FTN’s 2025 Where to Apply Guide is now out, featuring all the flying scholarships, sponsorships and bursaries on offer in the UK this year.
All the courses and opportunities listed in FTN’s 2025 Where to Apply Guide (WTAG) offer some form of financial assistance to aspiring pilots or aviation professionals.
There are subtle differences between the different types of scholarships, sponsorships and bursaries that are on offer.
Scholarships and Sponsorships
Cadet pilots awarded scholarships or sponsorships (or bursaries) aren’t employed by the sponsoring individual or organisation while they train but they are financially assisted, with either a part or all their training paid for. The distinction between the two is often confused – indeed some schemes currently named as scholarships would be more accurately defined as sponsorships, and vice versa. For the purposes of FTN’s WTAG, a scholarship is a training grant provided by an individual or organisation (often an educational institution or charity) that has no commercial vested interest, while a sponsorship is more often provided by a person or company that wishes to employ the individual on completion of training or have them join the organisation in some capacity.
Bursaries
Bursaries can fall into either of the above categories, being granted by either employers or non-commercial enterprises. The key distinction between a bursary and a scholarship / sponsorship is that bursaries only provide a part of the funding required to complete a training course.
Additionally, bursaries are often awarded to assist a cadet with living costs while they train, rather than covering their direct training costs, and can be used in conjunction with scholarships and sponsorships.
Basis for inclusion
Much of the flying or experience opportunities listed in the WTAG are offered on an entirely charitable basis, with no obligation on the part of those receiving an award to repay all or any of the training costs. On this basis, purely commercial arrangements (such as extended loans and other payback schemes) are not detailed in the main listing of the WTAG as they are very different to the awards which are intended mainly to introduce more people to flying, or to aid existing pilots to further their flying skills, knowledge and qualifications. There is a separate section in this guide listing some of the commercial ‘sponsorship’ arrangements which are available at the time of publication.
In general, the awards listed in the WTAG are offered by organisations whose primary goals are to promote aviation at all levels, increase participation in the flying world, and help those who might otherwise lack the resources to achieve a particular experience or qualification.
The Small Print
The WTAG is produced by Flight Training News to promote increased participation and social diversity in all levels of aviation. It is based on independent research and no organisation pays to have its details listed in the WTAG.
The information contained in the WTAG is published in good faith. The publishers take no responsibility for the accuracy or veracity of the data in the guide; any potential candidate is strongly advised to make independent enquiries before applying for or accepting any scheme or award. The inclusion of an organisation or scheme in the WTAG does not infer any recommendation or endorsement by FTN or any associated organisation.
Click here to download a free copy of FTN’s 2025 WTAG in PDF format.
