Scholarships

QEST SCHOLARSHIPS

The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST) offers Scholarships of up to £18,000 for the training and education of talented craftspeople. We want to sustain vital skills in traditional and contemporary crafts and contribute to excellence in the British craft industry.

An Overview

What does the scholarship programme support?

• This programme supports the advanced skill development of craft professionals through the funding of craft training.
• The training can take many forms, from traditional college courses to vocational one-on-one training with a master craftsperson, or a bespoke programme of short courses.

What will you receive?

• A scholarship of up to £18,000
• A funded place on the Cockpit Professional Development Programme. Read more here.

Who can apply?

• Individual makers aged 18 or over, who are resident in the UK at the time of their application, with the right to live and work in the UK on a permanent or long-term basis.

When are applications open?

Applications are open twice a year:

Spring: Applications open from January to February with awards made in May.

Autumn: Applications open from July to August with awards made in November.

Please note, our scholarships are competitive and we receive many more applications than we can support. Strong applications are from makers who can demonstrate a high level of skill, a clear direction for their practice, and can articulate how the training will enhance their practice.

Before applying, read the complete application guidance here: QEST Scholarship application guidance 2024. 

In July we hosted a webinar giving more information about the grant and advice on applying. You can view this here.

If you have any questions about making an application, your eligibility or your proposed training, please get in touch:

Email us at [email protected]

Call us on 020 7798 1535

We offer an optional enquiry call to provide early-stage advice and guidance to individuals who consider themselves under-represented in the arts, crafts, or education sectors, or those who need additional support to complete their application. These short calls aim to support individuals to better understand the eligibility criteria and the assessment process. If you'd like to book in a one-to-one call with our Grants Manager Emma Sims, please click here.