Before applying for a short course bursary to help you with the costs of your study, please read the below information. Please note, that we are unable to offer more than one short course bursary to a student within two years. Those in receipt of the Joyce Mary Harding Textile Bursary may only be awarded one bursary from this fund.
All bursary funded students are expected to agree to the terms and conditions.
To apply for a bursary please download and complete a Short Course Bursary application form where applicable. (Separate application forms are indicated.)
Please email your completed application form to [email protected]. Digital emailed applications are preferred, however if you are unable to send via email please post to Academic Registry, West Dean College, Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0QZ. For more information call 01243 818291 or email [email protected].
The Edward James Foundation Bursary, including creative bursaries for arts graduates
If you need assistance to help fund your studies, you can apply for a bursary from The Edward James Foundation Bursary Fund. The Fund is financed by The Edward James Foundation itself as part of its charitable objectives.
This bursary is for any subject except conservation short courses.
Applicants should demonstrate a clear financial need and a clear illustration of why they have selected the specific courses. You can do this by answering the questions on the Short Course Bursary Application Form.
Grants are given based on individual need. In some cases, we may not be able to fund the full amount and the remaining fees will need to be covered by the applicant.
Awards will be determined by the following criteria:
- Educational status for Creative Bursaries: the full-time course the applicant is or was enrolled on. What stage of the education/career are they at the time of the application.
- The relevance to their course of the Short Course they have applied for a bursary.
- Age – preference will be given to those at the early stage of their career.
- Amount of bursary requesting – the cost of the course and accommodation if requesting funds for this. Cost of travel for student.
- The importance of the course to the West Dean portfolio. The number of applicants for the course both generally and from the same educational establishment.
- Potential benefit to others if applicant has attended the course.
- Students may only be awarded one bursary from this fund every two years.
Joyce Mary Harding Textile Bursary Fund
For people with an interest in developing their skills in working with textiles, who would benefit from assistance with funding.
Grants are awarded for £500 and may be shared.
Awards will be determined by the following criteria:
- The relevance to the development of their textile skills and practice.
- Amount of bursary requesting – the cost of the course and accommodation if requesting funds for this.
- The financial status of the applicant – student, un-employed, retired or on a low income.
- The number of applicants for the course.
- Students may only be awarded one bursary from this fund.
You can find out about Joyce, in whose memory the bursary was set up here.
The Fan Making Bursary Fund
For undergraduates and recent graduates who are interested in developing their skills and their portfolio to include fan making.
Awards will be determined by the relevance of individuals existing practice to fan making processes, and an assessment of the student’s interest in the subject and the potential of continued engagement with fan-making.
Preference will be given to those at the early stage of their career. Funding generously provided by The Poor Fund of The Worshipful Company of Fan Makers. Grants are awarded for £150 per student.
International Classical Guitar Festival Bursary
To help music students and young professionals (18-26) attend the International Classical Guitar Festival and Summer School. Funding has been provided by several donors. For detailed course information and how to book the course, please visit the course page.
Grants are awarded based on individual need.
Application deadline: 31 May 2025
Please note: The International Classical Guitar Festival Bursary has a separate Application Form.
Awards will be determined by the following criteria:
- For music students (first-study classical guitar) and young professional players aged 18-24 years old or in full-time study at a UK university or music college.
- An assessment of each student’s potential based on previous study, work, references. and current level of study (academic year).
- An assessment of the student’s video recorded performance, submitted via DVD, YouTube or Dropbox.
- Students may only be awarded a bursary for one summer school.
Sussex Heritage Trust Bursary Scheme
Open to any candidates aged 18 or over, with no upper age limit. The Trust’s Bursary Committee will consider funding the costs of one course for an individual studying on a short course relating to construction, conservation and architectural heritage.
Grants are awarded for course costs and accommodation costs. Please note: Students should apply directly to the Sussex Heritage Trust.
Drake Trust Bursary
The Drake Trust generously provides a number of bursaries for students attending a Building Conservation Masterclass or on the Professional Development Diploma in Historic Building Conservation and Repair.
