Fully-funded bursaries
Find out more about one day, two day and full residential bursary places at CILIP Conference 2025.
A number of fully-funded bursary opportunities are available to attend CILIP Conference, thanks to the kind support of our sponsors, member networks and special interest groups.
Many of these bursaries are designed to offer access to those new to the profession or without the financial means to attend.
A number of bursaries are offered, from one day, two day and full residential access (though please note that travel expenses and subsistence are generally not provided on top of conference tickets). Submission requirements vary from bursary to bursary.
A full list of bursary providers is below. For further information on each bursary, questions regarding submissions and to apply, please visit the providers directly.
Bursaries open to both CILIP members and non-members
CLA is an official Bursary Sponsor of CILIP Conference 2025 and is offering four (4) bursary places to attend this year’s event, taking place in Birmingham on 2-3 July 2025.
The CLA CILIP Bursary Prize Draw is open to students, those new to the profession or those without the financial means to cover the cost of the ticket, subject to the criteria set out below and these Terms and Conditions. Both CILIP members and non-members are welcome to enter the prize draw.
Acceptance Criteria
Four (4) bursary places to attend the CILIP Conference 2025 are available to prize draw entrants being employees and/or students of organisations which hold a current CLA licence and from following sectors only:
- Schools or Further Education
- Higher Education
- Public Sector (Government, NHS, Public Library etc)
- Private Sector (Commercial, Industry etc)
and at least one of the below categories:
- Students
- Those new to the profession (having joined the profession in the last 5 years)
- With earnings below £23,000 per annum
- Or who are unwaged, i.e. unemployed, volunteering or retired
Prize draw winners are required to produce a written or video report summarising their time at conference (circa 800 words or two (2) minute video) to be published by both CLA and CILIP in print and/or online. Deadline for the submission of the report to CLA is 16 July 2025.
Prize draw winners are also expected to, where possible, actively document their time while at the conference via X (formerly Twitter) and / or LinkedIn, to support other CLA licensees who are unable to attend.
Bursaries open to CILIP members only
A number of CILIP’s excellent member networks and special interest groups are supporting a range of sponsored bursary places.
To apply, it’s usually necessary to be a member of the network or special interest group, though in most cases, it’s free to join.
Explore the range of bursaries below. Please contact the member networks directly with any queries, as the CILIP Conference Team are not responsible for bursary provision.
CILIP Commercial, Legal & Scientific Information Group (CLSIG)
CILIP CLSIG is sponsoring one full residential place at CILIP Conference.
Application deadline: 26 May
>> Application details
CILIP East of England
CILIP East is sponsoring two places at CILIP Conference.
Application deadline: 30 May
>> Application details
CILIP East Midlands
CILIP East Midlands is offering one full residential place at CILIP Conference.
Application deadline: 26 May
>> Application details
>> More info: info.em@cilip.org.uk
CILIP Government Information Group
The Government Information Group is sponsoring one place at CILIP Conference.
Application deadline: 21 May
>> Application details
CILIP LGBTQ+ Network
The LGBTQ+ Network is sponsoring one day-only place at CILIP Conference. An library or knowledge worker, or student is eligible to apply as long as they identify as a member of the LGBTQ+ community. The bursary is selected via a prize-draw approach.
Application deadline: 30 May
>> Application details
>> More info: treasurer.lgbtq@cilip.org.uk
CILIP UKeiG
The UKeiG Management Committee is delighted to announce that it is sponsoring two full bursary places (including travel and one night’s hotel accommodation) at CILIP Conference 2025, the UK’s leading event for the library, information and knowledge community. This generous bursary offer will provide CILIP members – unwaged, studying, new to the profession or without the financial means to attend – with an exciting career development and networking opportunity.
Application deadline: 30 May
>> Application details
>> More info: info.ukeig@cilip.org.uk
CILIP Wales
CILIP Wales is sponsoring one full residential place and one day-only place at CILIP Conference.
Application deadline: 15 May
>> Application details
CILIP Youth Libraries Group
CILIP YLG is sponsoring one day-only place at CILIP Conference.
More info: chair.ylg@cilip.org.uk
