We’re pleased to announce that we are once again taking applications for our Creative Bursary Scheme. Students can now apply for a full bursary to study a Skill Stage 2 (beginner level) course for FREE, and begin studying with on the 2nd November 2020.
Please take a look at the courses available and the following information for details of how to apply, alternatively, apply now!
About Our Creative Bursary Scheme
Our mission at the School of Stitched Textiles is to teach and promote creativity allowing individuals to reach their full creative potential. However, we know that our courses may not always be financially accessible to everyone. Our bursary scheme therefore allows students to access courses and learn vital skills. Successful applicants will be awarded a bursary to study an accredited course for FREE. Course tuition will be covered by the School of Stitched Textiles.
Why apply for a Creative Bursary?
As the UK’s leading centre for accredited textiles distance learning courses, we’re one of the few centres offering City and Guild’s accredited courses. We strongly believe in the benefits of creative crafting and therefore aim to encourage everyone with an interest in these areas. We also understand the value of our courses and the launch pad they create for individuals wishing to progress their chosen career at the same time as helping to develop lifelong skills and creativity.
Our courses have become sought after both within the UK and also internationally and are recognised for their excellence in teaching and learning. This is an incredible opportunity for anyone wishing to learn and develop their skills, knowledge and creativity.
About the Courses
Please click on the course that you are interested in for more information and to download a full course brochure.
Hand Embroidery
Patchwork
Stumpwork
Crochet
Machine Embroidery
Textiles
Felt
Knitting
We’re offering 3 creative bursaries to students wishing to study a Skill Stage 2 course. These courses are aimed at beginners so you do not need a lot of technical or design experience, however some basic knowledge, interest and practise would be an advantage as you’ll need to enter a few images of something you have already undertaken to enable us to have something to show to our followers.
As comprehensive programmes, each of our courses include a number of different modules which focus on developing your skills in specific techniques and take around 1 year to complete. All courses are taught via distance learning allowing students to work through the course materials and follow the tutorial videos when it is convenient for them.
How to apply for our creative bursaries
The aim of the bursary application process is to get to know more about you. We’d therefore like to take a look at a few recent examples of your work that you feel reflect you as an individual, as well as your passion and commitment to your craft.
Because our Skill Stage 2 courses are aimed at beginners, you do not need to demonstrate a high level of technical ability. Instead we’d like to see your own personality and enthusiasm show through in your work. We’d like you to submit 2 pictures of your own work (this must be no larger than 3MB each). As our bursaries are aimed at those who may not otherwise be able to afford our courses, we will therefore ask you to provide information about your financial/employment situation – please don’t be offended. You will also be asked why you think you should selected and what you hope to achieve from the course. The information you provide about your financial situation will not be shared with anyone outside the judging team and it will be destroyed after shortlisting has taken place in accordance with GDPR privacy policy.
Remember that your work should reflect the course that you’re interested in so, as an example, please supply us with an example of your knitted work if you’re interested in our knitting course.
You can either create a new piece, which can be anything of your choice. Or you can simply provide a picture of something that you have made that relates to the course that you’re interested in studying. Apply Now!
Previous winners:
How work will be selected
The closing date for application is Sunday 27th September (midnight), after which our tutors will shortlist this down to list of finalists on 28-30th September. The pieces which have been shortlisted will then be entered into a peer to peer poll, where our followers will be given the chance to vote for their favourite piece.
The pieces that receive the most votes will win the bursaries and the winners will be informed by 21st October 2020.
Application schedule
27th September (Midnight): Deadline for submissions
28-30th September: Shortlisting selection (by our tutors at the School of Stitched Textiles)
1-18th October: Poll by School of Stitched Textiles followers
21st October: Winners announced
What to submit
You can submit anything that you have personally made. We do not expect perfection! This is simply to get an idea of the things you are capable of making or have tried to make and should reflect the subject that you are applying for. You may submit work that you have made previously or you may decide to make something specifically for this application. Just remember that we are looking for a piece that demonstrates your style, your personality or your interest. So, if you’ve created something that you’re particularly proud of then why not share it with us. It could be your ticket to a place on our highly sought after courses.
You can also find some great inspiration on our Student Gallery, Instagram and Pinterest boards. These will give you an idea of the type of work that you can expect to produce on each of our courses.
