University of the Arts London - The Mead Scholarships

Mead Fellowships (University of the Arts London)

Upon completion of your course, you will receive a one-off grant of up to about EUR 11,600 (£10,000) to carry out your own creative project. In this context, a grant refers to project funding; it is not a monthly allowance, nor does it cover tuition fees. It covers actual project costs, such as art materials and production, hiring assistants, specialist consultancy, software and web hosting, exhibition or studio space, marketing and printing, as well as travel expenses. There is a cap of 30% of your budget for travel and accommodation costs. Smaller items of equipment are also eligible, up to £500 per item and not exceeding a total of 30% of the budget. You must complete the project between September 2026 and July 2027. The grants are funded by the photographer and philanthropist Scott Mead and the Mead Family Foundation, and are administered by UAL’s ‘Careers and Employability’ team. Since 2013, 83 grants have been awarded. You may not use the grant to pay your own fees or those of your team, and living costs or tuition fees are not covered.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are at the University of the Arts London (UAL).
• Study stage: You are in the final year of a UAL degree programme (BA, BSc, MA, MArch, MBA, MSc, MDes, MRes, Grad Dip or PhD) or completed one of these UAL degree programmes in the year 2025.
• Field of study: All creative departments at the UAL, ranging from digital and interactive design through to fashion, fine art, film, product design, theatre, research and business, and right through to curation.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities and from all countries of residence are welcome to apply.
• Your project: It must be a new art project or a piece of research that you carry out independently after completing your degree. It must not be a continuation of your degree project, nor may it form part of another degree programme.
• How many applications: Only one application per person is permitted. You may also be nominated as part of a team, provided that all team members meet the criteria.
• Not eligible: Students on Foundation courses, short courses, degree programmes and PG Cert programmes; individuals employed by UAL at the time of their application (with the exception of Artstemps); and students funded by the AHRC.

How to apply

Applications are made via an online form. Approximately 20 to 30 shortlisted applicants will then be asked to submit a more detailed project proposal, and the finalists will be assessed on ‘Mead Fellowships Judging Day’. The application deadline for the current round has passed and will reopen in December 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

Eligibility is restricted to students in their final year at the UAL and recent graduates, meaning the pool of applicants is significantly smaller than that for open funding schemes in the arts. Funding is awarded on the basis of compelling project proposals rather than good grades. Your idea will be assessed in three stages; a clear, original project with a realistic budget is therefore crucial to success. If you meet the eligibility criteria and put together a well-thought-out application, your prospects are good.