Film and TV student lands Royal Television Society bursary
13 March 2026
BA(Hons) Television and Film student Izzy Leadbeater has been awarded a Royal Television Society (RTS) bursary, one of a small number given to students across the UK each year.
When Izzy applied for the 2025 bursary last spring, she was working two jobs to support herself through university. Now several months into the scholarship, she has secured financial support, access to an industry mentor and opportunities to connect with some of the biggest names in British television.
The RTS bursary supports young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds who want to build careers in media. Alongside financial support, recipients gain mentorship, industry networking opportunities and access to events with leading professionals working across the television industry. We caught up with Izzy to find out about the application process and how the bursary is shaping her time at university.
What was the application process like, and what do you think made your application successful?
The application process was relatively simple; you apply via their bursary page on their website, and they give you plenty of information on how to apply and what the scholarship requirements are. I submitted my application in May 2025 with my CV, cover letter and filled-out interview-style questions. They then contact you within around a month to arrange an online interview. The hardest part was the wait to find out whether or not I'd gotten in, which ended up being around five months later.
I found it important to emphasise in my application how much the bursary would help me through my studies. The bottom line of the bursary is to support young people from low-income families during their media and journalism studies. As a student from a lower socio-economic background, I currently work two jobs to support myself throughout the year. I think showing that you're hardworking and willing to go above and beyond for the career and education you want is a key factor in what they look for in their candidates. I also believe having pre-prepared knowledge on the RTS and its role in the television and media landscape was also super helpful. They want someone interested in the organisation itself and not just the opportunities they will gain from it.
The course is full of amazingly like-minded people
You get to choose your own industry mentor – what kind of mentor would help you the most?
Whilst I haven't actually been assigned my mentor yet, the process is pretty flexible and I'm really looking forward to having someone I can go to about all things film and TV. I'm in the process of filling out a form given to me by the RTS that will highlight the kind of role I want to go into, the projects I enjoy working on and the kind of candidate I would like to connect with. Once this is submitted, the team at RTS will start researching and reach out to different industry professionals to see whether or not they would be interested in mentoring. I've seen a lot of success from other RTS bursary candidates where their mentor has helped to get them work and internships, offering some real opportunities.
How have you found the Television and Film course at Falmouth?
I've been really enjoying my time in Falmouth during my course. The support from lecturers and tutors has been great, especially during my application process for this bursary. The course is full of amazingly like-minded people and the access to resources for all aspects of production has been incredible.
What area of film and television are you hoping to go into, and has the scholarship helped shape or confirm that?
I'm hoping to go into production development and research, whether that's in broadcast television or longer-form documentary-style productions. Becoming an RTS scholar really feels like my first proper step towards my career in media. Finding myself in rooms with professionals who are huge presences in the television landscape has felt pretty unreal. In an industry where who you know is everything, the scholarship has helped me to start making these connections whilst studying the course I love.
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