The Spencer Bursary
The Spencer Bursary provides current students or recent graduates with the opportunity to attend RFS events.
The RFS offers up to 5 Spencer Bursaries each year to the value of £150 each. The bursary must be used to pay for entry into an RFS event, with the rest of the money used for travel and subsistence costs on the day of the event.
This could be used towards a training event, or a woodland meeting that is a long distance from you.
When you apply please make it clear why this event is important to you, and what it would mean to be able to attend.
Criteria
You must be:
A student or recent graduate or college leaver with an interest in forestry.
An RFS student member at the time of your application.
All applications will be treated with strictest confidence. A committee will be appointed by RFS to review all applications. No other information will be used to assess each application.
If you have any questions about making an application, please email us.
Applications for 2025 are now closed.
Mike Houlihan
RFS Spencer Bursary Recipient 2025
"I applied for the bursary as I am a mature student on the Arboriculture & Forestry BTEC course at Bicton College in Devon. I have made a career change and am keen to improve my (very) basic knowledge of soil."
Rachel Rattray
Spencer Bursary Recipient 2025
"I applied for the bursary to attend the Women in Forestry event as I love the industry I work in and currently work in a team with women but it hasn’t always been the case and as a younger trainee, I’d love to hear others experience and understand more about the best ways to use certain machinery for our bodies. I want to say a massive thank you to the RFS for making events like these possible and its experience days like this that help shape our careers for the better, so thank you."
Tom Fowler
Spencer Bursary Recipient 2025
“ I applied for this bursary to attend the Soil Identification for Foresters course, as I have been eager to deepen my understanding of forest soils through a dedicated workshop.
Gaining practical experience in soil identification will be invaluable in helping me make informed silvicultural decisions throughout my career, an essential skill for any forester.
I am extremely grateful to the RFS for awarding me this bursary, which enables me to take part in what promises to be a fantastic day of professional development.”
