LSA launches new bursary scheme for students from low-income backgrounds Copy

The London School of Architecture is excited to announce a new bursary programme made possible by a generous donation from the Zaha Hadid Foundation, which offers funding to students from low income households. These bursary  – life-changing for their recipients – are part of the school’s renewed commitment to widening access to and participation in architectural education. They also fulfil the ambition of the LSA’s fundraising campaign, Open Up! New Ways Through Architecture.

The new programme will offer 3 x full fees and maintenance bursary for the LSA’s M.Arch (Part 2) in Designing Architecture. The value of these awards amounts to £36,000 per student across the two-year programme, on top of the £12,000 (minimum) salary students are guaranteed to earn through its Practice Placement in the first year of study.

The bursaries are aimed at talented prospective Part 2 students from low-income backgrounds (household income of 25,000 or lower) and refugees who would otherwise be unable to pursue their architectural studies. Students must be eligible for ‘home’ fees and will need to qualify as one of the following:

•  Independent (i.e over 25 and not financially dependent on parents)
• Young Independent (i.e. under 25 and not financially dependent on parents), or;
• Refugee or a Person Granted Humanitarian Protection – possibly dependent financially on
  parents or relatives.

Recognising the specific barriers to progressing in architecture that may be experienced by people with particular intersecting identities, we strongly encourage applications from those who identify as having protected characteristics under the Equalities Act (2010), especially those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities in line with our Access and Participation Plan, those from LGBTQ+ communities, women and disabled/neurodivergent applicants.

The LSA is hugely proud to partner with the Zaha Hadid Foundation on this bursary programme which will carve out vital space for students to develop their practice at the school. Dame Zaha Hadid was a pioneering architect whose practice and teaching paved the way for future generations of architects. The LSA wants these scholarships  to respect this spirit by allowing recipients to be whoever they want to be as an architect, removing financial worry for their duration, allowing them to focus on their placement, their studies, and cultivating their professional network.

Dr Neal Shasore, Chief Executive and Head of School, LSA said:

‘It is a privilege to work with the Zaha Hadid Foundation in launching their first scholarships  programme. With their help we can reach students who would otherwise struggle to further their architectural education. This donation fulfils the ambitions of our ‘Open Up!’ fundraising campaign, and we look forward to announcing details of its next phase in due course.’

Download the full press release here.

Read more about the bursary here and begin an application to the LSA here.