Vaughan Williams Scholarships of up to £8,000 each for postgraduate composition study will be awarded in 2026. Read about the 2025 recipients
These scholarships are open to applicants who demonstrate exceptional compositional talent and who are intending to make composition their professional career. Scholarships are awarded towards the costs of study of a taught Masters course or PhD in composition at UK universities or conservatoires.
These are one-off scholarships and are not renewable. Entry is open to British or Irish composers, or those who have been resident in the UK for a minimum of three years. There is no age limit on applicants. Because of demand on our resources, we can not accept applications from previous Vaughan Williams Bursary recipients. Read the guidelines
Unfortunately, we are NOT able to support the following:
Courses in TV/film/gaming composition
Courses teaching only electro-acoustic composition
Performance courses, music tech courses, or courses where composition is not the sole focus
Research courses centred on musicology or analysis
Courses outside the UK
HOW TO APPLY
Applications 20/26
Application is a three part process:
1 Registration for 2026/7 is now closed. If you have already registered you must now:
2 Contact Referees
Contact your referees immediately and ask them to upload their references by 10 April 2026. Please send them the upload link provided in your registration email and include the following instructions: “References must include the name; email address and phone contact of the referee and be in either pdf or MS Word formats. Reference file names should include the applicant’s name and the last name of the referee. References are confidential and should be personally uploaded by the referee and not the applicant.”
3 Upload your scores by 10 April 2026.
Upload your three scores, and any other supporting information requested, using the upload link sent to you at registration.
