The Stationers' Foundation bursary programme provides financial and mentoring support for students on a wide variety of MA/MSc courses, leading to a career in the Content and Communications industries.
The Stationers' Foundation offers up to 16 Bursaries annually to postgraduate students on the courses listed below. Successful students receive a bursary of up to £9,000. Every effort will be made to offer mentoring during their studies, from an appropriate member of the Stationers’ Company.
On successful completion of their Masters programme Bursary Recipients will be offered the Freedom of the Stationers’ Company and will be expected to participate in the life of the Company. Payment of the annual membership fee will be waived for the first three years.
Sparrow Awards
Thanks to the generous donation from Lord and Lady Sparrow, one or two additional bursaries are awarded annually. This ensures that applicants who would otherwise have missed out on a bursary receive our support.
Criteria and participating institutions
Applicants must be at the early stages of their career, resident in the UK, classified as paying UK tuition fees with a conditional or unconditional offer for one of the courses below (including contact details).
Cardiff University
MA News Journalism duncanc2@cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff University
MSc Computational and Data Journalism - odonnellA4@cardiff.ac.uk
City St George's, University of London
MA Magazine Journalism - Dr Ben Falk, Ben.Falk@city.ac.uk
City St George's, University of London
MA Publishing - Eric Huang, eric.huang@citystgeorges.ac.uk
Kingston University, London
MA Publishing - E.Tait@kingston.ac.uk
London College of Communication - University of the Arts London
MA Publishing Dr. Frania Hall, f.hall@lcc.arts.ac.uk
University College London
MA Library and Information Studies - Dr Alison Hicks a.hicks@ucl.ac.uk
University College London
MA Publishing - d.boswell@ucl.ac.uk
University College London
MA Archives and Records Management - a.sexton.11@ucl.ac.uk
University of Reading
MA Communication Design Dr Ruth Blacksell, typography@reading.ac.uk .
University of Salford
MA Journalism - Applicants for University of Salford should send their applications direct to the Senior Lecturer in Journalism, Andrew Lindsay, A.Lindsay@salford.ac.uk
Queen Mary University of London
MSc Data Science - Lowri Jones l.jones@qmul.ac.uk .
Application process
The application form should be submitted to the relevant university by 23rd May 2025 if your institution is interviewing in June 2024, or 16th June 2025 if your institution is interviewing in July 2025. Applications must be supported by one academic and one personal reference. All supporting documents must be inserted into the application form and ONE document submitted per applicant. The course team from each university will shortlist three students for interview at Stationers’ Hall in London during either the week commencing 23rd June or 14th July 2025. It is essential that applicants are available for these interviews.
Please note that we welcome applications from first generation students.
For help, please contact Katie Dare education@stationers.org
Please insert your 2 references and financial backup documentation directly into your Application Form and then just submit ONE document.
Short-listing will take place based on the following criteria:
Award decisions will be based on performance at interview. Candidates will make a presentation (a maximum of 10 minutes) in support of their application and show examples of their work. The presentation should demonstrate and evidence the candidate's achievements to help the panel understand the quality of their work. Candidates may want to explain the background to their work and demonstrate how this will lead into their next area of study and career. A link to our AV equipment via an HDMI link will be provided.
The interview panel will be made up of at least two Stationers and the Course Director from the candidate's postgraduate course.
Final decisions will be communicated to the candidates as soon as possible. Bursary funds will be transferred to each university in early September and then passed on to each award winner after the course fees have been deducted (if appropriate). The selection panel's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into concerning the decision.
There will be an Awards Ceremony at Stationers’ Hall for Bursary Recipients, their guests and mentors in November 2025. It is essential that bursary recipients attend this event.
The relevant Trustee of the Stationers' Foundation is Alison Strachan.
2020-21 Bursary Recipient Report - University of the Arts London
Bursary Awards Ceremony and Reception 2024 - Photos from the Bursary Awards Ceremony and Reception