There are estimated to be around 2.6 million veterans living in the UK. Having served in the Armed Forces and dedicated their lives to the safety of the nation, they are men and women who have trained explicitly for the demands of military life in our nation’s unfailing defence.

The Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund (DVSF) was launched in 2018 to support veterans who were injured or disabled in or due to military service and has already provided both free Open University education and tailored support to over 310 disabled veterans.

The large majority of veterans make a successful move out of the military, however, for those who do struggle, this Fund offers a lifeline. Unlike colleagues who make plans for retirement, their unexpected discharge from service life is also likely to mean that these individuals are less prepared for a new life outside of the military.

The Open University (OU) believes that when veterans leave military life and return to our communities they are of great value to society. This is a view shared by the civilian employers of veterans who enter the workforce with ambition and valuable skills such as communication, teamwork and project management.

Helping to rewrite futures

The first of its kind in the UK, this pioneering Scholarships Fund was designed in partnership with the MoD and in consultation with several charities who work with veterans.

We are now supporting six intakes of DVSF students, totalling 312 scholarships. These individuals come to us from a variety of backgrounds and have a complex range of health challenges. Many have mental health conditions and our specialist support services have been tailored to help these individuals manage the demands of studying. Students are from all branches of the Armed Services and spread across the 4 nations. 87% of the students are motivated to progress in their chosen career or to start a new career. Subject choices also range across Faculties, with 27% choosing STEM subjects, 19% Business and Law, 18% Psychology & Counselling and 15% Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

How your support can make a difference

By joining our family of DVSF supporters, you can help make it possible for us to continue to offer this life-changing opportunity to veterans. By supporting the Disabled Veterans’ Scholarships Fund you can give the gift of education to someone that has given so much to their country. Please make your gift today and to provide a disabled veteran with the opportunity to start the next chapter of their life.

With your support, we aim to welcome the next cohort of DVSF students in Autumn 2024.

The Disabled Veterans' Scholarships Fund is kindly supported by

Over 7,000 alumni, friends and OU supporters including:

Robin Adcock, Lara Cournoyer, Gordon Dickinson, John Duncan, Eileen French, David Godson, Colin Hume, Doreen and Anthony Van West

And:

The Army Benevolent Fund
Amazon Service UK Ltd
Amey plc
Antac Support Services
BAE Systems plc
Balfour Beatty plc
Boeing
Constance Travis Charitable Trust
Doris Field Charitable Trust
Dumbreck Charity
Fairfield Charitable Trust
GMC Trust
Gosling Foundation
John Scott Charitable Trust
Leidos UK
Lest We Forget Association
Michael Marsh Charitable Trust
Mrs J A Purssell BA (Hons)
Mrs Jane De Halpert's Charitable Trust
Mrs Lara Cournoyer BSc (Hons)
Saxham Trust
Simon Gibson Charitable Trust
Thales Charitable Trust
The Army Benevolent Fund (ABF)
The Aubrey Orchard-Lisle Charitable Trust
The Balney Trust
The Bergne-Coupland Charity
The Dalby Charitable Trust
The Hobson Charity Ltd
The Iron Bridge Trust
The James Wise Charitable Trust
The MacRobert Trust
The Reed Educational Trust
The Veterans' Foundation
The Worshipful Company of World Traders

The Open University has numerous support programs addressing a wide variety of limitations or disadvantages that prospective students might face. For example, we offer financial support for carers, care experienced learners, Black students and disabled veterans and refugees. We also offer the study-related costs fund, which is open to anyone on a low income. Information on all our scholarships and assistance schemes can be found here: http://www.open.ac.uk/courses/fees-and-funding