Bursary opens to support the future planning pipeline in Scotland

Applications are open for the Future Planners Bursary scheme to support the future pipeline of planners in Scotland.

£5000 bursaries are available to 30 students on an RTPI-accredited Planning Masters in Scotland for 2025/26 to assist with course fees and living expenses.

The bursary aims to attract diverse talent from a variety of planning-related disciplines and underrepresented backgrounds to study a fully accredited Planning Masters in Scotland and increase the number of qualified planners.

Dr. Caroline Brown, Director of RTPI Scotland, said: “At the RTPI, we’re working hard to ensure a continuing pipeline of qualified planners are entering the workforce, and are excited to launch our new bursary programme to help young people on the first steps of their planning journey.

“These bursaries present an excellent opportunity for students from varied backgrounds to advance their education and play a role in shaping the future of planning in Scotland.

“We would like to express our sincere thanks to the Scottish Government for their support in making this initiative a reality and look forward to welcoming the successful applicants to the planning profession.”

The Scottish Government has provided grant funding to deliver the scheme and it will be directly administered by the three Scottish planning schools: University of Glasgow, University of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University. Each university will have 10 bursaries to award.

RTPI Scotland will support bursary recipients in networking and events.

Find out more: www.rtpi.org.uk/plannerbursary