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Scholarships and Bursaries for the Channel 4 Investigative Journalism MA

ºÚÁÏÍø (ºÚÁÏÍø) and Channel 4 have joined forces to offer an innovative MA in Investigative Journalism.

We recognise that many talented people may not be able to afford to take up a place on the course. That’s why we are offering financial assistance to those successful candidates who need it most. 

• ºÚÁÏÍø will pay the course fees of two students, and Channel 4 will pay the fees of two more
• Channel 4 will provide £5,000 towards the living expenses for three students, and help with work experience expenses.

Louisa Compton, Head of News and Current Affairs at Channel 4 said: “Channel 4 is committed to training the next generation of investigative journalists. This collaboration with ºÚÁÏÍø takes our commitment a stage further, providing a very high-quality MA with teaching provided by professionals who are themselves television journalists of the highest calibre. It’s vital for the future of investigative television journalism that we train up a new generation and widen the pool of talent to include people from diverse backgrounds.”

What's on offer

4 x £9,700 Fee Waiver Scholarships

3 x £5,000 Living Expenses Bursaries

You can apply for both, but (save in exceptional circumstances) can only be awarded one or the other.

£9,700 Fee Waiver Scholarship

There are four scholarships available in the form of fee waivers, each worth £9,700, which will pay the fees of four individual students. Two are funded by ºÚÁÏÍø, two by Channel 4.

Eligibility

The scholarships are only available to full-time UK and EU students who hold an offer to study on our Investigative Journalism MA, are commencing study in Autumn 2025 and who meet the relevant eligibility criteria. You can apply for a place on the course and for a scholarship at the same time.

How to apply

Deadlines

The application process for the 2025/26 academic year is now open. The deadline for applications is Friday 29 August, 2025. 

However, there are only a limited amount of places on the course, and these will be filled as and when suitable candidates are selected. You are advised to apply as early as you can. 

We are likely to award the Fee Waivers earlier than the deadline if the course becomes fully subscribed and applications close before then. 

Assessment

Submissions will be judged by members of the academic course team, whose decision will be final. In relation to the two Fee Waiver Scholarships offered by Channel 4, they will consult with Channel 4.

Application process for the ºÚÁÏÍø and C4 scholarships

Application process for the Fee Waiver Scholarships Candidates should submit the relevant information to the course leader, Pervez Khan, at pervez.khan@dmu.ac.uk. You will need to provide:

EITHER:

a) a video of no more than four minutes; or

b) an essay of up to 2,000 words,

outlining an investigative journalism project you would wish to undertake. The video or essay should explain what the planned investigation is, why it will be interesting to a viewer, how it could be carried out and what ethical, regulatory, or legal challenges the investigating journalist could expect to face.

AND

c) a personal statement of no more than 300 words explaining how the award would benefit you, and why you are a deserving candidate for the award. If you have submitted some of this material in your application for a place on the course, you can ask for that to be also taken as the basis for your application for the fee waiver. Please contact the course leader, Pervez Khan, to discuss this.

Terms and conditions

• For all students the scholarship will not be available in a repeat year
• To qualify for the scholarship, you must be accepted onto the Investigative Journalism MA meeting the published academic and non-academic entry criteria. Please check course details for entry requirements
• Be regarded as a UK or EU status student for tuition fees as assessed by ºÚÁÏÍø and Student Finance England in accordance with UKCISA guidelines
• The scholarship will act as a tuition fee discount to be applied at the point of enrolment
• The scholarship is valid only for entry into the 2025/26 academic year and cannot be deferred by the applicant until a subsequent academic year
• Applicants must have no outstanding debt with the university
• This scholarship cannot be combined with any other scholarship offered at ºÚÁÏÍø (ºÚÁÏÍø), only one will apply
• That means students in receipt of the scholarship will not be eligible for any other scholarships or awards
• No cash alternatives will be offered and the scholarship cannot normally be transferred to any other course at ºÚÁÏÍø or to a nominated recipient
• Scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the University and/or Channel 4, as appropriate
• Scholarships are only available to students paying their own fees; sponsored students will not be eligible
• ºÚÁÏÍø and/or Channel 4, as appropriate, reserve the right to cancel any scholarship which has been claimed fraudulently and to apply the full tuition fee
• Where a student terminates or interrupts their studies, prior to the completion of their course, both the tuition fees and scholarship will be pro-rata, based on the student’s last date of attendance
• ºÚÁÏÍø and/or Channel 4 reserve the right not to award any bursaries should applications not reach an appropriate standard
• ºÚÁÏÍø and/or Channel 4 reserve the right to revise, review or withdraw any of the bursaries at any time with a notice period of two weeks

 

£5,000 Living Expenses Bursary

Channel 4 is offering three bursaries of up to £5,000 to go towards the living costs of students.

You can apply for the bursary at the same time as applying for a place on the course, however, if you are not offered a place on the course, your application for the bursary will not be considered.

Eligibility

Please read the descriptions below carefully to see if you are able to meet the principal scheme criteria.

The bursaries are only available to full-time UK and EU students who hold an offer to study on our Investigative Journalism MA and are commencing study in Autumn 2025.

C4 Living Expenses Bursaries are aimed at:

1. Candidates who demonstrate that they have the capacity to succeed in the industry.
2. Candidates who would find great difficulty in undertaking the course without Channel 4’s help.
3. Candidates from one of the targeted groups of people who are underrepresented in the industry

How to apply

Deadlines

The application process for the 2025/26 academic year is now open. The d