Am I eligible for a bursary?

The bursary is open to aspiring journalists from underrepresented backgrounds, particularly those without family or personal connections in the media and who would otherwise be unable to afford a Master’s in Journalism. It is designed to support talented individuals who face barriers to entering journalism by funding a master’s course and offering work placements and further opportunities.

You are eligible to apply for a Scott Trust Bursary if:

• You will be a graduate in any subject.

• You fall into one or more of these under-represented groups; Black, Asian, minority ethnic, LGBTQ+, disabled, or from a working class background. 

• You are able to demonstrate that without financial support you would be unable to pursue a Master’s qualification.

• You do not have any existing personal connections to the journalism industry.

• You had paid or unpaid experience in journalism and have built up a portfolio - either news or features-focused (or a combination), and from either blogging in your spare time, writing for student newspapers, video, podcasts, or placements at local newspapers, radio or TV. 

• You  qualify for home fees.

• You do not already have a Masters degree or other post graduate qualification.

Three out of the six places will be awarded to Black aspiring journalists. The other three places are open to applicants who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in the media. In particular those who are from a working class background, Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ and people with a disability.

Which university courses are eligible for the Scott Trust Bursary?

People from any background underrepresented in media can apply for:

City St George's, University of London, MA Journalism, entry 2:1    

Goldsmiths College, University of London, MA Journalism, entry 2:1    

University of Sheffield, MA Journalism, entry 2:1  

Birmingham City University, MA ​Journalism, entry 2:1     

Leeds Trinity University, MA Journalism, entry 2:2         

Manchester Metropolitan University, MA Multimedia Journalism, entry 2:2

I have not had any of my work published, can I apply?

Yes! We just want to see examples of your writing, so it does not matter if they have been published, self-published or not published at all. Whether that’s writing for a blog, student paper, local paper, podcasting, or creating multimedia content, these kinds of examples help us understand your commitment to developing your skills and pursuing a career in journalism.

We recommend submitting PDFs instead of hyperlinks; however, links will also be accepted.

Can I use AI in examples of my writing?

We allow the use of AI tools for basic proofreading or research assistance but the narrative, structure, and reporting must be entirely your own. Please refer to the Guardian’s guidance for more information on AI use.

Can I apply if I already have a Master’s degree?

We will only offer a Bursary to students who do not already have a postgraduate qualification, regardless of the subject of the qualification. However, we are aware that Scottish universities award an MA qualification for their 4-year-long Bachelor's courses. We will accept applications from these students.

Can I apply if I haven't graduated yet?

Yes, as long as you will have graduated before the Master’s course starts then you can apply for a Bursary.  

Do I have to have a degree to apply?

Yes. As this is a Master’s degree, you will need to have an undergraduate degree or equivalent qualification to be eligible for the Bursary. If you are in your last year of your undergraduate degree and have not yet graduated you can still apply.

I don’t have an undergraduate degree in journalism, can I still apply?

Yes, we accept applications from people with any degree subject. You do not need any prior qualifications in journalism; you just need to demonstrate your interest and passion for journalism.

Can I apply if I have a journalism undergraduate degree?

Yes, you can still apply if you have already completed a Journalism degree. However, you will need to clearly explain what additional knowledge, skills, or experiences you expect to gain from a Journalism master’s that were not covered at the undergraduate level. It’s important to show how the master’s will build on, rather than duplicate, your existing studies.

I applied in a previous year, can I apply again?

Yes, we do not limit how many times you can apply for a Bursary. However we will expect to see something new in your application and details of what you have been up to since last applying.

I don’t qualify for home fees, can I still apply?

We can only accept applications from individuals who qualify for UK home fees at the time of application. Since this is not a job, we are not able to provide a sponsorship/work visa to support with funding

I am an international student, can I still apply?

You can apply for the Bursary regardless of your nationality or country of residence as long as you qualify for UK home fees at your university of choice. You must have secured the right to qualify for home fees by the time you apply for the Bursary.

Find out more

Why is the Scott Trust Bursary scheme only open to individuals from Black, Asian, minority ethnic, LGBTQ+, disabled, or working class backgrounds?

These groups remain underrepresented in journalism and often face barriers to entering the industry. The bursary exists to help break down those barriers and ensure a more inclusive and representative media sector. 

Journalism is a fundamental underpinning of a fair and open democratic society where people can participate, influence and act. It gives people access to information through multiple lenses, allowing them to understand the world around them and hold power to account. To do this effectively, the media industry must be representative of the society it serves and the barriers to entering and progressing within the industry must continue to be broken. 

How do we determine individuals from these backgrounds in the application process?

As part of the application process we will ask individuals to answer questions that will allow applicants to share how they meet the criteria of ‘underrepresented backgrounds’. We will also ask questions to allow us to assess how individuals meet the criteria of working class  backgrounds’ and financial needs.

By working-class background we mean:

• You attended state school or college for the entirety of your education, AND

• The occupation of your main household earner when you were aged 14 is categorised as coming from a working class background (see below)*, OR

• Whilst at school you were eligible for free school meals, OR

• Your parents did not attend university.

