Arts, Design, Tourism & Hospitality: study guide, tips and eligibility checklist

What this study field covers

Fine art, graphic and digital design, fashion, photography, film and television, performing arts and music; and tourism management, hospitality, culinary arts, events and travel qualifications.

Portfolios and selection

Creative programmes often require a portfolio or audition as part of admission, and some funders ask to see the same work. Prepare a small, well-presented selection that shows range and finish rather than everything you have made.

Follow the submission format exactly - file type, size and naming conventions are part of the assessment in practice.

Hospitality and tourism training

Hospitality and culinary programmes are frequently workplace-based, with shifts, uniforms and rotational placements. Confirm hours, location and whether a stipend is paid before accepting a place.

Application tips for arts, design, tourism & hospitality students

1. 1Curate your portfolio for the funder: fewer, stronger, finished pieces with a line explaining each one.
2. 2Credit collaborators honestly and state exactly what you contributed.
3. 3Check whether tools, materials, equipment or kit costs are covered - in this field they are a real expense and are not always included.
4. 4For hospitality, mention any customer-facing or kitchen work you have done, including part-time work.
5. 5Look at learnerships and internships as well as bursaries; a lot of training in this field is workplace-based.

Eligibility checklist

Run through this before you submit. It is a general checklist — the funder’s official requirements are the ones that decide your application.

• You meet the qualification the funder names

  Funders usually name the exact qualifications they fund. If your qualification is not named, contact the funder before spending time on the application.

• Your academic record matches what the advert asks for

  Some adverts state a minimum average or specific subject results. Where no minimum is published, submit your most recent full academic record anyway.

• You have the citizenship or residency status required

  Many South African programmes are limited to South African citizens or permanent residents. International scholarships often have the opposite requirement.

• You can meet any financial-need or household-income test

  Need-based programmes ask for proof of household income. Read what counts as proof and who has to sign it before the closing date.

• You can commit to the conditions attached

  Work-back service, vacation work, relocation, minimum pass requirements and annual re-application are all common. Check what the funder attaches to the award.

• You applied through the official channel, before the deadline

  Apply on the funder's own portal or email address, keep your reference number, and save a copy of everything you submitted.

Common questions

Does a bursary cover materials and equipment?

Sometimes tuition only. The official award letter sets out what is covered, so check before budgeting for kit.

Do I need a portfolio to apply for funding?

Only where the funder asks for one. Where admission requires a portfolio, prepare it early since both deadlines tend to fall close together.