BURSARY FUNDING 2007-2008
MA FILMMAKING AND MA SCREENWRITING
Screen Academy Bursaries - Guidelines and Policy (updates Nov 2007).
Purpose
Skillset Screen Academy status enables the London Film School to offer 17 MA Filmmaking bursaries and 4 Screenwriting bursaries for qualified UK/EU students who would not have been able to do the course for reasons of finance. It addresses the LFS's key goal of ensuring good access for the current generation of talented UK/EU graduate students so that they can participate and benefit from the school's special culture and its very full learning programme, as Mike Leigh, Horace Ove, Roger Pratt, Bill Douglas and many other UK filmmakers did before them. The MA Filmmaking degree is based on the conviction that students benefit from a professional working base in all technical departments and craft skills and so it trains 'filmmakers' whose knowledge will cover a range of film jobs.
The Fund is supported by Skillset (the Sector Skills Council for the Audio-Visual Industry) on a year-by-year basis, and is managed by the London Film School Bursary Fund Panel and the Head of Projects. The Panel decides on awards based on the quality of the original application and need.
The London Film School Screen Academy aims to encourage greater diversity in the screen industries, and welcomes applications from under-represented groups, such as women, ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, and those who have childcare costs. However, please note that individual applications are assessed primarily on financial considerations and talent.
LEVEL OF BURSARIES
MA Filmmaking
Bursaries cover course fees except for £1733 per term (£10,398 total for six terms/two years) which the students have to pay themselves.
There is no support available for living costs for the MA Filmmaking.
MA Screenwriting
Bursaries cover course fees except for £6031 total for one year which the students have to pay themselves. Living costs of £2000 will also be awarded to the student.
Recipients who withdraw from or fail their course will receive no further funding from the London Film School. Applicants who withdraw may be asked to repay all or part of the monies received.
Bursary recipients agree to be tracked and inform the London Film School of their film industry activity for a minimum of 12 months after graduating from the School.
ELIGIBILITY
Bursaries are for ‘home’ students only who must meet the following criteria:
On the first day of the year of enrolment students must be:
- EU nationals
- have been ordinarily resident in the UK and Islands throughout the three year period preceding that date. Ordinarily resident means other than wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education; and
- be ordinarily resident in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland; and
- be settled in the UK under the terms of the Immigration Act 1971, in other words, ordinarily resident in the UK without being subject to any restriction on the period for which they may stay
The following categories of students are not eligible for this fund:
- Students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.
Students must demonstrate a commitment to working in, and contributing to, the UK film industry after completing their studies.
EVIDENCE
You must prove your eligibility for bursary funding by production of the relevant documentation, as outlined in the main application form
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
You should complete all relevant sections of the application form and enclose the relevant supporting documentation. Incomplete applications will not be considered and will be returned to the applicant for completion. Please ensure that the information provided is accurate. Where it is adjudged that an applicant has made a fraudulent claim or withheld pertinent information the School reserves the right to reclaim moneys advanced.
Where necessary you may be requested to attend a short interview with the Bursary Fund Panel. Applicants experiencing difficulty completing the application form should contact the Academic Secretary or Head of Projects for guidance.
APPLICATION DEADLINES
Deadlines for applications are as follows:
MA Filmmaking
- January intake 2008: 23rd November 2007
- April intake 2008: 14th March 2008
- September intake 2008: 4th July 2008
MA Screenwriting
- September intake 2008: 4th July 2008
You will be informed by letter of the outcome of your application within 21 days.
SHORT COURSES
Skillset rates are available to industry freelancers for a number of our short courses, which are offering a significant reduction on short course fees. Please refer to the ‘Short Courses’ section on our website for further information.
APPEALS PROCEDURE
Applicants who are dissatisfied with the outcome of their application may appeal. An appeal will only be considered on the following grounds:
Alleged maladministration within the regulations laid down for the scheme.
The availability of new relevant information following the original application, with a satisfactory explanation of why it was not available at the time of the first application.
Appeals should be submitted to:
The Director
The London Film School
24 Shelton Street
London
WC2H 9UB
