There are several sources of funding open to students of West Dean College and it is just one of the benefits of studying for a degree or diploma here. Various scholarships and bursary pots are administered by the College and a number of other organisations also support students directly. There are also many opportunities for international students looking for funding and support. We are pleased to say that 60% of students starting a course in 2018/19 received funding via scholarships or bursaries.
See the tables below for details of opportunities still accepting applications (in black), as some have June and August deadlines.
If you have any queries, please contact the Admissions Officer on 01243 818291 or email admissions@westdean.org.uk.
"I know that I couldn't have achieved all I have in my time here
without the fantastic support I have received from the funding team
and the organisations that have helped fund my studies. To have
been awarded a scholarship from the Sidney Sanders Charitable Trust
has taken the financial stress away from studying and has allowed
me to make the most of my time at West Dean College."
Dale Sardeson, MA Conservation Studies, specialising in
Clocks
Dale talks further about his experience of receiving student funding in the video above.
New West Dean College Bursaries are now available:
Please note: Some of the bursaries and scholarships (in grey in the tables above) are now closed for 2019/20 applications. Please refer back for an update about applications for 2020/21.
** Derek Hill Foundation Bursary - to be
distributed between up to three students.
*** The Skinners' Company, Lawrence Atwell's
Charity Awards for Excellence - to be distributed between up to
three students.
Download Edward James Foundation Bursary Application Form
Download West Dean College Bursary Application Form
Download Scholarship and Bursary Application Form
There are a number of further funders who share our passion for conservation and creativity. Students should apply to these funders 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
The Furniture Makers's Company Provide bursaries to MA students on a furniture related course. For more information, email grantsandeducation@furnituremakers.org.uk
Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) Funds
the education of talented craftspeople through traditional college
courses, apprenticeships or one-on-one training with masters. See
www.qest.org.uk
The Stationers' Company Offers a number of
scholarships and awards to those whose courses relate to the
Communications and Content industries. Visit www.stationers.org
York Foundation for Conservation and
Craftsmanship Bursaries are available to craftspeople and
conservators who would like assistance to further their skills and
knowledge as well as to organisations who would like to take on
trainees. Visit www.conservationyork.org.uk
The George Daniels' Educational Trust Aims to
encourage and financially assist students with grants and bursaries
for training in all aspects of horology. For further information,
go to www.gdetac.org
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
Online Grant Databases
The following websites may be useful for other potential funding
sources.
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
Prospective UK resident students applying for the Foundation Degree course or a Graduate Diploma course may be eligible to apply for a Tuition Fee and/or Maintenance Loan from the Student Loans Company as long as they haven't previously received a Student Loan. For more information, please go to the GOV.UK Student finance webpage.
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 £10,906 to help with course fees and living costs. For more information, please go to the GOV.UK Funding for postgraduate study webpage.
Please note that the availability of all student funding is subject to annual approval in line with the conditions for course designation set by the Department for Education.
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.
International students applying to study any of our full-time degree or diploma programmes, can apply for the West Dean College Bursary, worth up £5,000. Please submit your West Dean Bursary application form with your study application by 30 June 2019.
You can also enquire with your own Ministry or Department of Education, as they may have details of scholarship opportunities for students wishing to study overseas.
See also:
1. Identify a list of potential funders who might be interested in your area of work. Remember, you can apply to more than one.
2. Research their 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.
3. You should also find out what level of funding they usually give to judge how much you should ask for.
4. When applying, follow any guidelines the funder has.
5. When you apply make it easy for the funder to get a sense of who you are and what you are working towards. It's you they will be investing in, so they'll want to feel they've got to know you.
6. Be clear and concise about what you want, with a clear budget.
7. You can apply for funding at West Dean College by downloading the completed form/s (Key Information section). Once completed, they should be returned to Charlotte Pede, Admissions Officer, by e-mail (admissions@westdean.org.uk).
8. Your application must be typed, the Grants Committee cannot accept handwritten forms.
9. Always spell-check your application.
10. Do check the deadlines for applications - they are given on the individual application forms.
If you have any queries please contact the Admissions Officer on 01243 818291 or email: admissions@westdean.org.uk.
Several bursaries are available to support students interested in undertaking a short course. Find out more in the Short Courses: Information and How to Book page.
"Studying a second year at West Dean would not have been
possible without the funding I have received, so I wanted to take
this opportunity to thank my funders […] the backing you provide
makes a real impact. Being able to study conservation full time for
two years before working means that knowledge and skills which may
be very time intensive to acquire, can be learnt and honed without
the worry of also trying to make sure they are being practiced in a
profitable way at the same time."
Kate (MA Conservation Studies)
"The funding that has [been] provided has been such an
extraordinary gift. To help enable someone to study, and practice
something that they love, [is] lighting the way to […] a future
career that couldn't be seen before."
Jane (Fine Art)
Apply now: we are still accepting applications for all subjects for 2019 entry
Applications are welcome from UK/EU and International students.
Learn more about applying and entry
Find out about funding opportunities