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Bursary Awards

Bursary Awards

Screen Ireland offers Bursary Awards to assist Irish industry professionals from the screen sector to enhance their career through international skills development and online opportunities.

Important note: International travel must observe all government and HSE guidelines in relation to COVID-19.

About the Funding

When the necessary skills development opportunities are not available physically in Ireland, the Bursary Award allows bursary recipients to participate in in-person or online international skills development programmes, workshops, and structured work programmes to assist their professional development.

The purpose of the scheme is to expose industry practitioners to the best skills development expertise and work situations internationally in person or online. In all cases, bursaries are awarded to ensure professional development and skill enhancement in line with international work standards and best practice.

Screen Ireland offers three types of bursaries to applicants:

  • Funding to attend full time courses and workshops abroad.
  • Funding to participate in a structured work programme within international companies and organisations. The work programme can be designed by the individual to specifically match their skills development needs.
  • Funding to participate in a substantial international online skills development programme.

Over the years Screen Ireland has supported a number of industry professionals to access prestigious international skills programmes like EAVE, ACE Producers, Inside Pictures, Aardman Academy Stop Motion, Documentary Campus Masterschool, ESoDoc and Eurodoc.

Please note:

  • Applications must be submitted a minimum of six weeks prior to commencement of the skills development programme.
  • Applicants may apply for a bursary pending acceptance on a programme.
  • Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Who Can Apply?

This scheme is for industry professionals working in the Irish film, television, animation, and related sectors with a minimum of three years’ full-time experience relevant to the job area of the applicant.

For screen writing bursaries, applicants with one year of experience will be considered if they have obtained development funding from Screen Ireland, the MEDIA Programme, or a national broadcaster for a feature length film script or a television series.

This award scheme is for a skills development programme or a work programme/placement relevant to the applicant’s area of work only. In cases where an applicant is planning a career transition within the industry, the application must clearly demonstrate the applicant’s commitment to the planned career change.

Due to limited resources, the application process is competitive. Benefit to the Irish film, television, animation, and related sectors must accrue from the applicant’s participation on the programme.

Applicants may apply for a bursary pending acceptance on a programme but will only be able to draw down the bursary on presentation of proof of acceptance, evidence of payment of course fee and submission of final budget/cost report outlining all relevant costs (including travel and reasonable accommodation). All award recipients will be required to retain relevant receipts on file in case of future audit. Screen Ireland recommends applicants apply as soon as they plan to undertake a skills development opportunity to ensure a timely response.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be factored into the selection process. 

Application Requirements

Awards are for skills development opportunities only. Individuals will not be supported to return to full-time education, including short term or part-time academic programmes or courses, for example, Masters, Degrees or Diplomas.

Bursaries will not be awarded for one day seminars, conferences, or attendance at film festivals/markets. Awards are for international skills development opportunities or substantial online international programmes only, except for a work placement which may form part of a Screen Ireland programme. 

Retrospective applications will not be accepted.

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Incorrect information may lead to delays in processing of applications. Only one bursary will be awarded per person in a 12-month period.

Any effort to influence a panel member will immediately disqualify.

The award covers up to 70% of the course fee, 70% of travel (flights only) and 70% of accommodation costs. Awards will be made to a maximum of €5,000. In exceptional circumstances the upper limit may be reviewed at the discretion of the funding scheme panel.

Applicants must provide details of all applications to other potential funding sources and outcomes. Failure to do so may result in the withdrawal of support.

Receipts for course/programme fees and cost report of related expenses (travel and reasonable accommodation) along with an invoice must be provided to draw down a bursary. All award recipients will be required to retain all receipts and vouching documentation, in respect of the costs incurred, for a period of three (3) years from the date of completion of the course/programme. The award recipient shall on request supply to Screen Ireland all necessary receipts and vouching documentation in respect of actual costs incurred in the course/programme.

Successful applicants must submit a Reflective Piece up to 12 weeks after the finish date of the programme for final drawdown. This may be posted on the Screen Ireland website and social media channels (if the bursary recipient agrees to this).

Screen Ireland reserves the right to suspend or cancel the award where, in its view, a successful applicant is not meeting the required commitment for the skills/work programme. Where necessary, award recipients will be required to provide information on their progress.

Screen Ireland reserves the right to revise the amount awarded where it is satisfied that incorrect information has been provided.

Screen Ireland assumes no responsibility or liability in relation to any costs or losses arising from any form of travel disruption and the consequences arising therefrom including in relation to flights and/or accommodation. It is the responsibility of the award recipient to ensure appropriate travel insurance is in place.

Screen Ireland will support up to two places on any one programme concurrently.

Award Payments

  • The award will be paid on an instalment basis and will consist of two to three instalments depending on the length and type of the programme.
  • Receipts for course/programme fees and cost report of related expenses (travel and reasonable accommodation) along with an invoice must be provided to draw down a bursary. Only costs relating to expenses for the course fee, travel and reasonable accommodation are eligible. All award recipients will be required to retain relevant receipts on file in case of future audit.
  • The first instalment (75% of the award amount) will be paid up to 30 days from notification to the bursary recipient of the panel’s decision. In some cases, further documentation (e.g., references) may be required from a successful applicant and as such, payment will not be processed until any requested documentation has been received.
  • The final instalment (25% of the award amount) will be paid once the following have been received: 
    1. A Reflective Piece on the skills development course or online course or work programme from the applicant (a template will be provided).
    2. Evidence of satisfactory completion of the skills development course or online course or work programme from the skills development organisation/company. 

How to Apply

Professionals interested in applying for a Screen Ireland Bursary Award should fill in the application form. All applicants must submit the following supporting documentation with their individual application:

  • A current CV with relevant career history in the industry (Please note it is essential to your application that your CV is up to date).
  • Full details of the proposed skills development programme including the structure of the programme, online programme or work programme for which the funding is being sought (as a word document or PDF). 
  • Evidence of acceptance on the skills development programme or work programme (applications will be considered pending acceptance onto the programme). 
  • Two written and signed references from relevant industry professionals, including full contact details of each. 
  • Information regarding applications for any other funding, including responses received.

Where the application is for a work programme or placement, the applicant must provide a proposal which includes the following:

  • Detailed objectives of work programme/placement.
  • A proposed schedule for work programme/placement.
  • Biographies of the host tutor, mentor and profile of company if applicable.
  • A detailed budget breakdown for the programme/placement.
  • Expected achievements and outcomes from the programme/placement.
  • Letter of commitment from placement provider.

The funding scheme panel will meet monthly to assess Bursary Award applications. The panel select applicants and the level of award. This will include an assessment of the following criteria:

  • Benefit of the skills development opportunity to the industry.
  • Relevance of skills development opportunity to applicant’s professional development and immediate up-skilling requirements.
  • Linkage of programme to applicant’s long-term goals, including relevant cross-skilling needs.
  • Commitment and motivation of applicant to continuous development in the screen sector.

Please send any queries to skills.fundingschemes@screenireland.ie

Application Deadline

  • This funding scheme is open all year round.  
  • The deadline for application is the final Friday of each month.

Applications should be made via the application form and sent with “Bursary Awards” as a subject line to: skills.fundingschemes@screenireland.ie

Downloads

Application Form - English

Application Form - Irish