The SSA accepts applications year-round for its bursary scheme. The aim is to support people who want to learn about addiction in an academic environment through master’s courses, diplomas, and short modules, but who cannot self-fund their studies.

The SSA bursary funding scheme offers up to £6,000 per person per year (April to March) to cover course fees for people intending to study addiction. If your course is over several years, you may apply just once each year. This is usually for MSc courses, but we also fund other types of courses including diplomas and short modules.

To be eligible for an SSA bursary you must:

  • have been offered a place on a UK university-validated, UK-based programme in specialist addiction-related studies
  • be committed to working in the field of addiction

If you are planning to do a PhD, please see our separate funding scheme (see PhD studentships).

If your course is not specifically based in addiction (e.g. a public health course), you will need to provide evidence of an addiction focus within your intended study.

Requirements

You can apply for an SSA bursary by completing the application form below. To maximise your chance of getting a bursary, please complete it with as much detail as possible. When completing the application form, you will be asked to supply the following:

  • Evidence of course fees – this can be a screenshot, an email, or a confirmation letter, but it must state the course fees relating to the year you are applying for
  • An email address for your line manager (or similar), who can provide a support letter confirming:
    • their confidence in your ability to study at the required level
    • that the employing organisation will support you, allowing time for course attendance and related study
    • whether there is any funding available, with specific amounts, or a statement if no local funding is available

Your application will not be reviewed until we have full information about fees and we have received your line manager’s support letter. If you anticipate any difficulty obtaining this letter, or need advice in identifying an appropriate manager, please email us for advice.

There is no deadline for submission; applications are considered throughout the year. However, each year’s budget is predetermined, and does not allow awards to be requested retrospectively for years/modules already completed. Please be aware that it may take up to six weeks to process each bursary application.

Eligibility

To be eligible for an SSA bursary, you must be:

  • currently working (paid or voluntarily) or in a practice placement in the addiction field or in a post with a substantial addiction interest, and able to demonstrate that the course will benefit both you and your employer/supervisor
  • supported by your employer to pursue this course of study
  • able to provide evidence of acceptance on the course or year of study
  • UK-based for the duration of the course

The course should:

  • provide substantial knowledge and skills in the addiction field in practice, research, or policy
  • be validated by a UK university
  • result in a recognised qualification or credits (not just a Certificate of Attendance)

The employer/volunteer supervisor (not the course manager) should:

  • be a specialist addiction agency with a commitment to working with addiction problems
  • confirm their commitment to support the student’s learning, which must include time for studying and to attend the training
  • provide clarification of their contribution (financial or in kind) to the student’s proposed training

Information on eligibility and conflicts of interest

You are ineligible for this scheme if you are an employee of the alcohol, cannabis, gambling, nicotine, pharmaceutical, or tobacco industries. This exclusion also applies if you are an employee of an Industry Social Aspect Organisation*.

You are ineligible for this scheme if you have received funding of any kind, either directly from, or through representatives of, the alcohol, cannabis (except pharmaceutical), gambling, nicotine (except pharmaceutical), or tobacco industries. This exclusion also applies if you have received funding from an Industry Social Aspect Organisation*.

To be eligible, you must provide details about all potential conflicts of interest when requested. This information will be used to inform decision-making and applications may be rejected if the SSA deems there to be a risk of bias, ethical concerns, or a risk to the reputation of the SSA.

*Industry Social Aspect Organisations are those that are funded by addictive product industries – sometimes through secondary organisations – that often have a stated purpose to reduce the harms of those addictive products.

Assessment

Applications are assessed by two experts. The SSA will confirm that they do not have any conflicts of interest relating to the applicant or the course of study. Award of a bursary in one year does not guarantee funding in subsequent years or for subsequent stages/modules of courses. However, we support people to apply each year, provided that they are making satisfactory academic progress.

Funding provided

  • Awards are not transferable in whole or in part, and relate only to the academic year, and the specific course, for which they are initially granted.
  • Students will be awarded a maximum of £6,000 per annum to cover course fees.
  • If the SSA bursary constitutes less than 80% of the total cost for the bursary period (i.e. if the cost is greater than £7,500), you must demonstrate how the shortfall will be paid.
  • We encourage students to apply before commencing a new course or year for which they are seeking a bursary award, or as early in that year as possible.
  • The award is available only for the payment of course fees and cannot include other expenses (such as course materials, travel expenses).

Payment of awards

Payment will be made directly to the educational establishment and not to individuals.

Application form

To help you prepare, you can download a sample application form. This is for reference only and cannot be submitted. Please note, this was produced for the 2025 scheme; questions may change in future application forms.