Tayla's story: How UAL's Home Postgraduate Scholarship Shaped her Experience

MA Media, Communication and Critical Practice student, Tayla, shares how scholarship support helped her make the most of postgraduate life at UAL.

Why did you decide to apply for a scholarship at UAL?

The support made it possible for me to engage fully with postgraduate life, both academically and culturally, and to make the most of the opportunities available at UAL and in London.

Did the scholarship make a difference to your day-to-day life as a student?

The reduction in financial pressure had a meaningful impact on my day-to-day life as a postgraduate student. Not having to rely as heavily on part-time work meant I could dedicate more time to reading, writing, and developing research projects in depth. This allowed me to pursue specific areas of interest within media and cultural criticism and to produce more considered, research led work across the course.

This scholarship shaped how confidently and fully I was able to engage with postgraduate study at UAL. It supported not only my academic development on MA Media, Communication and Critical Practice, but also my ability to take part in UAL’s wider research, events, and alumni communities while living and studying in London.

How did the scholarship influence your postgraduate experience?

Throughout my studies, I regularly attended UAL postgraduate talks, screenings, research events and Career Day openings,  which directly informed my academic writing and critical research.

One event that particularly stayed with me was a postgraduate research screening and panel discussion at London College of Communication that explored archival film practices and the politics of representation in contemporary media. Hearing researchers speak candidly about how they navigated gaps in archives, questioned institutional narratives, and worked across theory and practice reshaped how I approached my own writing.

After attending, I revisited an essay I was drafting and became more confident in situating my argument within wider critical debates rather than treating it as an isolated analysis. It encouraged me to take intellectual risks and to foreground my own critical voice.

Attending Career Day openings and wider career events at Central Saint Martins offered a different but equally valuable extension of my learning.

Listening to industry professionals speak about the realities of creative practice, from pitching ideas to sustaining independent research, helped me understand how academic inquiry translates into professional contexts. These events also provided practical insight into funding pathways, freelance structures, and portfolio development.

What was it like living and studying in London as a scholarship recipient?

Living in London was a central part of my experience. The scholarship supported my ability to remain in the city, allowing me to access exhibitions, film screenings, archives, and cultural institutions that directly fed into my research and written work. Being immersed in London’s media and cultural landscape helped ground my academic interests in real world contexts and supported a more informed and engaged approach to my studies.

How did you find and apply for the scholarship?

Funding information was shared through career events and printed leaflets distributed across campus. These materials outlined scholarship schemes, bursaries, and hardship funds, and often directed students toward specific application windows.

Having access to this information in multiple formats: online, through the university portal, via newsletters and in physical leaflets, made the funding landscape feel more transparent and accessible.

All the funding I applied for was accessed through the UAL website:

• Postgraduate Scholarships and Funding - clearly explains the different awards available, who they are designed to support, and how to apply.
• UAL Home Postgraduate Scholarship - outlines eligibility criteria, what the funding covers, and the application process for home students.
• Fees and Funding - brings together information about scholarships, bursaries and additional support available during postgraduate study.

The university applicant and student portals clearly show personalised funding options like scholarships, deadlines, and application requirements, which helped me stay organised and ensured I did not miss relevant opportunities.

What advice would you give to future applicants?

My biggest advice is not to self-reject and to ask for more support when preparing your application. Being honest about your circumstances and focusing on the practical impact that funding would have on your ability to study and live in London is key. From my own experience, that support can be the difference between simply managing postgraduate study and truly making the most of it.