organisers with Usdaw
• Trade Union Officials
• University Lecturer
• Local Government Industrial Relations Officer
• Divisional Officer with Usdaw
• Personnel Officer
• Usdaw Work Study Officer
• Tutor/Organiser with the Workers’ Educational Association

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© 2003 (USDAW) Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
This page: http://usdaw.org.uk/lifelong_learning/lifelong_learning_news/1225291935_23024.html
Last Modified: Tuesday, 09-Dec-2008 20:57:06 EST