Comenius Funding

All teacher development courses are eligible for EU Comenius funding.

Who is eligible?

If you are a European Union national you may apply for a Comenius or Grundtvig grant (as part of the Lifelong Learning Programme) provided you fit into one of the following categories:

• A practising language teacher
• A teacher retraining in foreign language teaching
• A teacher teaching a subject through the medium of English
• A teacher returning after a career break
• A language trainer, inspector or adviser

You could get a grant which covers the cost of your course, accommodation and living expenses.

What financial support is on offer?

The grant awarded will be calculated to help cover:

• Travel costs to and from the country where the course is organised
• Subsistence costs
• Preparation costs (including language preparation)
• Course fees where appropriate

How and when to apply for a grant?

To obtain Comenius funding you need to download an application from the website of your National Agency.

Complete the form before the deadline date quoted. We find that the earlier the application, the more likely it is you will win a grant.

Grants are available to enable you to participate in courses lasting between one and four weeks, which take place in a country where the target language is spoken and taught. Contact your National Agency for full details.

The procedure to apply for a grant is as follows:

1. Choose the course that you would like to attend. You should then obtain information about availability of places direct from Bell and send in your registration form. For question 4d tick the box 'I have applied for an EU grant. I will confirm my place when I have been accepted.'
2. Once you have registered provisionally with Bell, apply to your National Agency for support to attend your chosen course. Details of how to contact your National Agency are on the Comenius web site.
3. When you complete your application form, keep in mind that priority will be given to applicants who show:
   
   • how they will use the skills and knowledge gained on the in-service course to the benefit of their school or institution
   • how the experience could help them to set up school partnerships with other schools in Europe
   • how the course will give them a better understanding of school education in Europe and increase the European dimension of their work
4. Remember that on a Bell course you will meet teachers from many different European countries, learn about the way of life in their countries and make lasting professional relationships.
5. Submit your completed application forms by the appropriate closing date to the National Agency in your country
6. As soon as your National Agency approves your application, inform Bell and you will be registered for your course We will keep your place until four weeks before the start of the course. After that date, you will be registered if places are still available