Music and arts scholarships
Are you a talented musician, writer, performer film maker or artist? Do you want to develop your talents further alongside your studies? Then our Music and Arts Scholarships could be just the thing for you!
Every year we award up to nine arts scholarships to students who demonstrate ability, passion, commitment and potential in any art form. They encourage involvement in the arts outside of your studies and are not related to your degree.
Art forms may include (but are not limited to) any genre of music, creative writing (inc poetry), photography, film, animation, any genre of dance, performing arts, textiles, visual arts and crafts.
For 2023-24, each scholarship winner will receive a £100 cash prize and a tailored package of support worth up to £500. This support could be in the form of one-to-one tuition, mentoring, masterclasses, training or attending relevant events to help develop your skills and knowledge and for networking.
There are also opportunities for scholars to showcase their talents by presenting or performing their work during the year.
Who can apply?
The scholarships are open to all current Loughborough University students (UG, PGT and PGR) based at the East Midlands or London campuses. It is not open to students who will be on their placement year during 2023/24 or students who will not be based at either campus for any other reason. Previous music and arts scholarship winners are not eligible to apply.
If you are a new student due to start at the University then you can apply once you have formally accepted your place and met your entry requirements. For postgraduate students, your studies and/or research should be expected to continue until the end of April in the academic year you are applying for a scholarship in e.g. April 2024 for the current scholarships.
The scholarships must be in addition to your course – so if you study Fine Art you can’t apply for support for your artistic practice which is linked to your degree course. It must be something you do separately to your studies. The only slight exception is that you can apply for a scholarship in creative writing if you study English or you could apply for visual art if you studied Textiles.
The scholarships recognise talent, but awards are also judged on commitment, passion and who we think would benefit the most from the support.
LU Arts is committed to inclusivity and representing the student community we serve. We welcome applications from students of all backgrounds.
Accessibility
We want our scholarships to be accessible to all students. We welcome applications in different formats e.g. audio, large print, if this is more appropriate for you. If you would like to discuss any accessibility issues in advance of applying or to discuss how the opportunity can be made inclusive for you, then please email luarts@lboro.ac.uk or call 01509 222948.
How do I apply?
Application is via a simple form available to download below, which should be emailed to LUArts@lboro.ac.uk. Please make sure you read through all the important accompanying information on the form before you complete and submit it.
If you are unsure of your eligibility, or have any other queries please email LUArts@lboro.ac.uk in advance of applying.
Timescales
Applications for 2023/24 are now open.
Deadline for applications: Monday 23 October, 5pm
Scholarship Surgery (drop-in)
Thursday 19 October, 1-2pm
We will be running an online drop-in to answer any questions you might have about our scholarships including elibility and what to include in your application. Login details will be added to this page nearer the time and booking is not required.
Microsoft Teams login details
Meeting ID: 356 012 823 365
Passcode: oKNayJ
Testimonials
Hear from some of our 2022/2023 winners below on how the LU Arts Scholarship helped them throughout the year.
Debosmita Paul Choudhury
(Performing arts – Kathak dance)
"The LU Arts Scholarship has been instrumental in my development as a Kathak dancer. It provided me with opportunities to take classes, invest in costumes, and connect with fellow creatives at our university. I had the privilege of performing Kathak outside India for the first time - in Loughborough and London, which boosted my confidence and allowed me to make a significant impact with my art form. It's been a remarkable adventure that has kept me on my toes, both literally and figuratively, and I can't wait to see where it takes me next!"
Theo Dormer
(Music – Accordion/English traditional)
"Despite not following a typical route into music, the LU Arts Scholarship gave me the opportunity to work on music that felt very individual to me and share that with the wider University community. Being part of the scholarship program allowed me to take more time towards developing my music, exploring both new possibilities and traditions which are particularly important to folk music. It also introduced me to a fantastic group of musicians and creatives within the University community and opened up opportunities after the scholarship I would otherwise not have found. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to dedicate more time to furthering their creative practice whilst at university. As a result of collaborating with other musicians through the scholarship, I am delighted that LSU Classical decided to establish a folk ensemble; I look forward to creating more music with them in the future."
Jess Moody
(Creative writing)
"Receiving the LU Arts Scholarship for Creative Writing was a really welcome validation for what’s often quite a solitary craft; particularly as an older writer without experience of a formal writing programme or a peer writing group. This academic year I’ve continued to work on some longer short stories, sharing some of my new work at the Scholars Showcase event. That was the first time I’d ever read my work in public before, and it was wonderful to perform alongside such a talented range of artists.
The Scholarship funding has allowed me to access training, resources and experiences I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to. I now take a regular writing class, where I can workshop new work and receive feedback. I’ve attended readings by acclaimed short story writers Wendy Erskine, Ben Okri, and Tessa Hadley at the London Library. I’ll be taking some ‘deep dive’ craft courses on dialogue and plotting. I’m now also equipped with a range of textbooks and essays to inform and inspire my ongoing development as a writer. The Scholarship is going to have a lasting impact on my work, and I’m very grateful to LU Arts for such support. "
