The Cambridge University Press/ The Stationers' Foundation - Stationers' Foundation University Bursary Scheme

Benefit

You get up to about 10,500 EUR (up to £9,000) as a one-off award towards the fees of a one-year master's course in publishing, journalism, communication or data. The money is paid as a fee discount. The Stationers' Foundation sends it to your university, which sets it against your tuition and passes on any remainder. You also get a mentor from the Stationers' Company during your studies, someone who guides you and gives advice. After you graduate you can join the Company as a Freeman, with the membership fee waived for the first three years. Up to 16 bursaries are awarded each year, plus one or two Sparrow Awards for strong applicants who just miss out. The Foundation is the charity of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers, a City of London trade guild linked to the content and communications industry.

Eligibility

• Study level: You are starting a master's course that begins between September 2025 and August 2026.
• Offer in hand: You have accepted a place, conditional or unconditional, on one of the listed courses.
• Subject and university: Your course is one of the named master's programmes in publishing, journalism, library and information studies, archives, communication design or data science. It must be at City St George's, Kingston, University of the Arts London, UCL, Reading, Salford, Queen Mary or Cardiff.
• Where you live: You are settled in the UK, classed as a UK fee payer, and have lived in the UK for the three years before your course starts.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply, as long as you meet the UK residence and fee-status rule above.
• Financial need: Selectors weigh your finances, so it helps if you genuinely need the support.
• Timing: You must take up the award for this course. You cannot defer it to a later year.

How to apply

You send the application form with two references (one academic, one personal) and financial details directly to the course director and administrator at your chosen university, not to the Stationers' Company. The deadline is 23 May 2025 for universities holding June interviews, or 16 June 2025 for those holding July interviews. If you are shortlisted, you give a short presentation at an interview at Stationers' Hall in London, held in late June or mid-July.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut narrowly. You must already hold a place on one of a fixed list of master's courses and qualify as a UK fee payer, so the eligible pool is small. With up to 16 bursaries plus the Sparrow Awards each year, a well-matched applicant who shows academic quality, genuine financial need and real interest in the Company has solid prospects. Applying to the right course early and preparing a clear 10-minute presentation is what sets candidates apart.