The British Fashion Council (BFC) is delighted to reveal the esteemed recipients of the 2023/24 BFC Foundation BA and MA Scholarships. These highly sought-after scholarships offer crucial financial support to students who have received offers from or are currently pursuing MA or BA programs at BFC Colleges Council member universities.
In the current year, ten outstanding new students have been awarded a variety of MA scholarships, joining one existing MA recipient. Furthermore, ten new BA students have earned this prestigious recognition, while five returning BA scholarship recipients continue their journey. Notably, some of these scholarships are closely tied to renowned brands, offering invaluable mentorship opportunities from these illustrious labels.
The BFC regards these scholarship recipients as integral to its commitment to the future of the UK and the broader global fashion sector. Selection is based on exceptional talent and financial need.
This year’s MA Scholarship Recipients include Benjamin Savizon and Frankie Staples from Central Saint Martins. MA Final Year Scholarship Recipients comprise Ellis Routledge, Gracey Owusu-Agyemang, Jonathan Ferris, and Zachary Anderson from Central Saint Martins, as well as Jamie Backshall from the University of Westminster. The Royal College of Art’s Nusra Nijimbere is the proud recipient of the Chanel MA Scholarship, with Joshua Ewusie from Central Saint Martins returning as the Chanel MA scholar. Both scholars will receive ongoing mentorship from Amanda Harlech throughout their scholarship tenure.
The Dior Men Scholarship is awarded to Zeshaan Iqbal from the University of Westminster, while Taya Francis from Nottingham Trent University was previously announced as the first-ever recipient of the Joe Casely-Hayford MA Scholarship.
Shifting focus to the BA Scholarship Recipients, this year’s distinguished awardees include Aaron Adkins from Manchester Fashion Institute, Aliyah Dankwah from the University of Westminster, and Luke Saul and Zahra Al-Najjar from Central Saint Martins. Returning BA scholars for this year encompass Aleksandra Dulic Mezak from Manchester Fashion Institute, James Rowland from the University of Westminster, and Jeongmin Ji and Roy Carmona from Central Saint Martins. The BA Final Year Scholarship Recipients include Alexander Mills and Malika Deanne-Augustus from London College of Fashion, Hanna Pachuta from the University of East London, and Andrew Kent, Sabreen Hassan, Stella Satie, and Yodea Marquel Williams-Braham from Central Saint Martins.
For the current year, the BFC Foundation has earmarked £250,000 to support its twenty-six MA and BA scholarship recipients.
Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the BFC, emphasized the critical importance of nurturing fashion talent, stating, «Strengthening and future-proofing the pipeline of fashion talent is core to the work of the BFC, and now more than ever, it is critical to support BA and MA students at such a fundamental time in their technical and creative development.»
Sarah Mower, panel Chair and BFC Ambassador for Emerging Talent, added, «The BFC scholarship scheme, and the program built into it, is a crucial means of combating the barriers to opportunities represented by rising fees, living expenses, and costs in UK fashion education. Every year, we are impressed and humbled by the variety and depth of the stories and social purpose students are expressing. With the right financial support, their ideas and solutions will positively shape the future of the fashion industry at large — not just in the UK, but globally. That’s why we are incredibly grateful to Dior and Chanel, in supporting named BFC scholarships. I’d like to urge more companies to come forward to see and enjoy engaging with this scheme — the value of it is always as much in what young people can teach us, as the other way around.»
