University of Bristol Scholarship 2020/2021 for Students with Exceptional Talent

The  University of Bristol Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship scheme is open to undergraduate students with exceptional musical, dramatic or sporting talent.

Application Deadline: 2nd March 2020.

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Countries: both international and home (UK and EU)

To be taken at (country): UK

Eligible Field of Study: All

About the Award: The scheme is open to students applying to any undergraduate course at the University of Bristol. As the scheme is designed to attract students with exceptional abilities outside their normal field of study, a Music student would not be eligible for a music scholarship, and a Drama student would not be eligible for a drama scholarship.

Type: Undergraduate

Eligibility: Students applying for a single or joint honours Music degree will not be eligible for a Music scholarship. Students applying for a single or joint honours Drama degree will not be eligible for a Drama scholarship. Students applying for a Liberal Arts degree will not be eligible for a Drama Scholarship if they follow the Film or Theatre subject pathways.

Applicants must be able to demonstrate outstanding artistic, creative or sporting potential. Awards will be made on a competitive basis but applicants will normally be expected to satisfy the following minimum criteria:

• Music/vocal awards: A minimum of Grade VIII in examinations offered by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (or equivalent). Those students short listed for a scholarship will be required to attend an audition in Bristol at the end of February or beginning of March 2020. Full details will be sent to short listed students during the first two weeks in February. Any students invited to audition, who are not able to attend on the advertised date, will not be considered for a scholarship. Travel Bursaries to attend the audition are available for home (UK) students from lower income families (normally those with household incomes of £42,875 or less).
• Drama awards: Evidence of sustained extra-curricular engagement with theatre and/or filmmaking, along with distinguished achievement in relevant school subjects (eg theatre studies, film studies or other arts/humanities subjects).
• Sporting awards: Successful applicants will have had considerable success at representative level. It would be unusual for an award to be given to a student who had not had International honours, at least at Junior level. Although a student might apply for other scholarships, such as the government funded Talented Athlete Sports Scheme awards, the holder of a Vice-Chancellor’s award must not hold other funded sporting grants.

Selection Criteria: Successful candidates will be expected to put Bristol as their firm choice in the first instance, and with regards to their scholarship offer, either:

1. Successfully audition for the University’s Symphony or Chamber orchestras, or University Singers or Chamber Choir (keyboard players would participate in Chamber ensemble playing, approved by the Music Department) and participate in other musical opportunities offered from time to time by the Department of Music.
2. Contribute substantially to the output of the University of Bristol Union (UBU) DRAMSOC, Spotlights, or Music Theatre Bristol societies
3. Become a member of the Performance Sports Squad.

Selection Process: The applications are ranked and at least the top ten in each field are then forwarded, with the experts’ recommendations, to Pro Vice-Chancellors for the final selection. The Pro Vice-Chancellors make the final selection of no more than 20 scholarships, with at least six reserves.

Number of Awardees: No more than 20 scholarships are usually awarded within an academic year. This will be confirmed in due course.

Value of Scholarship: Historically, scholarships in Music and Drama have been valued at £3,000. Scholarships in Sport have been valued at £1,500.

Duration of Scholarship: One year. Scholarship will be renewed if the conditions above are met.

Visit Scholarship Webpage for details

Award Provider: University of Bristol