Martha Vidor Scholarship for Composition 2026 for UK Masters

The Martha Vidor Scholarship for Composition seeks to fund postgraduate study for talented UK composers.

In each academic year, one scholarship will be made available to a UK student progressing to composition studies through the MRes Music. The scholarship takes the form of a full fee waiver to the value of the UK tuition fee, as stated on the programme page.

Summary

1. Application Deadline: July 20, 2026
2. Study Level: Masters
3. Value: Full tuition fee waiver (UK rate)
4. Sponsor: University of Liverpool
5. City to study: Liverpool
6. School to study: University of Liverpool
7. Eligible Country: United Kingdom

Eligibility Criteria for Martha Vidor Scholarship for Composition 2026 for UK Masters

1. Applicants must be UK students and able to demonstrate this.
2. The eligibility of applicants will be considered as part of the standard application procedure, which, in the case of a composition-based Music MRes, should include the submission of a composition dossier, as explained above. There is no separate application process for the scholarship.
3. Composers for film or film music researchers will not be considered for the scholarship and should instead consider applying for the Composition for Film, TV and Games MA, which has its own scholarship scheme.
4. As part of the MRes application process, applicants should also include a written proposal, the themes and ideas of which will clearly link to the musical works submitted.
5. The successful candidate will keep the University regularly updated on their progress and achievements.
6. The successful candidate will be required to assist in the promotion of the scholarship and the MRes Music programme as appropriate and when requested to do so.
7. The scholarship will cover the value of the full-time UK tuition fee for that particular academic year and will be awarded in the form of a waiver of the tuition fees. The scholarship is also available to students applying to study on a part-time basis. In this instance, the full fee waiver will be split over the two years of study to cover both years of fees on a pro rata basis.
8. The scholarship is conditional on successful academic progress and demonstration of professional behaviour. The panel reserves the right to withdraw or suspend the Scholarship if there are any reasons for concern.
9. Due to the nature of the award (i.e., tuition fee waiver), it cannot be claimed in conjunction with another scholarship or bursary that constitutes a reduction on tuition fees (e.g., the UoL Graduate Loyalty Advancement Scholarship).
10. No cash alternative is available. Should the successful student decide to permanently withdraw from their studies, the award will be forfeited. A student who wishes to suspend their studies and resume them at a later date will be able to claim the remainder of the scholarship on a pro-rata basis, depending on the proportion of the programme already studied.

Applicants are required to apply for the MRes Music programme by 20 July 2026. The successful candidate will be informed by 1 August 2026 or soon thereafter.

Benefits of Martha Vidor Scholarship for Composition 2026 for UK Masters

The scholarship takes the form of a full fee waiver to the value of the UK tuition fee

How to Apply

There is no separate application process for the scholarship, but as part of your application for the MRes Music (specialising in composition), you should submit up to three examples of your compositional work and, if available, recordings of these.

The music submitted should demonstrate expertise and an original musical outlook. The musical works should clearly link up with themes and ideas from the written proposal which you will be required to submit as part of the standard MRes application process.

To submit your composition dossier, please send a maximum of three compositions (acoustic, fixed media, realtime electronic, multimedia, or installations) to Ben Hackbarth (b.hackbarth@liverpool.ac.uk) in a single email. Submitted works should meet the following criteria:

1. scores should be in pdf format and include all relevant information to reproduce the work;
2. videos of works may be submitted;
3. multi-channel works must be submitted in stereo;
4. MIDI recordings are acceptable where audio recordings do not yet exist.

Please note: electronic submission of all materials in encouraged using download links that do not expire, such as Dropbox. Submissions by post cannot be returned to applicants.

For more details, visit University of Liverpool Scholarship webpage

Application Deadline

July 20, 2026

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Martha Vidor Scholarship for Composition 2026 for UK Masters