Bristol's Vice Chancellor's Scholarship

To be eligible for the Bristol’s Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, the applicant must make sure to fulfill the required eligibility.

• Open to new students, applying for a full-time undergraduate degree at the University of Bristol in the autumn of 2025. Continuing students are not eligible to apply.
• This award is for students with exceptional abilities outside their field of study. Therefore,
  • a music student cannot apply for the music scholarship,
  • a liberal arts student is not eligible for the drama scholarship, etc.
• Applicants should showcase outstanding artistic, creative or sporting potential.
• Minimum criteria for each award:
  • Music Awards: A minimum of Grade VIII in examinations offered by the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (or equivalent). Shortlisted candidates will normally demonstrate musical distinction that has been recognized at a regional or national level.
  • Drama Awards: The student should provide proof of sustained engagement with theatre and/or filmmaking, along with academic merit in relevant school subjects, like, theatre/film studies, etc.
  • Sporting Award: Chosen applicants would’ve had considerable success at a representative level, the student must have an international honor, at least a junior level. Recipient of a sporting award is not eligible to apply for other funding options.
• Available to both International and Home (UK and EU) students.

For the renewal of the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship, students are required to clear and proceed to the next academic year. Also, the applicant must meet the renewal requirements for each category:

• Music: Successfully audition for the University's Symphony or Chamber orchestras, or University Singers or Chamber Choir
• Drama: Contribute to InterAct Programme run by the School of Theatre Studies
• Sport: Become a member of the Performance Squad

These activities will be conducted at the beginning of the new academic year. If the student fails to meet the renewal criteria, the scholarship will be withdrawn and cannot be reinstated in the future.

There are two application forms, one for students with an interest in Music or Drama and one for Sport (which includes the application for the University’s Performance Squad). Applicants must:

• Apply through UCAS application for a UG admission to the University of Bristol by January 15 in the year of admission.
• Submit a separate Bristol’s Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship application directly to the Student Funding Office
• Applicants must provide a reference and email it on vc-scholarship@bristol.ac.uk before filling the scholarship application form
• Student must accept the admission offer on an eligible UG program by September 1.
• In case of a conditional admission offer, the student must fulfill any specified conditions and have their place confirmed by September 1
• Applications can be made before any admission notification from the university

The application process for the Bristol’s Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship does not influence or affect the admission offer at the University of Bristol. All scholarship applications must be received by the university before the deadline. Any late application won’t be entertained by the university

NOTE: Information about the application cycle for 2024/25 entrants will be updated in Autumn 2023.

The applications received before the deadline would only be taken into consideration. No late applications will be entertained. The School Funding Office collects all the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship applications which are sent to the respective departments, i.e., music, drama, and sports.

• The departments assess the applications and categorize whether they’re recommended for an offer, placed on the reserve list or marked unsuccessful.
• Applications that are recommended for an offer or placed on a reserve list are ranked in order are later sent to Pro Vice-Chancellors for the final approval.

The selection process for every individual section is as follows:

• Music:
  • Students who are shortlisted for a scholarship will be required to submit an audition video recording that has been certified by their school or instrumental/vocal teacher.Full details will be sent to shortlisted applicants.
  •  Please do not submit a recording with your initial application. Any such submission will be disregarded.
• Sport:
  • Shortlisted applicants would be required to attend a group interview with the Performance Sports Staff to be assessed for the suitability of the award and becoming a member of the Performance Sport Squad.
  • Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with details of the interview.
  • The interview will take place in April 2023 in Bristol.
• Drama: Drama category applicants would be selected based on the strength of their application and would not be expected to attend an interview or audition.

If the candidate is placed in the reserve list, the application may be converted to a successful award.