Slade School of Fine Art, University College London - The Nancy Balfour Trust Scholarship 

Benefit

You get about 2,900 EUR (£2,500) in total. It is paid in equal instalments at the start of each year of your programme, for its full length. For a 24-month MA, that means the award is split across two academic years. The scholarship comes from the Slade School of Fine Art, the art school at University College London (UCL). It is named after the arts administrator and journalist Nancy Balfour.

Eligibility

• Where you study: You are starting at the Slade School of Fine Art at UCL in London.
• Level: You are an undergraduate (BA/BFA) or a taught graduate student (MA/MFA).
• Field: You are on a Slade fine art programme, such as painting, sculpture or fine art media.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply.
• Timing: You hold an offer for the coming year. Current students cannot apply.
• Merit: The award goes to strong applicants based on their entrance interview. For graduate students, financial need is also considered.

How to apply

There is no separate application. Everyone who applies to the Slade submits a portfolio and sits an entrance interview. For MA/MFA, this interview is held online via Microsoft Teams. The examiners then nominate the scholarship winners. You are considered automatically unless the Slade contacts you for more information.

How realistic are your chances?

The award is decided together with your admission, so getting into the competitive Slade is the real hurdle. The scholarship then goes only to the top-scoring offer holders. You cannot improve your odds with a separate application. A strong portfolio and interview are what count. If you win a place and impress the examiners, you are in the running with no extra effort.