Television and film production student Natasha Graham is among a handful of recipients to be awarded a prestigious national bursary.
Natasha, 19, from Saltburn, is one of just 20 television production and broadcast journalism students from across the country to receive a Royal Television Society (RTS) undergraduate bursary award this year.
As a bursary recipient, first year BA (Hons) Television and Film Production student Natasha will receive £1,000 for each year of the degree to assist with her studies at Teesside University.
The aim of the RTS bursary scheme is to widen participation in media and related industries and help talented people who would benefit from financial support.
Natasha said: “The bursary will make a huge difference as my mum is a single parent. It will be a massive help financially, while the masterclasses and other training placements available through the RTS will also be brilliant.”
Talented musician Natasha, who plays the piano, violin and guitar, already had some experience of the degree course before starting her studies at Teesside, having written the music for a third year student’s film.
She said: “I’m a musician and spent a year with a theatre company before starting the degree, which helped me to make lots of contacts which will be useful when I’m working on projects and films. It’s provided me with a great network to tap into and also gave me a lot of insight into what studying at Teesside was like.
“I heard so many great things about studying at Teesside and the course really appealed to me. I can already tell that the degree will involve a lot of work, but I’m ready for it and really enjoying it. The facilities are really good and it is great that the lecturers all have professional backgrounds in the media industry.”
During their studies, each bursary recipient will receive £1,000 each year of their studies to help with expenses and living costs. They will also receive membership of the RTS and mentoring opportunities with industry members. Recipients were selected by a panel of industry professionals following an open call to UK students applying for courses at accredited universities.