The Leverhulme Trust has awarded London Film School (LFS) a grant to fund two places; one for LFS’ MA Filmmaking and one for our MA Screenwriting degrees, starting in September 2023.
The Leverhulme Arts Scholarships are designed for talented applicants who have the right to reside in the UK, and have an unconditional offer for either our MA Filmmaking or MA Screenwriting courses for September 2023. The Scholarship also aims to support applicants who have submitted applications that have been deemed to have exceeded expectations in at least two of the selection criteria and who would otherwise not be able to study with us without financial assistance. It addresses the School’s key goal of ensuring access and widening participation for the current generation of talented students so that they can participate and benefit from the School’s culture and its full learning programme, like Michael Mann, Mike Leigh, Roger Pratt, Duncan Jones and many other filmmakers did before them.
LFS aims to encourage greater diversity in the screen industries and welcomes applications from applicants who understand and are likely to contribute to our philosophy and ethos and will benefit from joining LFS. These will include those from under-represented groups, those looking for second opportunities, those already in work, and those looking to develop themselves later in life.
Who can apply for the Scholarship?
- Applicants who receive an unconditional offer of a place on either the MA Filmmaking or MA Screenwriting programme starting in September 2023;
- Applicants who have the right to reside in the UK;
- Applicants who have the ability to demonstrate the need for financial assistance and do not have the funds to study;
- Applicants who can evidence the ability to be able to support themselves (and any dependents, if applicable) for the duration of the course).
When can I apply for the Scholarship?
You will need to have received an unconditional offer from LFS for either the MA Filmmaking or MA Screenwriting course starting in September 2023 by the below closing deadlines.
We encourage those intending to apply for the Leverhulme Scholarship to submit your application to LFS as early as possible. As the Leverhulme Scholarship is competitive, we encourage an early application to ensure you have adequate time to search for additional funding options in addition to applying to Leverhulme.
What happens if my Scholarship application is unsuccessful?
There are only two funded places available, one for MA Filmmaking and one for MA Screenwriting, starting in September 2023, therefore places are highly competitive. If your sholarship application is unsuccessful, and you then susequently find that you are able to raise the funds for the course, you will then be liable for the tuition fees once the offer has been accepted. If you need more time to raise the funds and seek alternative funding options, you can request a deferal until the next available intake.
How is the Leverhulme Scholarship awarded?
The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of the following:
- The ability to meet the entry criteria for the course;
- Financial or other need (must be evidenced)
- A commitment to contributing to student life at LFS and the UK screen industries after course completion.
Therefore, Leverhulme Scholarship recipients agree to keep the London Film School updated on their film industry activity for a minimum of 24 months after graduating from the School.
How do I apply?
Once you receive an offer of study, applicants can apply for the Leverhulme Scholarship through the applicant portal.
- Complete all relevant sections of the application and enclose any relevant supporting documentation. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered and it is your responsibility to ensure that we have received all the relevant information by the deadline. We will not be asking for additional documentation as part of the decision-making process.
- Please ensure the information you provide is accurate and up-to-date. Where it is judged that an applicant has made a fraudulent claim or withheld pertinent information the School reserves the right to reclaim money advanced.
- We will confirm receipt of the application. Please contact us immediately if you have not received confirmation of receipt.
Please note that the application process is administered by London Film School. Please do not contact The Leverhulme Trust. If you have any questions, please contact us at student.finance@lfs.org.uk.
What happens after I apply?
Please note that only complete applications will be considered and that we will not chase applicants for missing documentation. It is your responsibility to ensure you submit a complete application.
What financial support is offered, If I am successful?
The Leverhulme Arts Scholarships cover the following:
MA Filmmaking
As well as covering the fees for six terms of study at LFS, The Leverhulme Scholarship also includes maintenance payments of £2,000 per scholarship recipient, per term. Please note that this may not cover a student’s entire living expense for and those scholarship applicants will need to be able to demonstrate their ability to support themselves at least partially.
Continuation fees are not covered by the scholarships. Termly maintenance payments (see below) due also do not continue once students have completed Term 6.
MA Screenwriting
The Leverhulme Scholarship includes maintenance payments of £2,000 per scholarship recipient, per term. Please note that this may not cover a student’s entire living expenses and scholarship applicants will need to be able to demonstrate their ability to support themselves at least partially.
Recipients who withdraw from or fail their course will receive no further funding from LFS or The Leverhulme Trust. Students who withdraw from their studies are not entitled to the equivalent monetary value of the scholarship and may be asked to repay all or part of the monies received.
About The Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust was established in 1925 under the Will of the First Viscount Leverhulme with the instruction that its resources should be used to support “scholarships for the purposes of research and education.” Since that time, the Trust has provided funding for research projects, fellowships, studentships, bursaries and prizes; it operates across all the academic disciplines, the ambition being to support talented individuals as they realise their personal vision in research and professional training. With annual funding of some £60 million, the Trust is amongst the largest all-subject providers of research funding in the UK.
