Training bursaries for under-represented ethnicities and heritages

It is well known that people from Black, Asian, dual heritage and minority ethnic communities are under-represented in the mental health professions. This is upheld by extensive evidence, researched by the Health & Social Care Information Centre. Their study showed that Black, Asian and minority ethnic individuals make up only 9.6 per cent of qualified clinical psychologists in England and Wales, in contrast to 13 per cent of the population (Office of National Statistics, 2018).

https://thepsychologist.bps.org.uk/volume-33/january-2020/bame-representation-and-psychology

In light of the lack of ethnic diversity in the mental health and therapy profession, IATE are offering a training bursary, known as the Diversity Scholarship, which is open for applications now. We are taking applications from people who identify as coming from Black, Asian, dual heritage and minority ethnic groups. We wish to actively support their training with us to bring more psychotherapists and counsellors into the mental health professions from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds to address the imbalance in power, privilege and identity.

Who is the Diversity Scholarship open to?

The Diversity Scholarship is open to people who identify as coming from one of the ethnic groups listed below. While we are open to other People of Colour, we are primarily focussing on people who identify as coming from one of these heritages:

African or Caribbean Heritage

African for those born in the continent,
Caribbean for those born on the islands

South Asian Heritage

Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka

East Asian Heritage

China, Japan, North & South Korea, Taiwan

Third generation

Black British, Asian British

Mixed Heritage

People of mixed white & African heritage, people of mixed white South Asian heritage, People of East Asian & Caribbean heritage

What’s being offered?

A bursary of £8,000 to be used over two years.

Half of the bursary contribution will be used for the Diploma in Therapeutic Arts or the Diploma in Child Counselling Year 1 course. The remaining half of the bursary can then be used for continued training into a second year: either the Diploma in Child Counselling Year 2 or either of our MA programmes. Please note that successful bursary applicants are expected to pay the remaining course fees.

Please note, bursary allocation is for tuition fees only, as detailed above. This award does not cover the cost of personal therapy and university registration (if applicable).
Who is eligible to apply for a training bursary?

In order to apply for the Diversity Scholarship, you will need to meet all of the following criteria:

  • You have a Black, Asian, dual heritage or minority ethnic background
  • You have applied for and already been offered a place on either the Diploma in Therapeutic Arts, or Year 1 of the Diploma in Child Counselling
  • You have not previously undertaken a course in Psychotherapy, Counselling or any other clinical therapeutic training

Application Process

In order to apply for the training bursary you will first need to go through the standard application process to one of the courses and receive an offer of a place. Once you have been offered a place on a course you can submit your application for the training bursary. There is no need to accept your offer until you have received the outcome of your bursary application.

Applications must be completed and received by 30th June for consideration for the upcoming academic year. For example, if applying to enrol on a programme beginning in September 2026 you must have submitted your application for the training bursary in full by 30 June 2026.

In entering into the process of application, you fully understand that no feedback will be given if you are not successful.

Please note, bursary allocation is for tuition fees only. This award does not cover the cost of personal therapy and university registration (if applicable).

How do I apply?

Please email info@iate.uk, explaining how you meet the criteria for the Diversity Scholarship. If we are satisfied you meet the criteria, we will send you an application form. You will then need to answer the following questions in no more than 500 words for each answer.

  • What are your reasons for wanting to study this course and what are your goals?
  • What would winning this scholarship mean to you?

If successful, you will be invited for an online interview with two members of the Bursaries Committee.

Terms & Conditions

  • Applicants for the Diversity Scholarship agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. The sole sponsor of the scholarship is Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education, Sugar House Island, 1 Danes Yard, Stratford, London E15 2QD.
  • No other alternatives to the scholarship will be offered and the scholarship is non-transferable.
  • The award will be deducted from the cost of tuition fees and the student will not receive any payment. It does not include any payment for personal psychotherapy which is an ongoing requirement of the courses. This cost will need to be met by the student.
  • All applications must be completed and received in full by 30th June. No consideration will be given to applications which do not meet all the conditions set out herein, which are incomplete or invalid, or which are received after the deadline.
  • The Institute for Arts in Therapy & Education accepts no responsibility for applications that are lost, corrupted, damaged or delayed.
  • All applications must be received via the online application portal.
  • In accepting the Diversity Scholarship, the winner agrees to take part in any promotional activity to publicise the scholarship, as required by The Institute for Arts in Therapy & Education.
  • The Diversity Scholarship applications will be judged by the selection committee on a discretionary basis on the merit of each applicant.
  • The decision of the selection committee is final. Appeals will not be considered.
  • Any winner found to have supplied incorrect, false or misleading information in their application at any time after the award will be liable to immediately repay any and all awards.
  • This opportunity is not open to employees or the family of employees of The Institute for Arts in Therapy & Education.

Expansion to Diversity Scholarship

IATE are pleased to announce the expansion of the Diversity Bursary from May 2025 onwards as follows:

If you have previously applied for the Diversity Bursary and met the criteria but were unsuccessful, you are eligible to apply once again. You must be currently completing your first year of training at IATE.

The criteria for being awarded this bursary is a demonstration of commitment to the training programme you are on, excellent attendance, academic ability and a demonstration of how you are developing as a potential therapist. Your application will be verified by your tutor and Course Director, who will need to recommend you for further training at IATE. Please note that high-income earners will not be eligible.

If you are successful with this application, IATE will contribute to your future training fees by paying 50% of the fees for one more training year.

If you believe you are eligible for this award and meet the criteria, please email info@iate.uk in the first instance.