Cowrie Scholarship Foundation

Please check your eligibility before making an application. Awards may be withdrawn if we later become aware successful scholars have not met eligibility criteria or to have provided false information.

You must meet all of the following criteria to be considered for this scholarship:

1. Identify as belong to one of the following ethnic groups:
   • Black or Black British – Caribbean
   • Black or Black British – African
   • Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
   • Mixed – White and Black African
   • Other Black background
2. Have firmly accepted an offer of a place by the relevant UCAS deadline on a first undergraduate full-time degree programme at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (within the School of Music) commencing study in the 2026/2027 academic year.
3. Have been assessed for fee status as a ‘home’ student.
4. Applications are welcome from anyone who has a verified household income of £35,000 per annum or less.
5. Made an application to your regional student funding authority for income assessed UK government financial support for higher education students. The regional student funding authorities are: Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland and the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. Confirmation you will be in receipt of full financial support for the 2026-2027 academic year.
   • Please ensure you have given consent to share the information with RCS, as this information will be used to determine eligibility.

To help us get to know you, the application will ask you for a personal statement of no more than 700 words explaining:

• why the scholarship would be beneficial to your studies
• how it would help you to achieve your academic goals
• how your education would be of future benefit to your community and/or society
• What achievements, academically and personally, you are most proud of. This could include overcoming a challenging personal circumstance. There is no right or wrong answer. We are keen to hear your personal story.

We will also ask you for:

• Your full name
• Your University Applicant ID Number or, if not known, your UCAS Number
• Your full home address (including post code)
• Your programme of study
• Name of the school or college you are currently attending
• Your ethnicity
• Your email address
• Confirmation that you have applied, been assessed for and expect to be in receipt of the maximum level of support from the government through your regional student funding body, Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or Student Finance (England, Wales or Northern Ireland) for tuition fees and maintenance loans and that you have provided consent to share your information with the University.
• Confirmation this is your first undergraduate degree programme, and you have not started a degree programme previously
• Confirmation you understand representatives from The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation will view your application and any submitted documentation as part of the selection process.
• Agreement that your UCAS references (personal and supporting statements) may be used as part of the selection process.

Information about widening access at RCS and audition fee waivers can be found on our Audition Fee Waiver Form

For 2026/27 entry, please submit your application using the Microsoft Form below.

Apply for the Cowrie Scholarship for Music for 2026/27 Entry

A panel of representatives from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will assess applications and compile a shortlist of the strongest applications. The shortlist will be sent to The Cowrie Scholarship Foundation who will make the final decisions.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by the first week of September 2026.

Please do not contact the Foundation as all awards and notifications will come from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.