University of the Arts London - BA Cordwainers Placement Bursary

Benefit

You will receive a one-off scholarship (a non-repayable grant) of about 5,250 EUR (£4,500) for your placement year on the ‘BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear’ course at the London College of Fashion. Two scholarships will be awarded. If you are paying the tuition fees applicable to UK students, the amount will be applied towards tuition fees, course costs and living expenses. If you are paying the tuition fees applicable to international students, the amount will cover tuition fees only. The portion covering tuition fees will be paid directly to the university. Domestic students receive the living costs portion in instalments each term. The funding is provided by the ‘Worshipful Company of Cordwainers’, a historic London guild of shoemakers, and the University of the Arts London (UAL) administers the awards.

Eligibility

• Course: You are in your second year of the full-time ‘BA (Hons) Cordwainers Footwear’ degree programme at the London College of Fashion, UAL.
• Placement year: From September 2026, you will begin the ‘Diploma of Professional Studies’, a one-year work placement in industry.
• Nationality: Both domestic and international students can apply. EU students who pay domestic tuition fees but do not live in the UK are not entitled to the living costs allowance.
• Financial need: Your household income is 100,000 EUR (£100,000) per year or less, and you can prove that you need financial support.
• What is assessed: The selection process takes into account your financial need as well as your academic and creative achievements. A portfolio that demonstrates your interest in sustainability is an advantage, but is not a requirement.

How to apply

Applications are made via the ‘Funding’ tab on the UAL Student Portal. You will need to upload a portfolio (as a single PDF file), your CV and proof of your household income. The application deadline is Sunday, 17. May 2026, at 11 pm UK time. Financial need is the top priority. If you are shortlisted on the basis of your academic and creative achievements, you may be invited to a panel interview.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is very narrowly defined: only students in their second year of a specific footwear design degree programme who are about to embark on their internship year are eligible to apply, so the target group is very small. If you meet the entry requirements for this course and can demonstrate not only good creative work but also genuine financial hardship, your chances are good. Prepare your portfolio carefully, as the jury takes both the creative quality and the financial hardship into account.