We look forward to seeing your wonderful creations and good luck. If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Apply here.
Blog originally published 17th August 2019 – Updated 28.09.2020.
Apply Now
This application is now closed. Please subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to do date about our next round of bursaries.
Terms and Conditions
We cannot accept any submissions made after Sunday 27th September 2020.
By submitting work to the School of Stitched Textiles you are providing consent for the images to be used across our social media networks and across other marketing communications, such as emails and newsletters and promotional materials. You are also consenting for your work to be entered into a vote that will be issued to the School of Stitched Textiles readers and followers across our social media channels and networks.
The information you provide about your financial situation will not be shared with anyone outside the judging team and it will be destroyed after shortlisting has taken place in accordance with GDPR.
Applicants will automatically be added to our ‘Expressions of Interest’ mailing list so that we can keep you up-to-date with information about our accredited courses.
Successful applicants will be informed by the 21st October and announced to the other entrants and followers on the same day or the following day. The bursary placement is for our courses commencing 2nd November 2020. Entrants should ensure that they are available for this start date as we cannot carry the placement over. Courses are non-refundable and cannot be issued to a third party.
You will be responsible for supplying your own tools and materials, as the bursary covers only the course fees, not other outgoings. You will also need access to a computer, printer and camera, so please ensure these things are available to you before applying.
If you have any questions please contact us.
19 Comments
This looks wonderful – thank you for offering a bursary. I’m considering applying and my interest would mainly be hand embroidery, but I also have a great love of needlepoint and would love to develop that more as well. I see cross stitch mentioned, and I’ve looked on some of the other courses, but don’t see mention of needlepoint. Which particular course would be most appropriate?
Hi Anne – I think you’d want to consider the hand embroidery course, which includes a broad range of hand embroidery techniques. Good luck with your application!
Thankyou for this opportunity
Hi. Great to see this. Is this just for Skill Stage 2 or do you offer a bursary for Skill Stage 3 also?
Hi Kayleigh. This is just for Skill Stage 2 at the moment. We may offer bursaries for Skill Stage 3 later in the year.
Many thanks,
Sarah
Hi, would the successful applicant be liable for the remaining cost of the course if for any reason they can’t complete it? Thanks
Hi Sally, thanks for your message, I will check with the team and get back to you soon.
Many thanks
Hi. I’m still waiting to know if the successful applicant will be liable for the remainder of the cost of the course, if for any unfortunate reason, they find that they can’t complete it. Thanks
Hello Sally – no, we don’t charge you if you fail to complete, however you would stop another person being able to have that bursary, which would be a shame, so just have a careful think before applying if you feel you may not be able to complete.
Where do I send my information please?
Hello, it seems we’ve been having some technical difficulties with our application page, which is why you weren’t able to find it. Please use this link to submit your application. Many thanks, https://www.sofst.org/apply-for-a-bursary/
Hi, I’d love to apply, but when I click on the Apply now button, it’s just taking me back to the home page. It seems like there’s an automatic redirect in place, because a hover over shows sofst.org/bursary-application but even typing that into the address bar just takes me back to sofst.org
Hi Frances, my apologies for the trouble you’ve had, I’m really not sure what has gone wrong with the page. We’ve had our technical team look into it and you should have more success with this page. https://www.sofst.org/apply-for-a-bursary/. Good luck with your application. Thanks, Sarah
Hello
Are you looking for images of just one piece or several? I tend to give things away, I may have to do a recall 🙂
Hi Kerry. It can be two images of one project, but we’d prefer to see two projects. It’s just to give us an idea of where you’re at and what you like to do. Good luck.
Hi
Could you tell me is there a word limit for the statement part of the application form?
Hello, I don’t believe there is a word count. However if you do have any issues feel free to send any additional information to info@sofst.org
Hi,
I would like to apply for the crochet bursary, so regarding the pieces being submitted for the application, do they have to be your own pattern as well as personally made by yourself? Or can it be something you have crocheted but from a pattern made by someone else?
Hi Caroline and many thanks for your question. As long as you have personally made it, you can submit anything. It doesn’t have to be your own pattern, just as long as it is something you have made. Hope that helps and best of luck. Sarah.