Scholarships

Several scholarships are available through the School of Music. For auditioned programs, your admission audition serves as a music talent scholarship audition. For non-auditioned programs, make sure you schedule an audition so that you are also considered for music talent scholarships.

Once you’ve scheduled your audition, you don’t need to complete a separate form to be considered for these talent awards, but you must fill out the UNC Scholarship Application if you want to be considered for additional foundation awards.

Recommendations for music talent scholarships are made by the faculty in each applied area and are finalized by the Director of the School of Music. Scholarship offers are sent to your mailing address in April.

If you are a returning student who wants to renew their scholarship or who wants to be considered for additional scholarships, you must complete the UNC Scholarship Application each academic year before November 1.

Your admission audition/interview will serve as a music talent scholarship/assistantship audition. Recommendations for music talent scholarships and assistantships are made by the faculty in each applied area and are finalized by the Director of the School of Music. Assistantships carry a stipend and tuition support.

In addition to university-level scholarships, the School of Theatre Arts and Dance also offers talent scholarships. To be eligible, you must be admitted to a program within the School of Theatre Arts and Dance. For the BFA Musical Theatre, BFA Acting, BFA Design and Technology, and BA Theatre Education majors, your audition and/or interview for admission serves as your application for talent scholarships. The final step in the talent scholarship process is to complete the UNC Scholarship Application in your Ursa account. You are only able to access Ursa and this application if you have been admitted.

BA Theatre Studies majors can be considered for talent scholarships by scheduling an interview. You can schedule this by emailing PVA.Admissions@unco.edu.

If you are a returning student who wants to renew their scholarship or who wants to be considered for additional scholarships, you must complete the UNC Scholarship Application each academic year before November 1.

In addition to university-level scholarships, the School of Art and Design also offers talent and foundation scholarships through portfolio submission. To be eligible, you must be admitted to a program within the School of Art and Design.

If you are a returning student who wants to renew their scholarship or who wants to be considered for additional scholarships, you must complete the UNC Scholarship Application each academic year before November 1.

• New students:
  • Apply by 3/15 for full scholarship consideration
  • Scholarship offered by 4/1
• Returning students:
  • Apply for full scholarship consideration by 4/15
  • Scholarship offered in May

*Please note that scholarship offers may not show up immediately in URSA.

Include the following materials in a single PDF document:

• Cover Page
• • First and last name
• List and descriptions of artwork
  • Title of each work
  • Media used
  • Description of each piece (50 words or less)
• Images of artwork
  • Include five different pieces
  • One piece per page
  • Include only one image of each piece
• Statement of Educational Goals
  • Between 250 and 500 words

• Scan/photograph flatwork (drawings, paintings, etc.) to fill the digital image completely. Do not include a border, matte, or frame.
• We strongly encourage incoming first-year students to include work in a variety of media.
• If you are submitting video, animation, or other time-based work, please include a web link in your PDF.
• If you have an online portfolio or professional website, you may include a link on your cover page.

• Photograph your work on a large, smooth, neutral, solid-colored background (gray or beige) without distracting textures.
• Do not shoot your artwork on a pure white or black background (the dramatically light or dark color of the background will interfere with your camera’s internal metering system and produce an under- or over-exposed image).
• Shoot your work so that it is perpendicular to the camera lens. Otherwise, the lens will create unusual distortions.
• When shooting two-dimensional pieces, it may be easier to lay your work on the ground and position yourself above the work. Using a ladder or tripod may help you position yourself high enough to avoid cropping any of the artwork. Large work may need to be propped up on a support and shot straight on.
• When shooting three-dimensional work, make sure to position the work carefully for the most descriptive point of view. This may require positioning yourself above or below the work, or shooting an additional view from a different vantage point.
• Shoot tightly, emphasizing the piece you are shooting. Pay attention to everything in your frame. Do not include mattes, frames or distracting background elements.
• Do not shoot any framed artwork under glass. The camera will capture distracting highlights and reflections in the glass.
• Shoot your work outdoors, preferably on an overcast day. Do not shoot in a bright sunny location. The sunlight will create extreme highlights and distracting shadows. If you cannot shoot on an overcast day, then place your work on the north side of a building, again to avoid extreme lighting.
• If your camera has manual controls, you should “bracket” your exposures, meaning you should shoot at the camera’s suggested meter reading as well as shooting two additional frames, one under and one over the suggested meter reading. For example, if your automatic setting records the piece at f/11, shoot another at f/16 and another at f/8.
• Ask your art teacher for assistance if you are unsure about capturing good quality images for your portfolio.

You are welcome, but not required, to use one of our templates to create your scholarship portfolio. If you choose to use a template, you may modify it as you see fit.

• Microsoft Word Template
• Microsoft PowerPoint Template
• PDF Template

Digital Portfolio Submission Form