*The Social Mobility Commission refers to working-class occupations as:

• technical and craft occupations such as motor mechanic, plumber, printer, electrician, gardener, train driver;

• routine, semi-routine manual and service occupations such as postal worker, machine operative, security guard, caretaker, farm worker, catering assistant, sales assistant, HGV driver, cleaner, porter, packer, labourer, waiter or waitress, bar staff;

• long-term unemployed (claimed Jobseeker's Allowance or earlier unemployment benefit for more than a year).

Further information can be found here. 

Three out of the six places will be awarded to Black aspiring journalists as part of the Scott Trust Legacies of Enslavement programme. This is measured by a question asking applicants to answer if they qualify for this place.

I have attended a fee paying school at some point in my education, can I still apply?

We do not accept candidates who have attended a fee-paying/private school at any point in their education. This is to ensure that the scheme is supporting individuals from groups who are underrepresented in journalism and face barriers to entering into the industry.

Can I apply if I have existing personal connections to the journalism industry?

You cannot apply to the scheme if you have existing family connections to a national newspaper. The Scott Trust Bursary is designed to support aspiring journalists from underrepresented groups who do not already have access to industry networks or advantages. Because journalism is a highly networked profession, family connections, past or present, can provide opportunities others may not have. For this reason, the bursary is intended for those without such ties to help level the playing field.

I am not sure whether I have the experience to successfully apply. What should I do?

We would encourage you to apply. You do not need to have published any work or done a certain amount of work experience, but you should be able to demonstrate an awareness of and engagement with the news and current affairs and be able to show what you would bring to the journalism industry. We are looking for talent, commitment and fresh ideas, so even if you’re not sure you’ve got what it takes, we want you to hear from you. We try to provide as much guidance as we can to potential applicants. Sign up to our newsletter for people interested in journalism for the latest information and guidance on the scheme.

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Can I defer my place on the scheme?

We only consider applications for the coming academic year, so would not consider applications for deferred entry.

How will my mentor be chosen and how do I meet them?

We match you with a mentor based on your professional interests and experiences. We also try to choose a mentor for you that we think you’ll get on with! You will have the opportunity to share what skills and experience you hope to gain from a mentor in your interview.

You will meet them regularly throughout your time on the scheme, either virtually or in person.

Am I allowed to do freelance work during my masters?

Yes. Outside of your work placements you may pitch story ideas, on a freelance basis, to any media outlet, including the Guardian, although this is not an expectation or requirement for the Bursary itself. Any articles published by the Guardian would normally be paid at the standard freelance lineage rate, but please make it clear at the point of commissioning if you are pitching outside of a work experience placement.

What happens after I finish my masters degree?

Following graduation, bursary recipients are supported to take their next steps into journalism. Bursary recipients are offered the opportunity to take part in a 9 month fixed term traineeship, with the goal of developing your professional journalist skills through skills development, newsroom immersion, and supervised professional practice. Progression onto this traineeship is subject to successful completion of the masters degree and positive feedback from placements, mentors and university. The outcome of this progression will be confirmed in an end of year review. 

What happens during the traineeship at the Guardian?

You will have the opportunity to rotate around desks (departments) to gain experience in different areas of journalism. We will ask you what your desk preferences are nearer the time. This may include gaining experience in the Guardian’s Manchester office. We cover your travel and accommodation for this part of the scheme.

What options will I have at the end of the traineeship?

Although we can’t guarantee a job at the end of your time at the Guardian, with your qualifications and experience gained from the scheme you will be well-placed to secure a job in journalism.

A number of people continue to work at the Guardian after the end of the scheme by applying for vacancies. Other alumni have gone on to work for publications including the Financial Times, BBC and Huffington Post.

Will I be paid for the work placement I do during my masters degree?

Yes. We expect you to complete up to 6 weeks (210 hours) of work placements during your masters degree. You will receive a stipend for this equivalent to the London Living Wage.

Work placements are normally completed during the university holidays. Trainees tend to do around 1 week during Christmas/New Year, 1-2 weeks during Easter and 3-4 weeks over the summer. There is some flexibility on this, and the dates will be agreed with you before they are confirmed. 

Trainees may spend at least 1 week at the Guardian’s Manchester office. For this, travel and accommodation costs will be covered by the Foundation.

What will my salary be during the traineeship at the Guardian?

Around £30k pro rata, plus 30 days annual leave (prorated) and employment benefits. You will be issued with a trainee employment contract by the Guardian.

How much will my living allowance be, and when will it be paid?

During your masters degree, you will be paid a living allowance in 3 instalments. The first in late-September. The second at the mid-late December, and the third at mid-late March.

Those studying in Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds will receive £2471.70 per instalment (£7,415 in total). Those studying in London will receive £2718.87 (£8,156 in total).

Your course tuition fees will be paid directly, by us, to the university you are studying at.

What happens if I don’t complete my MA?

The bursary is awarded on the condition that the recipient remains fully enrolled and completes the designated MA program. Should you withdraw, fail to meet attendance and engagement requirements, or otherwise fail to complete the course, the Guardian Foundation will reclaim a proportionate amount of the funds paid to you or on your behalf. This repayment will be calculated based on the date of your withdrawal or cessation of study.