The Royal Television Society (RTS) has launched its Undergraduate Bursary Schemes for 2017. It will be investing over £75,000 to support UK students from lower income backgrounds.
The RTS will offer 20 bursaries to students studying accredited television production and broadcast journalism degree courses. A further five technology bursaries are available to students of computing and engineering at top courses at British universities.
The bursaries are aimed at students in less affluent circumstances with the goal of helping to widen participation and skills in media and its related industries.
Bursary recipients will receive £1,000 per year of their studies and a free membership of the RTS and affiliate membership of The Hospital Club – a private members club for the creative industries – while studying and a year’s free membership of the RTS after graduation. They will also have access to mentoring from RTS members and partners including BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky.
“As an educational charity, the Royal Television Society is committed to helping young people from diverse backgrounds,” said Theresa Wise, RTS CEO.
“Particularly those who display a real passion to work in TV, realise their potential and get a foothold on the careers ladder. The television industry is a fast-moving and varied one offering many different opportunities, and we are keen to hear from students wishing to pursue careers in all areas of the industry – from researcher and producer to camera operators, sound recordists and script-writers to news reporters and potential directors.
“In the four years since we first launched the bursary programme we have had the honour of supporting so many genuinely talented and ambitious students, many of whom I’ve no doubt will go on to succeed in the industry.”
“We now have almost 60 students on the production bursary scheme and we are looking forward to our first cohort graduating in the summer,” said Graeme Thompson, chair of the RTS Education Committee and pro vice-chancellor at University of Sunderland.
“The scheme enables students to stand out from the crowd. They get unparalleled access to industry leaders and employers which means they have a great contacts book and invaluable insights into the industry by the time they graduate. It gives them a real advantage in the jobs market.”
“Competition to recruit highly skilled graduates in the fields of computer sciences and engineering is strong, and many may be unaware of the career opportunities that television has to offer young technologists,” said Simon Pitts, chair of the RTS technology bursaries. “Our Technology Bursary programme provides a unique opportunity to get to know more about the world of television whilst studying – with some of the top companies in the industry offering placements and support to recipients to encourage them to consider a career in TV.”
For details of the accredited courses or to submit your application visit: https://rts.org.uk/education-training/rts-bursaries. The deadline for submitting applications is 30 June 2017.
