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RAF- university sponsorship

Can anyone give me any info on university bursaries from the RAF? im looking for:
-When you apply and go to oasc (at or after sixth form college?)

-Whether university sponsorships are reserved for pilots and other specific occupations (will they give me one if i apply for WSO?)

-Is there a lot of competition (more so than for just applying for RAF career?)

-Do they have to approve the specific degree I have chosen?

Thanks. :cool:

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Reply 1
There's loads of info about this in this thread: http://www.uk-learning.net/showthread.php?p=558556

Read through it from start to finish, and you'll be an expert on RAF applications.
Reply 2
will 04
Can anyone give me any info on university bursaries from the RAF? im looking for:
-When you apply and go to oasc (at or after sixth form college?)

-Whether university sponsorships are reserved for pilots and other specific occupations (will they give me one if i apply for WSO?)

-Is there a lot of competition (more so than for just applying for RAF career?)

-Do they have to approve the specific degree I have chosen?

Thanks. :cool:


- whenever you want; for university sponsorship I'd recommend applying as you apply for university spaces.

- you can't be sponsored as a PEdO, but all other branches are available. Bursaries are graded from £1050 a year for aircrew up to something like £4000 a year for engineers. Cadetships are still available for doctors and dentists, carrying an annual salary which reaches £19k at uni and up to £25k during your post-grad stages of training. They'll consider you for one as a WSO although it's a small branch now.

- competition levels are roughly similar to applying directly, although it's slightly easier to get in straight rather than sponsorship based on raw numbers. There's an incredible amount of competition for the popular branches; pilots, WSOs, int, ATC etc. The less well-subscribed branches have less competition, but you still have to meet certain levels to get in.

- and degree is allowed, but you'll face an academic interview as well as the standard one. If you're doing a mickey mouse degree be prepared to defend it!
Reply 3
What about the university air squadron?

- do you have to join if you have a university bursary?

- are only pilot applicants eligable for the flying lessons?

- if so what do non-pilot applicants do other than the ground training?
Reply 4
will 04
What about the university air squadron?

- do you have to join if you have a university bursary?

- are only pilot applicants eligable for the flying lessons?

- if so what do non-pilot applicants do other than the ground training?


Yes you do. Your academic progress, flying training, medical fitness and personal development as a potential officer are all assessed and monitored by your local UAS; you need to be committed to one and quite dedicated to your career choice if you want to retain your sponsorship.

The flying "lessons" take the form of a 60-odd hour syllabus, and is only taught to pilots. However, "blunties" do get the chance to fly every so often. The more you pitch up, the more you fly.

Other than ground training, blunties can get involved in the day-to-day running of the squadron, and tend to pick up a lot of secondary duties; running entertainments, charities, etc etc.
Reply 5
I think I read somewhere that sponsorship applicants don't go through all the tests at OASC that a straight forward entry applicant would go through- is this correct?
Reply 6
will 04
I think I read somewhere that sponsorship applicants don't go through all the tests at OASC that a straight forward entry applicant would go through- is this correct?


Nope.
Reply 7
I dont know much about this matter but what happens if the RAF sponsor you through university and you dont pass the exams and get a degree? surely they wouldnt take kindly to it if they've forked out thousands of pounds?
Reply 8
flashman
I dont know much about this matter but what happens if the RAF sponsor you through university and you dont pass the exams and get a degree? surely they wouldnt take kindly to it if they've forked out thousands of pounds?


Indeed they wouldn't. You'd have to pay back the cost of your bursary; so that's £1050 a year for a pilot, up to £4000 a year for an engineer....
Reply 9
Wzz
Indeed they wouldn't. You'd have to pay back the cost of your bursary; so that's £1050 a year for a pilot, up to £4000 a year for an engineer....



Do you think that ever happens? Pressumably you would have absolutely no chance of getting into the RAF after that
Reply 10
flashman
Do you think that ever happens? Pressumably you would have absolutely no chance of getting into the RAF after that


Yes it does; I've seen a couple of people have to repay bursaries. It also happens if you're kicked out of your UAS. Failing flying training's fine, because they'll offer to rebranch you.
Reply 11
Wzz
Yes it does; I've seen a couple of people have to repay bursaries. It also happens if you're kicked out of your UAS. Failing flying training's fine, because they'll offer to rebranch you.


That reminds me; i've been watching that 'combat pilot' series on BBC2 every monday and was interested to know, when a trainee pilot is "axed" from the fast jet course at RAF valley because they aren't making the grade, can they get re-streamed to say rotary-wing or multi-engine, or is that it for their career as a pilot?
Reply 12
Wzz
The flying "lessons" take the form of a 60-odd hour syllabus, and is only taught to pilots. However, "blunties" do get the chance to fly every so often. The more you pitch up, the more you fly.


Would you say that blunties are those joining a UAS with no pilot scholarship?
Reply 13
Rhys
Would you say that blunties are those joining a UAS with no pilot scholarship?



Well I think you can get a university sponsorship for other branches than pilot ( as Wzz says in post #3 of this thread) so you dont have to be a pilot applicant to get a scholorship and be in a UAS. So basically there could be someone on a scholorship who is going into a branch such as intelligence or engineering officer. However you are correct in saying that people with no scholarship or anything can get into a UAS if they are eligible.
Reply 14
Im going to university in september (if all goes well with exams) and am interested in applying for a pilot scholarship. Do you know if the deadline for returning applications has passed? I suppose you contact your AFCO to apply. Do you know the proccess involved in applying?
Reply 15
You're meant to apply the November before you want to go to Uni so what November of year 13? Lets see you have to get really good results, you'll have a P2(?) presentation, then an interview (i think) then off to Cranwell for the 3 day thingy. sorry if its a bit vague but i can't find my booklet thing!
Reply 16
damn, guess i missed out on my chance then... :mad:



http://raf-forum.cjb.net/
Reply 17
Wzz- I was wondering, are university bursary applicants only really likely to succeed if they have done extremely well in their passed exams? are the RAF only looking for very studious and academic people or do they take the attitude that if your mature and intelligent enough but have only achieved quiet good results they'll give you a shot?
Reply 18
Rhys
damn, guess i missed out on my chance then... :mad:



http://raf-forum.cjb.net/


You can always go to university then apply for a bursary in your first year I think.
According to my RAF liason officer, u should be applying for 6th scholarship after ur gcse's and universirty scholarship a long time before. And yes, if you fail fast jet training u will be re-streamed. However u are already streamed at the start, so all pilots dont fly fast jet.

Hope that helps