The Royal Television Society has awarded 40 undergraduate bursaries for 2025.
This year’s recipients come from 32 different institutions across the UK, with 30 students selected for the TV Production and Journalism Bursary (TVPJ) and 10 for the Digital Innovation Bursary (DI). Two TVPJ recipients were also awarded named scholarships: Alyssa Gava, receiving the Steve Hewlett Scholarship, and Alexander Byford the Beryl Vertue Scholarship, introduced by the RTS in 2022 for talented and committed television production scholars.
5 is joining as a new partner, to support six scholars across the TVPJ and DI Schemes over the next three years. This latest partnership follows the announcement of The Andy Taylor Foundation, which joined the Digital Innovation panel in 2025 to provide support to two scholars who are looking to start their career in digital media. All3Media, Apple TV, the Steve Hewlett Memorial Fund, Hartswood Films and STV are all continuing their support from previous years.
The successful scholars receive financial support to assist with their expenses and living costs, access to events and a free RTS membership while studying, with an additional year after graduation. The RTS will also set up mentoring opportunities, matching each awardee with an industry professional. On graduating, the recipients will also be given complementary access to the RTS Mini MBA, a pioneering industry-led online course which provides a comprehensive business understanding of the television and streaming media sector.
Theresa Wise, CEO of the Royal Television Society, said: “Education remains a key focus for the RTS and continuing to widen access to the television industry goes hand in hand with this. We are delighted to have 5 onboard to provide support for 2025 alongside our other fantastic partners, and we look forward to working closely with the new scholars and watching them flourish and join the ranks of our ever-growing community of bursary scheme graduates thriving as industry practitioners.”
Kirsty Dunlop, a 2025 bursary graduate and Trainee Set Dress and Prop Maker at Aardman, said: “Being part of the RTS Bursary Scheme has honestly been one of the most incredible experiences of my life. The guidance, opportunities, and contacts I’ve gained through the scheme have played a huge part in helping me get to this point – and I’m so, so grateful. It’s hard to put into words how much it all means to me. Thank you again for everything. I’m really looking forward to what’s ahead and continuing to be part of this wonderful community.”
To date, the RTS has invested over £1million in the schemes. The schemes attract widespread industry backing in the form of donations to fund bursaries and in-kind support, such as mentoring, hosting networking events, and offering internships and work experience. Donations from All3Media, the Andy Taylor Foundation, Apple TV, Hartswood Films, Paramount, the Steve Hewlett Memorial Fund, and STV, as well as in-kind support from many other companies and individuals, have enabled the scheme to grow and flourish.
With this latest cohort, a total of 413 scholars are now supported by the RTS throughout their studies and future careers.
Television Production and Broadcast Journalism Bursary Scholars:
Steve Hewlett Scholarship:
Alyssa Gava, Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism, University of East Anglia
RTS Television Production and Journalism Scholars:
Eva Banks, Film Practice, London College of Communication
Ben Bridges, Film Arts and Communication, Leeds Trinity University
Mya Brown, Film and Television Production, University of Hertfordshire
Oliver Caig, Digital Film & TV, Liverpool Media Academy
William Carter, Film, TV and Theatre Production, The Northern School of Art
Alyssa Chitolie, Biomedical Science, Anglia Ruskin University
Adriana Coulter, Media and Communications, Cardiff University
Kelsey Duffy, Film, Falmouth University
Grace Ford, Film and Television, University of the Arts London
Honey Forty, English and Media & Communications, University of Exeter
Suhana Haque, Journalism, City St George’s University of London
Lauren Hooker, Content, Media and Film Production, Met Film School
Summer Hyde, Filmmaking: Production, Bristol Film School
Yumna Iqbal, Multimedia Journalism, Plymouth Marjon University
Rejwan Gareb-Karim, Film Production, University of Lincoln
Elias Woolfe, Media Production, Nottingham Trent University
Sumaiya Khanom, Journalism, University of London
Gracie Kirlew, Television & Film Production, Falmouth University
Isabel Leadbeater, Film and Television, Falmouth University
Jessica Mason, Content, Media and Film Production, MetFilm School Leeds
Dillon McNamara, Filmmaking, Manchester Metropolitan University
Layla Parsons, Media Production, University of Lincoln
Ashleigh Rollins, Sports Journalism, Plymouth Marjon University
Clareece Saysell, TV and Film Set Design, University of South Wales
Polina Vaker, Television, City of Glasgow College
May Waller Hyde, Digital Film Production, Northampton College
Leela West, Practical Filmmaking, MetFilm School
Karina Whelan, Film Production, University of Gloucester
Digital Innovation Scholars:
Zineb Mhammedi Alaoui, Computer Systems, University of Bath
Firas Assa, Computer Science, University of Edinburgh
Lily Curbishley, HND The Animation Industry, UCEN Manchester
Omolayo (Ayo) Feyintola, Filmmaking, Nottingham Trent University
Matvii (Matthew) Kondratiuk, Film, Edinburgh Napier University
Jesse Moseley, The Art of Visual Effects, Escape Studios
Ilyas Ourida, Electronic and Information Engineering, Imperial College London
George Rathbone, Film, Falmouth University
Andy Taylor Foundation Scholars (DI):
Ester Kimete Hodzha, Graphic Media Design, London College of Communication
Rayyan Muhammad Zulfaisal, Media Production, Bournemouth University
Pippa Considine
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