Stationers' Foundation Postgraduate Bursary Scheme

Stationers' Foundation Postgraduate Bursary Scheme

You get up to about EUR 10,500 (£9,000) towards your master's tuition fees and living costs. Each year 16 of these bursaries go to students on selected master's courses in journalism, publishing, communication and data. One or two extra 'Sparrow Awards' go to strong applicants who just missed a regular bursary. On top of the money, you are paired with a mentor (an experienced person who guides you) from the Stationers' Company, a London livery company for the media and content industries. After you graduate, you can become a member with the annual fee waived for your first three years.

Who can apply

• Course: You have a place on one of the listed master's courses, for example MA Publishing, MA/MSc Journalism, MA Communication Design, MA Library and Information Studies, or MSc Data Science, at partner universities such as Cardiff, Kingston, City St George's, UCL, Reading, Salford, Queen Mary or London College of Communication.
• Study level: You are starting a master's, full-time or part-time.
• Timing: Your course starts between September 2025 and August 2026. You cannot defer the bursary to a later year.
• Residence: You pay UK tuition fees. This means you have lived in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for the three years before your course starts.
• Financial need: The panel weighs up your financial situation when deciding.
• Interest in the Company: You want to become an active member of the Stationers' Company.

How to apply

You send your application form, two references (one academic, one personal but not from a family member) and financial documents to the course director or administrator at your university, not to the Stationers' Company. Deadlines fall in May or June 2025, depending on your university. If you are shortlisted, you attend an interview at Stationers' Hall in London in late June or mid-July 2025. There you give a presentation of up to 10 minutes and show work samples.

How realistic are your chances?

This bursary is narrow: you must be on one specific list of media and publishing master's courses, pay UK fees, and want to join the Stationers' Company. That keeps the pool for each place small. With 16 bursaries plus one or two Sparrow Awards each year, a well-matched applicant who shows financial need and genuine interest in the Company has solid prospects. A strong interview presentation is what separates the shortlisted candidates.