Professional Development Fund

Overview

The Professional Development Fund - Investing In Your Creative Future   

We know that the Cost of Living Crisis is making it harder to say yes to exciting opportunities outside your course. That’s why we’ve created the Professional Development Fund - to help break down some of the financial barriers and support you in building your creative career while studying at UAL. 

Whether you're dreaming of hosting your first exhibition, submitting your work for an already established exhibition opportunity, selling your work at a craft market or art fair, or travelling to a creative event to help expand your professional network - this fund is here to help make it happen. 

 

You can apply for up to £250 to support a self-led, extra-curricular project that supports your professional practice.

Think: 

• Buying materials to experiment with a new idea or technique 

• Hiring a gallery/venue to showcase your art 

• Printing pieces to sell at a market or fair 

• Or better yet, buying the equipment that allows you to print your own work 

• Covering travel or childcare costs so you can attend a creative event or opportunity

• Covering application or entry fees that might otherwise hold you back from applying

• Working with a designer to build your very first website 

• Paying for digital tools or software to help develop your work 

• Or anything else that helps you grow as a creative — we want to hear your ideas! 

 

 

And this year, we’ve teamed up with Cass Art, who are offering extra funding to purchase materials from their stores. We hope that by having access to free art materials, this will help enable your creative production, experiment with new techniques and materials, and build your creative portfolio. So when you apply, let us know if you’re looking for: 

• Open funding (e.g. venue hire, printing, transport etc.) 

or 

• Materials funding (e.g. paint, clay, tools — anything that can be bought from Cass Art stores) 

 

Quick Things to Know Before You Apply: 

• Your project must be extra-curricular - not part of your graded coursework at UAL. 

• You must be a current UAL student - all years, courses, and colleges are welcome to apply. 

• You can apply to this fund as an individual, or you may choose to apply as a group of students. If you are applying as a group, everyone must be a current UAL student. You will also need to nominate a project lead who will be the main contact for the Arts SU. 

• In the application form you’ll need to tell us how much you are applying for, what you intend to use the funds for, and how the funding would support your professional development. 

• This fund is not means tested - it’s open to everyone. 

• If selected for this fund, you’ll spend first, save your receipts, and we’ll reimburse you after. We understand that not everyone can easily cover costs upfront. If being reimbursed later feels difficult, please tell us in your application, and we can explore flexible options together. 

 

This funding opportunity is open to all current students at UAL, but we also want to ensure we are reaching students who may face additional financial barriers when trying to develop their professional practice outside of their studies. So, when applying, please let us know if any of the following apply to you: 

• You’re the first in your family to attend university 

• You’re from a low-income background 

• You have caring responsibilities 

• You’re a mature student 

• You’re a disabled student 

• You’re from a marginalised or underrepresented community in the arts 

This helps us better understand your circumstances and ensure the fund is reaching those who need it most. It won’t affect your eligibility - it just helps us offer more equitable support to our students. 

Ready to take your creative practice to the next level? Then apply now! 

Deadline for applications: 18th January 2026 

 

Skills you can gain from this opportunity: 

Just by applying to this opportunity, you will develop your transferable skills. It will build your application writing, articulating your aspirations, demonstrating proactive behaviour and ambition, and learning to seek constructive feedback.  

If selected for this opportunity, we hope you will develop your skills in:   

Professional and Business Skills                                                        

Career Readiness 

Arts Programme Skills Recognition framework