Scholarships, bursaries and student hardship

The richness and vibrancy of the performing arts is dependent on ensuring that exceptionally talented young people from diverse backgrounds have the opportunity to develop, express and contribute their creative voices. Scholarships enable us to offer places to the most promising young people we encounter and seek out, based on merit and regardless of any disadvantages they may face.

Scholarship donors can choose to give to undergraduate or post-graduate students and whether they want to support a candidate from Wales, from the UK or internationally. Connections to particular areas of study can also be made.

Donating a scholarship – annually or through an endowment gift – can be an immensely fulfilling way to support and follow the progress of a young artist and awards can be named for living donors or “in memoriam”.

At present, we are particularly trying to secure new scholarships that help:

• Students with protected characteristics with particular emphasis on race, gender and disability
• Those studying bassoon, French horn, viola, double bass, and oboe
• Students in financial need
• As part of our ambitious Promise campaign, we have pledged to double the number of scholarships we raise from individuals, businesses and trusts

If you would like to discuss funding a scholarship, please contact tabitha.moore@rwcmd.ac.uk.

Sir Geraint Evans Scholarship Fund

To mark the centenary of the birth of the late Welsh Opera singer Sir Geraint Evans, a new scholarship in his name will help opera students in financial need with the costs of their training. Sir Geraint was one of the best loved and most successful singers of his generation, performing leading roles in the major opera houses of the world. The College was fortunate to have Sir Geraint as its President, a position he held until he passed away in 1992, and we are honoured to have a Fund in his name that will support baritones and Welsh students, helping to nurture the great singers of the future.

As part of our determination to enable the widest possible access to our training, we have made a promise to provide an annual bursary of up to £1,200 for all new undergraduate students with household income of less than £30K per annum from the 2021/22 academic year. We anticipate that over 25% of new entrants every year will be eligible and we are therefore working hard to raise the £500,000 we will need to make it possible for us to give support to every student who needs it over the coming 5 years. Donations of any size – from businesses, trusts and individuals – as well as major endowment gifts, will be critical to our ability to fulfil our promise.

For more information about contributing to our Bursary Fund, please contact: development@rwcmd.ac.uk.

The Student Hardship Fund supports students who are experiencing financial difficulties. They may have exhausted all other avenues of funding, have specific high additional costs or have suffered an unexpected crisis. With the rising cost of living, as well as financial unpredictability making it increasingly hard for students, we anticipate a much, higher demand for the Student Hardship fund this year.

This non-repayable grant is a vital lifeline for students who otherwise might be forced to leave the College and the creative industry forever.

Please donate to ensure emergency support is available to all current and future students when they need it most.