Scholarships and Bursaries

There are several sources of funding open to students of West Dean College. Various scholarships and bursary pots are administered by the College and a number of other organisations will support students directly.

Scholarships

We award a number of Scholarships to talented students studying at West Dean College. If you would like to apply for a Scholarship you should be able to demonstrate outstanding potential and a commitment to your studies and a future career in your chosen subject. You should provide evidence of your past achievements and related work experience, along with recommendations from current or past tutors and colleagues.

There are several Scholarship awards available in 2016-17, which are listed below. You can apply for more than one Scholarship.

Scholarship Schemes

Any programme - The Edward James Foundation Anniversary Scholarship

Any programme - The Skinners' Company, Lawrence Atwell's Charity, the Skinners' Company Atwell Awards for Excellence

Books - Dr Robin Barnard Scholarship

Ceramics, Metalwork and Furniture -The British Antique Dealers' Association (Bada) Joan Eyles Scholarship

Clocks or Metalwork -The Sidney Sanders Scholarship

Metalwork - The South Square Trust Scholarship

Conservation - The Sussex Scholarship

Visual Arts, Conservation or Musical Instruments - The PF Charitable Trust Scholarship

Any Conservation programme or the Musical Instruments - The Ernest Cook Trust Scholarship

The Radcliffe Trust provides a scholarship towards tuition fees for any of the conservation programmes or heritage craft skills through the making of stringed instruments or a Foundation in Historic Craft practices. Download the application form.

Please email admissions@westdean.org.uk for an application form.

Bursaries

If you need assistance to fund your studies, you can apply for a bursary from the Edward James Foundation Bursary Fund once you have accepted a place to study at West Dean College. Applicants need to demonstrate a clear financial need and preference will be given to students who show that they are pursuing al possible avenues for raising the funds they will need. Preference will also be shown to students who have the potential to make a long-lasting contribution to their chosen field.

The Fund is financed by donations both from the Edward James Foundation itself as part of charitable objectives and by other organisations and individuals who have made a donations or leave bequests to support students.

Bursary Funds

The Edward James Foundation Bursary Fund - download the application form from the bottom of the page

The Leche Trust Bursary Fund - please email admissions@westdean.org.uk for an application form. Deadline for The Leche Trust scholarship is 1 March, 2017.

Postgrad Solutions now offer 15 bursaries across a number of subject areas. Find out more

Other Sources of Funding

There are a number of funders who share our passion for conservation and creativity and fund students directly.

The Anna Plowden Trust offers bursaries towards the fees for attending a full-time UK training course in the conservation of the movable heritage, such as paintings, textiles, archaeological objects. It also offers Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Grants to enable practising conservators to take advantage of CPD opportunities by contributing towards the cost of short courses and attending conferences. The Trust does not offer bursaries or grants for courses on the conservation of the built heritage. See www.annaplowdentrust.org.uk

Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) makes awards to craftsmen and women of all ages to help them further their careers. See www.qest.org.uk

The Eaton Fund provides funding for artists (not performing) e.g. painters, potters, sculptors and photographers. Funding given for materials and equipment, see www.eaton-fund.co.uk

The George Daniels' Educational Trust aims to encourage higher education study in various disciplines including Horology. An advisory committee will administer and identify suitable horological students. For further information, email secretary@gdetac.org

The Skinners' Company, Lawrence Atwell's Charity supports students aged between 16 and 26, UK national, national of other countries ordinarily resident in the UK for three years prior to the start of their course, refugee or asylum seeker, low income background. Does not fund degrees or postgraduate qualifications other than via the Skinners' Company Atwell Awards for Excellence. See www.skinnershall.co.uk/charities/ awrence-atwell-charity.htm

The York Consortium for Conservation and Craftsmanship awards bursaries to assist in the training of craftsmen and women and conservators. See www.conservationyork.org.uk/bursaries-grants.aspx#Bursaries

Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Services (ELCAS) is the MOD's Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme (ELC), an initiative to promote lifelong learning amongst members of the Armed Forces. The ELC scheme provides financial support in the form of a single up-front payment in each of a maximum of three separate financial years. West Dean College is an approved supplier (ELC no. 3280). Up to £2,000 per ELC claim available, see www.enhancedlearningcredits.com

Postgrad Solutions now offer bursaries across a number of subject areas for students commencing postgraduate studies.
Click here to apply- http://www.postgrad.com/editorial/bursaries

Online Grant Databases

The following websites may be useful for other potential funding sources.

Creative Choices provide the tool 'Find Funding' to help individuals research, see www.creative-choices.co.uk
Funding Central is a free website with tools and resources. see www.fundingcentral.org.uk

Student Cashpoint has information and advice about budgeting and applying for funding, see www.studentcashpoint.co.uk

Turn 2 Us provides information and advice about grants and benefits, see www.turn2us.org.uk

West Sussex 4 Funding is a website with information about funding opportunities tailored for West Sussex, see www.open4community.info/westsussex

Student Loans Company www.slc.co.uk

The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online is all about alternative sources of funding - especially charities - which can make awards (fees, maintenance, research costs) to any student regardless of subject, or nationality.

The Alternative Guide Online contains a huge database of funding opportunities, comprehensive guidance, and numerous tools to help you prepare a winning grant application. West Dean College has purchased a licence to the Guide, so it's free for all students and staff to use. If you are a prospective student who has applied to the College, please email: admissions@westdean.org.uk to get an access PIN

New Postgraduate Loans

If you are a UK student and plan to take a postgraduate Master's course you may be able to get a postgraduate loan of up to £10,000 to help with course fees and living costs.

See www.gov.uk/postgraduate-loan

How to apply for funding

1. Identify a list of potential funders which fund individuals and might be interested in your area of work.

2. Research the potential funder preferences and find out as much as you can about what interests them. The more you can make your letter, or application, specifically relevant to them, the more interested they will be. If you have any personal contacts with the funder, this could be helpful. You should also find out what level of funding they usually give to judge how much you should ask for.

3. When applying follow any guidelines the funder has. Many will have a form, but if not, aim to keep your application to two pages. When you apply make it easy for the funder to get a sense of who you are and what you are working towards. Most importantly be explicit and concise about what you want, with a clear budget.

Funding for International Students

If you are looking to find help with funding your studies in the UK it is a good idea to send out funding applications as soon as possible. It may be more difficult to make arrangements for financial support once you have left your own country. Start by enquiring with your own Ministry or Department of Education as they may have details of scholarship opportunities for students wishing to study overseas.

The British Council provides a basic guide for possible sources of funding for international students who want to study in the UK. Visit www.britishcouncil.org/learning-fundingyour- studies.htm

Anglo-Danish Society invites scholarship applications from students of Danish nationality undertaking postgraduate courses, see www.anglo-danishsociety.org.uk

Chevening Scholarships provide Foreign and Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships. They are prestigious awards which enable overseas students to study in the UK, see www.chevening.org

Commonwealth Students can apply for scholarships and fellowships through Commonwealth Scholarships, see www.cscuk.dfid.gov.uk

The Gen Foundation may consider funding exceptional candidates studying on an Arts programme, see www.genfoundation.org.uk

The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers a range of study abroad opportunities to US citizens through their awards programme, see www.fulbright.co.uk/fulbright-awards/for-us-citizens

Council for International Student Affairs provides guidance for international students looking for loans, welfare benefits and scholarships, see www.ukcisa.org.uk

The Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund provides awards to Canadian students for academic and artistic study in the UK, see www.canadianscholarshipfund.co.uk