Most students don’t realise this, but universities often have little pots of money set aside for “professional development.”
I didn’t know this when I started my PhD. And universities don’t exactly shout about it either. But it’s there. In other words, they might actually pay for you to do an online course.
Do they really pay?
Yep. Loads of them do. A few quick examples (as of September 2025):
- University of Leeds – The Opportunities Fund: Up to £500 towards extracurricular development opportunities.
- Cal Poly – Professional Development Fund: Up to $2500 scholarship for extracurricular opportunities.
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County: Professional Development Grants – $750 for building skills related to navigating one’s career.
How to ask (without making it awkward)
Explain what the course is, why it matters for your research, and how much it costs. There will usually be an internal form or email address for you to contact, and it is typically a straight-forward process.
And if you’re wondering what to ask for, our course How to Write and Publish a Successful Academic Paper is exactly the kind of thing these funds are designed for!
A letter you can use
Dear [Supervisor/Committee],
I am writing to request funding to enroll in the online course *How to Write and Publish a Successful Academic Paper*, created by BEST Academic Courses.
The course is designed specifically for students and early-career researchers, and provides structured, practical guidance on every stage of academic publishing. The total cost of the course is £79.99 (with a launch offer of £39.99 for early registrations).
The programme includes:
– 31 concise lessons covering the full process from planning a paper to navigating peer review.
– A practical workbook to apply the lessons directly to my own research.
– Lifetime access to an academic support community for networking and ongoing guidance.
This training is directly relevant to my current work. I am preparing to draft a paper from my research on [your topic], and the course will help me develop a clear strategy for writing, selecting journals, and responding effectively to peer review. The skills gained will not only support my progress toward publication, but also strengthen the research profile of our department. I would be grateful if the department could support me by covering the course fee. I am happy to provide any further details, documentation, or receipts as required.
Thank you very much for considering my request.
Best wishes,
[Your Name]
Remember...
Universities want their students to succeed. They also love being able to say, “look at all the professional training our students do.” You just have to be able to show them the value of the training and the relevance to your degree.
That’s where our courses come in. They’re affordable, structured, and genuinely useful. Which means you don’t have to blow your entire training grant, but you still walk away with top-quality skills to support your research journey.
