Funding application tips

A few things to remember before you start

• You must apply for a course at Goldsmiths before you can apply for a scholarship. Only applicants who have accepted their offer of study will be considered for scholarships.
• Your application will be rejected if you don’t meet the eligibility criteria – so make sure you double-check everything before you apply.
• You're able to apply for as many awards as you like, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria for each award.

Planning your application

• Check the deadline
  Plan your time so you don’t end up finishing the application at the last minute – if you're rushing, you're more likely to make simple mistakes.
• Prepare in advance
  Funding bodies receive lots of applications, so it's important that you take time to communicate your skills, interests and qualifications properly. Make sure you include the information we've asked you to provide, otherwise your hard work will be wasted. If you do not provide the required documents your application will be incomplete and will not be considered.
• Complete your means-tested financial assessment with the Student Loans Company
  To meet the eligibility of some of our awards you must complete a means-tested assessment with the Student Loans Company; without this information we may not be able to consider you for the award.
• Have a contingency plan
  It's important to be realistic about the chances of receiving funding and you should always look for alternative sources of funding for your studies. Decisions are likely to be made around July, a few weeks before the first term starts, and some funding may not be awarded until later in the academic year. It's therefore important that you don't rely solely on your application for financial support – make sure you have organised funding through the Student Loans Company or arranged alternative assistance.

References

Your reference is a very important part of your application. It will be used to help us shortlist candidates for consideration.

Your admissions application reference will form part of your award application; we can access this directly from your admissions record so you do not need to send another copy.

If you didn't submit a reference with your admissions application you can upload and attach a reference to your award application. Take the time to choose your referee carefully. They should be able to comment on your academic ability and/or potential, and so could be one of your teachers or tutors.

An additional reference will only be accepted if it is relevant to the award you have applied for. For example, this could be a referee who can comment on your work experience or involvement in activities taking place away from your school, college or university education.

Non-academic references

A non-academic reference will be accepted if you've been out of formal education for at least four years.

Although a non-academic referee won't be able to comment on your academic potential, they may be able to discuss your enthusiasm, your interests, and your dedication to your job or hobbies. Please note that non-academic references written by a friend or family member will not be accepted.

Writing your application

• Keep to the word limit 
  The supporting statement will consist of three questions relevant to the award you are applying for. It's very important that you answer the questions clearly and within the word limit. Personal statements will not be accepted.
• Tailor each application
  If you're applying for more than one award, treat each of them as individual applications. Be aware that you'll be asked to answer different questions for each award application. If you're successful for more than one award, you'll be given the award that is worth the most.
• Get feedback
  Ask someone you trust to read your supporting statement/questions and answers and give their you honest advice and feedback.

What happens next?

We'll contact you about your application via the email address you provide – so double check it to make sure it's right. You'll receive a confirmation email from us once you have submitted your application electronically, but after that you may not hear from us until all the applications are in and the final decisions are made. So please be patient, we'll be in touch.

Questions?

If you have questions about the application process, please ask us. We want everyone to feel confident about their applications.

You can get in touch by emailing scholarships@gold.ac.uk or calling +44 (0)20 7717 2506. You can also take a look at our frequently asked questions page.