Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 April 2025 to Question 43141 on Armed Forces: Grants, whether officer cadets in the University Officer Training Corps are entitled to apply for a bursary.

Members of the University Officer Training Corps (UOTC) are entitled to apply for bursaries in order to support them through university, helping them reach their full potential.

UOTC cadets are primarily civilian university students who have volunteered for a leadership development programme alongside their studies. Whilst they undertake military training and have a formal association with the Army, they remain prospective entrants and are not considered established Service personnel with a regular or reserve commitment.

This status means they are eligible to apply for bursaries as they are still classed as applicants to join the Armed Forces. This is reflected in the Army Commissioning Regulations which explicitly lists UOTC cadets as eligible applicants.