TCI BAR ASSOCIATION
BURSARY FUND
The TCI Bar Association wishes to assist students currently enrolled in legal programs in the Caribbean or the United Kingdom by creating a Bursary Fund. All interested applicants are asked to download and complete the application form posted below. Please then submit the completed form to the Secretary of the Bar Association before the beginning of each academic year. Each application will be reviewed and assessed individually. For further information about the Bursary Fund, please contact the Secretary – secretary@tcibc.org.
All successful applicants will receive a portion of the allotted funds. Please note that in order for selected applicants to remain eligible for assistance, applications must be made each year of the academic program.
Good luck and we look forward to receiving your application form!
STUDENT BURSARY GRANT
Application Form
Student Bursary Grant Policy
The TCIBA Bursary Grant is a monetary award offered to students who are Turks and Caicos Islanders enrolled in full-time legal education at tertiary level. The student’s programme of study must lead to a qualifying law degree permitting the student to further enroll onto a vocational law program geared towards the practice of law in accordance with section 5(1)(a) of the Legal Profession Ordinance.
For students applying for the bursary grant at undergraduate level and some postgraduate courses such as the Graduate Diploma in Law Conversion Course, the applicant should demonstrate an intention to progress onto the vocational study of law thereafter. For example, students enrolled in the United Kingdom may progress from a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) to a course approved by the Bar Standards Board for the training of Barristers or the Legal Practice Course (LPC) for Solicitors. For the purposes of the bursary grant a student reading for a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) without an intention to complete a vocational course simultaneously or immediately thereafter will not be eligible to receive the bursary grant.
For students applying at the vocational level, the applicant should demonstrate an intention to return to the Turks and Caicos Islands and commence training upon successful completion of their chosen course.
Applicants need only complete the TCIBA bursary form and submit together with the requisite supporting documents within the application time period to be considered for the bursary grant. Successful applicants will be notified by email and the bursary grant will be paid via wire transfer.
What can the bursary grant be used for?
The bursary grant can either be applied to a student’s tuition or accommodation costs. The bursary grant is paid directly to the student’s university (or course provider) or their housing agent (or landlord). It is the responsibility of the Student to provide the Bar Council with the correct wiring instructions and reference prior to payment being made.
Payment information should be sent by the student to the Bar Council promptly upon notice that his/her application has been successful.
When can the bursary grant be applied for?
Applications for the bursary grant can be submitted to the Bar Council Secretary from 1st April to 15th August each year. Applications may be submitted via email or in hard-copy to the Bar Council’s office address.
Hard-copy forms are available for collection from the Council’s office or an e-form may be requested via email by a request made to secretary@tcibc.org.
Applications must be fully completed and submitted with all supporting documents. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
When does the Bar Council decide?
The application period closes on the 15th day of August each year and the Bar Council will only consider complete applications during the period 16 – 30 August. Successful applicants will be notified and payments arranged within the first week of September.
What happens if an application is successful?
Successful applicants will be notified via email from the Secretary that they are a recipient of the bursary grant and of the amount which they will be paid. The Treasurer will further contact the Applicant to request information for payment. The applicant should ensure this information is promptly sent to the Bar Council’s Treasurer with copy to the Secretary.
Payments to successful applicants will usually be made within the first week of September of each year.
Does the Bar Council consider re-applications?
The bursary grants are capped at 1 award per student per undergraduate qualification (or law conversion course which makes the student eligible to enroll onto a vocational law course) and 1 award per student per post-graduate/vocational qualification (i.e. BPTC or LPC or its equivalent).
Therefore throughout the course of their academics a student may be eligible for maximum two bursaries.
Is there a maximum award?
The bursary grants are capped at a maximum of Two Thousand Five Hundred United States Dollars (USD$2,500) per award. The precise amount will be determined during the consideration of an application.
How much does the Bar Council spend on bursary grants yearly?
The Bar Council budgets some Twelve Thousand United States Dollars (USD$12,000) for bursary grants per annum.
There may be instances where this amount may need to be reduced or increased accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the TCIBA Bursary Grant?
The TCIBA Bursary Grant is a monetary award offered to Turks and Caicos Islander students in full-time legal education at tertiary level. The student’s programme of study must lead to a qualifying law degree permitting the student to further enrol onto a vocational law program or be enrolled in such a vocational programme, leading to a qualification under section 5(1)(a)(i)-(iii) of the Legal Profession Ordinance (i.e. a programme geared towards the practice of law).
Am I eligible to apply?
If you are a:
- Turks and Caicos Islander; and
- In full-time legal education (undergraduate or postgraduate qualification*)
Feel free to submit a completed form together with the supporting documents.
*For the purposes of the bursary grant a student reading for a Master’s Degree in Law (LLM) without an intention to complete a vocational course simultaneously or immediately thereafter will not be eligible to receive the bursary
grant.
When can I apply?
Application period runs from 1st April to 15th August each year.
What happens after I apply?
If you are a successful applicant you will be contacted after 30th August of the respective application cycle requesting your payment information. Payments are usually made within the first week of September.
How is the bursary paid?
The bursary is paid directly to your university/course provider or to your landlord/housing agency.
If I was a recipient of the TCIBA bursary grant before can I reapply?
If you received the bursary grant during the course of your undergraduate law program, you may be eligible to apply for an additional bursary grant during your post-graduate law program.