AGRICULTURE students in the South West are being offered the chance to secure extra funding to support their studies by applying for a Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursary. 

Building on the success of the existing Further Education Bursary for Level 1-3 students, the farming insurance expert is offering two levels of bursary to include students studying a Level 5 or 6 course.

Also new is an additional award - the Cornish Mutual South West Agricultural Student of the Year, with the winner selected from the 2023 bursary recipients. 

The bursaries comprise the Higher Education Bursary of £750, open to any student studying an agriculture-based Level 5 or 6 course at University Centre Somerset and Duchy College. 

For those studying a Level 1-3 agriculture-based course at Bicton College, Bridgwater & Taunton College (Cannington Campus), Duchy College or Kingston Maurward College, the Further Education Bursary of £500 is available.

In each category, one bursary is awarded per college and students must be enrolled to study during the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Previous bursary recipients have used the monies to fund PPE and safety equipment, laptops, college books, training certificate fees and travel expenses.

“The bursaries form a key part of our Future Farming Programme and support talented young farmers,” says Peter Beaumont, Cornish Mutual Managing Director. “We encourage any student with an enthusiasm for agriculture to apply for a Cornish Mutual Young Farmer Bursary and look forward to celebrating the passionate young people who are the future of British agriculture.”

Bursary applicants should submit either a 500-word essay, 20-image photo essay or 2-minute video or podcast on the following subjects:

Entries open on 8th September 2023 and close at midnight on 5th November 2023. To find out more and to apply, click here.