Students must be self-financing their Professional Development Diploma in Historic Building Conservation and Repair and Building Conservation Masterclass studies.
Grants are awarded for course costs. Please note: To apply contact [email protected]. Do not approach this funder directly.
Queries - Applicants should not contact the awarding trust directly with queries relating to the above bursary as this is being administered by The Edward James Foundation. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]
York Consortium for Craft and Conservation
York Consortium for Craft and Conservation is offering a new Craft Trainee bursary to encourage opportunities for sustained training and development in heritage building crafts and trades. It offers up to £15,000, spread over two or three years, towards training and education for a recent entrant in a field of traditional building craft practice.
There are no restrictions on the fields of craft expertise for applicants provided they are heritage building related. This includes the crafts involved in traditional decorative finishes and treatments as well as construction-related crafts.
We particularly welcome applications from applicants based in, or working in, or from the Yorkshire region, and Scotland, who will be considered favourably in shortlisting.
How to apply
Applications are made jointly by the employer together with an existing apprentice or trainee. Both application forms must be downloaded and completed by apprentice and employer respectively. The application round for 2024 opens from Wednesday 3 January until Sunday 31 March 2024. Interviews are scheduled to be held in May 2024.
Find out more and how to apply.
Building Conservation Masterclass bursaries
The International Conservation Services (ICS) Australian Bursary is available to Australian Nationals living in the UK who have a visa that allows them to study in the UK and who have accepted a place on a Building Conservation Masterclass (BCM) on the Professional Development Diploma (PDD) in Historic Building Conservation and Repair at West Dean. The BCM is not a validated programme with the University of Sussex and as such we cannot issue student visas, so you need to hold another way of being in the country that allows you to study here. For more information on the PDD and BCMs Historic Building Conservation & Repair | West Dean.
Behind the funding: For over 30 years, Julian Bickersteth,1981-1982 Graduate Diploma Conservation Studies Furniture and Related Objects alumnus, has been the CEO of International Conservation Services (ICS), which he founded in 1986. ICS is Australia’s largest private fine art and heritage conservation practice, with labs in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane and Perth employing over 50 permanent staff plus casuals. ICS works across the disciplines of furniture, paintings, works on paper, textiles, metals, sculpture, archaeology and outdoor heritage for myriad collecting institutions including government bodies, corporations, major universities and private collections.
Having received a part scholarship to help him study at West Dean, Julian is keen to give others a similar opportunity. That opportunity ultimately led to Julian being President of IIC for 6 years until January 2025, and in recognition of this Julian has established the International Conservation Services Australian Bursary.
Value: Contribution towards course costs, max allocation of £500 for each masterclass.
Deadline: Open all year
Application: To be eligible to apply, applicants must be Australian nationals, already be living in the UK, have a visa that allows them to study here, have a place accepted to study one of our Building Conservation Masterclasses (BCM), demonstrate a commitment to a career in conservation (they could already be practicing in the UK or be looking to further their studies in this area before advancing their conservation career), must demonstrate a clear aim for career development in conjunction with finding it difficult to find funds for professional development fees. Applicants of any age are eligible to apply.
Preference will be given to applicants intending to take their skills back to Australia after study. The Grants Committee will consider the applications and details of the successful applicants such as name, personal statement, work history will be sent to Julian Bickersteth and ICS for their records.
Terms: Recipients must use the funding in the calendar year received. The award will be paid directly to West Dean College to help offset course fees.
Please note: The applicant recognises that some additional funding from personal sources is likely to be required, and that transport, visa and living costs are their own responsibility. The successful applicant must produce a report on completion of each BCM which will be shared with the funder and may be used for publication or summary on the ICS website and/or social media channels at the discretion of the ICS. The successful applicant on completion of their course may be invited to an ICS event.
Queries - Applicants should not contact the awarding body directly with queries relating to the above bursary as this is being administered by The Edward James Foundation. If you have any queries, please contact [email protected]
Submitting your application: Please email your completed application form to [email protected]
(Information last updated 30 July 2025)
