Hamish Ogston Foundation Commonwealth MA Scholarships

For The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, September 2022.
Deadline for applications: Friday 10th June 2022.

As part of The Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Commonwealth Heritage Skills Training Programme, the Commonwealth Heritage Forum is thrilled to launch this scholarship scheme. With funding from the Hamish Ogston Foundation two full MA scholarships will be awarded to students from Commonwealth countries to undertake the MA in Traditional Arts at The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts in the United Kingdom, beginning in September 2022.

The MA in Traditional Arts course is a full-time, two-year course in London at The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts. Students acquire skills, techniques and critical understanding in a range of traditional arts and crafts alongside associated philosophies—allowing them to advance their existing skills. More information about the course, including its structure and attendance requirements, can be found online here.

The Hamish Ogston Foundation Commonwealth MA Scholarships will be transformational for the successful candidates— opening up opportunities for a successful career in the heritage and conservation sectors. We are looking for students who want to specialise in specific heritage crafts relevant to their own country, but who also have a wide interest in heritage, building crafts and architectural conservation. For example, there will be opportunities in summer 2023 (between years 1 and 2) for students to participate in live training projects with the Commonwealth Heritage Forum.

In particular, it is crucial that scholarship recipients have a desire to develop their skills to improve the historic built environment for this, and future, generations.

Eligibility

The Hamish Ogston Foundation Commonwealth MA Scholarships are aimed at talented craftspeople and students from across the Commonwealth who would otherwise be unable to pursue further study of their craft or speciality skill. Consideration of financial need will be central to the selection of the recipients.

The MA scholarships are intended for those working and studying in the areas of traditional building and craft skills that are most relevant to, or most needed in, their own country and its heritage. Priority will be given to those seeking to advance their knowledge, career, contribution and sector leadership in respect of the following fields:

Stonemasonry (including terracotta and carving in various stone types)
Carpentry and joinery (including carving, marbling, graining, inlaying and parquetry)
Exterior and interior painting and decorating (including limewash, traditional colours and finishes)
External and internal plastering (including stucco, lime renders and scagliola work)
Architectural ironwork
Gilding (on gesso and paper)
Stained glass
Tiling, mosaics, and ceramics
Skills relevant to your country/region’s needs, and within the scope of the Commonwealth Heritage Forum and The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts (contact us in advance to discuss)

While all are welcome to apply directly for admission to The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts, we invite applications for the Hamish Ogston Foundation Commonwealth MA Scholarships from specified Commonwealth regions where the wider Commonwealth Heritage Forum programme is focusing initially, namely the following countries and territories:

Antigua and Barbuda
The Bahamas
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Bermuda
Botswana
Cameroon
Dominica
Kingdom of Eswatini

Fiji
The Gambia
Ghana
Grenada
Guyana
India
Jamaica
Kenya
Lesotho
Malawi

Malaysia
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Rwanda
Saint Lucia
Saint Helena
Samoa

Sierra Leone
South Africa
Sri Lanka
St Kitts and Nevis
St Vincent and the Grenadines
Tanzania
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Uganda
Zambia

Admission Requirements

Scholarship applicants will be subject to the standard admission requirements for the MA course as set by The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts:

Qualifications or Experience

Applicants are generally expected to have successfully completed a recognised, undergraduate university or college degree. Additional relevant experience will also be taken into account. Applicants who are not graduates will be expected to show they have relevant experience as practising artists, craftspeople or heritage practitioners, providing a second reference and CV as evidence.

Language

All courses are in English. Applicants must satisfy the specific English language requirements for entry. Applicants whose first language is not English must provide evidence that they have taken a UKVI recognised secure IELTS test achieving a minimum overall band of 6.0, with individual scores of not less than 5.5 in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. An IELTS score would be ideally submitted with the application; but if not please provide an estimate of when you would expect to provide this.

However, if they have studied for a degree in the UK, an IELTS will not be necessary; but evidence of the degree will need to be provided. If students have studied for a degree in a country whose first language is English, they will not have to take an IELTS but will have to provide a UK NARIC statement of comparability that their degree is comparable to a UK qualification.

Timeline

There is not a huge lead time before the start of the programme, but we will endeavour to process applications and notify applicants as soon as possible. We ask that you make sure that you can accept the scholarship and attend the programme in advance of making an application. We have set out the following timeline for your information:

Friday 10 June 2022 - Deadline for Applications
w/c Monday 20 June 2022 - Interviews with Finalists (online)
Thursday 30 June 2022 - Deadline for Successful Applicants to accept Scholarships
July & August 2022 - Induction information from The School of Traditional Arts
September 2022 - Start of MA course in London, UK

Application

Applicants for the Hamish Ogston Foundation Commonwealth MA Scholarship will apply onlinedirectly to The Prince’s Foundation School of Traditional Arts.

There is normally a fee to apply to the MA in Traditional Arts, but the fee will be waived for eligible applicants applying for the Hamish Ogston Foundation Commonwealth MA Scholarship.

Before applying, please email Sydney at the Commonwealth Heritage Forum to confirm your eligibility, you will then receive a discount code to waive the fee when you submit your application.

For more information about this MA Scholarship opportunity, please download the Further Particulars below.

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