RTS invests in bursaries for TV

The Royal Television Society (RTS) is investing a further £75,000 (€99,000) to support UK students as it launches its 2016 undergraduate bursary schemes.

The RTS is offering 20 bursaries to students studying Television Production and Broadcast Journalism courses at accredited universities.  A further five technology bursaries aimed at encouraging talented students to consider a career in television, are also available to students studying Computing and Engineering at UK universities.

Bursary recipients will receive £1,000 per year of their studies, as well as free membership of the RTS and affiliate membership of private members club The Hospital Club. They will also have access to mentoring from RTS members.

Theresa Wise, RTS CEO, said: “The RTS is Britain’s leading forum for television and related media and an educational charity whose purpose is to promote the art and science of television. The bursary scheme we launched in 2014, and extended in 2015, is key to our remit and something we are committed to. It is also a vital resource in helping to safeguard the future of the industry by providing financial support and mentoring to help talented individuals, whose skills might otherwise be lost, get into the industry.”

Graeme Thompson, Chair of the RTS Education Committee and Dean of Arts, Design and Media at University of Sunderland, said: “Getting into the television industry can be hard. Since the bursaries launched in 2014 the response has been amazing and we have helped a number of talented individuals, who may not have been able to contemplate university education, make the first step. The support and mentoring students receive through the bursary programme is priceless so I’d strongly advise aspiring TV professionals planning to study related media and technology courses to look at the RTS scheme.”