Royal College of Art and Max Mara launch new scholarships

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Dec 13, 2022

Globally renowned institution the Royal College of Art (RCA) has linked up with Max Mara to offer students who face financial hardship the opportunity to enrol on the MA Fashion programme in the School of Design. Also included is the opportunity for the students to gain paid experience at Max Mara’s HQ.

It comes as part of the RCA’s wider commitment to making postgraduate study open to people from all backgrounds and sees it increasing the number of scholarships available to students experiencing financial hardship. In fact, for this academic year, more than 180 scholarships, awards and prizes are available to students there.

The latest initiative funded by the Italian luxury label will benefit two students a year. The scholarships will add up to £30,000 per person and include full tuition fees as well as a contribution towards maintenance and materials. 

They’ll be open from the next academic year, starting in September 2023, and will run over the next three years.

Max Mara said it’s seeking to “cultivate the next generation of visionary designers at the RCA by eliminating financial obstacles so that they can fulfil their creative potential”.

As mentioned, alongside the educational funding, the students could benefit from international industry experience through a paid design internship in the fashion studio at the Max Mara headquarters in Reggio Emilia, Italy. 

Max Mara Creative Director Ian Griffiths is an RCA graduate (he gained an MA in Fashion Design there in 1987) and one of his first projects at the college was a Max Mara competition that “inspired his move to join the brand as a designer upon graduation”.

His links to the college have also now seen him appointed as an Honorary Visiting Professor.