How to apply for a Multiplatform Bursary
Multiplatform Bursaries are grants for you to spend on training. You'll get up to a maximum of £800 if you are a freelancer and up to a maximum of £500 if you are in permanent employment.
All those who benefit from the support of Multiplatform Bursaries must have demonstrable professional experience of working in the UK TV industry. Individuals may also benefit if they have demonstrable professional experience of working in the wider creative media industries and can show that their training will lead to work in or with the TV industry in a cross-platform context.
During 2009/10 Skillset will invest up to £200,000 in Multiplatform Bursaries, supporting up to 500 people working in TV industry or the wider creative media industries.
Before applying for a Multiplatform Bursary, please check here if you are eligible and, if so, ensure you've already booked your place on your chosen course(s) - click here to view the eligible multiplatform courses.
How to apply
The online form takes you through the application step by step, and should not take more than 20 minutes to complete. This system allows you to fill in the form in one go or save it and come back to it when you're ready.
Step 1 - Before you access the online application form, make sure you have the following information available:
- The name of your chosen training course(s);
- The name of the training provider(s);
- The cost of the training and any additional travel and accommodation costs if you are eligible to claim them; and
- The dates of your training.
Step 2 - Accessing the online application form
Step 3 - Complete the Eligibility Quiz.
This is the first page of the application, a quiz against the Multiplatform Bursaries eligibility criteria. Once you've successfully completed the quiz you'll be able to progress on to the rest of the application.
If you fail this test you will be directed to a Skillset webpage which will give you information on alternative sources of funding. If you have failed the test but think you are eligible for a Multiplatform Bursary please call the Multiplatform Bursaries Administrator who will be able to advise you on 020 7713 9832.
Step 4 - Complete the rest of the application form, following the advice of the Multiplatform Bursaries Guidelines. Once you have reached the last page of the form and are ready to review and submit your application you must press the "review & submit" icon on your screen. This will open a draft copy of your application for you to review with ease.
Step 5 - Once you are happy with this you can then press "Submit". Until you do this, your application has not been submitted to Skillset to be assessed. You will then receive an automated "receipt of application" email with a tracking number that you should quote in any correspondence about your application.
Step 6 - Reply to the automated email providing the following documentation:
- A copy of your CV demonstrating your professional experience in the television industry or wider creative media industries;
- Confirmation of your place on your chosen training course or qualification, and the cost of the training. (This can be in the form of an email or letter from the training provider).
Please note that Skillset will not start assessing your application until this additional information has been received, and this date will count as the day of submission. You may also provide the additional documents as hard copies in the post for the attention of the TV Multiplatform Bursaries Administrator at Skillset's address.
Accessing incomplete or previous applications
Should you wish to log out once you have started to fill in your form, you will be asked to create a Skillset Application Account. To do this we simply ask for your name and email address. This means you won't need to complete your application in one session - you can save and come back to it when you are ready.
The Skillset Application Account will also enable you to look at previous online applications you have made, which may come in useful when you apply for a bursary in the future.
What happens next?
Please refer to the final page of the Multiplatform Bursaries Guidelines to find out what to expect during the assessment process.
Skillset Multiplatform Bursaries Guidelines
If your application is successful you will receive an offer letter outlining the terms and conditions of your grant. You must sign the acceptance of this offer and return it to us within two weeks of the date the offer is made to you. Offers not accepted within that two weeks period will be withdrawn.
The payment will be split in two instalments: 80% for the first payment and 20% for the second. The first payment of 80% is paid once we receive your signed offer letter and bank details.
In order to claim the final 20% of your grant you will need to complete and submit an online evaluation report providing feedback on the training you attended. Please email multiplatform@skillset.org to confirm you have completed your training and you will be sent details on how to access the short online evaluation report.
If your application is not successful, you will receive a letter informing you of this and the reason(s) why.
If you have any problems downloading any of the above documents or would like more details on the scheme, please contact the Multiplatform Bursaries Administrator at multiplatform@skillset.org.
If your computer has the relevant software, click the document icons or document titles to view the relevant document. Right-click (PC) or hold your mouse-button down (Mac) on the document icon/title, you'll be given the option to save the file to disk. If you don't have the necessary software to view the documents, take the above links to download free reader programs.