The Stationers' Foundation bursary programme provides financial and mentoring support for young people on a wide variety of MA/MSc courses leading to a career in the Content and Communications industries.
The Stationers' Foundation offers up to 16 Bursaries annually to postgraduate students on specific courses (listed below). Successful students will each receive a bursary of up to £9,000 and every effort will be made to offer mentoring during their studies, from an appropriate member of the Stationers’ Company, taking into account the specific interests of the student.
On successful completion of their Masters programme the award winners will be presented with the Freedom of the Stationers’ Company and it is expected that they will participate in the life of the Company. Payment of the annual membership fee will be waived for the following three years.
Sparrow Awards
Thanks to the generous donation from Lord and Lady Sparrow, one or two additional bursaries are awarded annually. This ensures that applicants who would otherwise have missed out on a bursary receive our support.
Criteria and participating institutions
Applicants must normally be under 30 on 1st September of that year, resident in the UK, and classified as paying UK tuition fees. Applicants must hold a conditional or unconditional offer for one of the identified courses below.
Cardiff University
MA News Journalism duncanc@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff University
MSc Computational and Data Journalism - odonnellA4@cardiff.ac.uk
City, University of London
MA Magazine Journalism - Interested applicants for City University should write to Dr Ben Falk, Programme Director, Magazine Journalism Studies, Ben.Falk@city.ac.uk
City, University of London
MA Publishing - Interested applicants for City University should write to Dr Patrick Brindle, Programme Director, Publishing Studies, patrick.brindle.2@city.ac.uk
Kingston University, London
MA Publishing - Applicants for Kingston University should send their applications direct to the Senior Lecturer, Publishing, Emma Tait, E.Tait@kingston.ac.uk
London College of Communication - University of the Arts London
MA Publishing - Applicants for London College of Communication - University of the Arts London, should send their applications direct to the acting course leader for Publishing, Dr Anna Klamet, a.klamet@lcc.arts.ac.uk and to the Course Support Administrator, Matt Lynch, CSAGroup@arts.co.uk
University College London
MA Library and Information Studies - deborah.lee@ucl.ac.uk
University College London
MA Publishing - d.boswell@ucl.ac.uk
University College London
MA Archives and Records Management - a.sexton.11@ucl.ac.uk
University of Reading
MA Communication Design (to include the four Design Pathways of Book/Information/Typeface/Graphic - Applicants for the University of Reading should contact Dr Ruth Blacksell, Associate Professor in the Department of Typography & Graphic Communication, typography@reading.ac.uk for further information and guidance on the application process.
University of Salford
MA Journalism - Applicants for University of Salford should send their applications direct to the Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Andrew Lindsay, A.Lindsay@salford.ac.uk
Queen Mary University of London
MSc Big Data Science
The application form should be submitted to the relevant Course Administrator by 24th May 2024 if your institution is interviewing in June 2024, or 17th June 2024 if your institution is interviewing in July 2024. Applications must be supported by two references, one academic and one personal from someone of standing who can support the financial statements made in the application. The course team from each university will shortlist up to three students whose names will be submitted to the Foundation. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to interview at Stationers’ Hall in London in the weeks commencing 25th June 2024 and 15th July 2024. It is essential that applicants are available for these interviews.
Please note that we welcome applications from first generation students.
Please complete the Application Form (which is a Word document) and then insert your 2 references and any financial backup documentation directly into your Application Form and then just submit ONE document.
Short-listing will take place based on the following criteria:
Award decisions will be based on performance in interviews at Stationers' Hall or online. Candidates will make a presentation (a maximum of 10 minutes) in support of their application and show examples of their work. The presentation should demonstrate and evidence the candidate's achievements to help the panel understand the quality of their work. Candidates may want to explain the background to their work and demonstrate how this will lead into their next area of study and career. A link to our AV equipment via an HDMI link will be provided.
The interview panel will be made up of at least two Foundation Trustees and the Course Director from the candidate's postgraduate course. Please note we particularly welcome first generation students.
Final decisions will be communicated to the candidates as soon as possible. Bursary funds will be transferred to each university in early September and then passed on to each award winner after the course fees have been deducted (if appropriate). The selection panel's judgement is final and no correspondence whatsoever will be entered into concerning the decision that is based on performance at the interview at Stationers’ Hall.
There will also be an Awards Ceremony at Stationers’ Hall at which all the award winners and representatives from each university will be present. It is essential that award winners are able to attend this event. Award winners will also be asked to submit termly reports to their Company supporters.
The relevant Trustee of the Stationers' Foundation is Alison Strachan.
2020-21 Bursary Recipient Report - University of the Arts London