How to Fund Your Makeup Artist Training at The Iver Makeup Academy

The cost of professional training is one of the most important practical considerations for anyone applying to The Iver Makeup Academy, and it is one that the academy takes seriously. Training at a ScreenSkills Select accredited school with tutors who hold BAFTA, Emmy, and Oscar nominations, based at Pinewood Studios, represents a significant investment in a professional career. There are a range of funding options available that can make that investment more manageable, and understanding them early in the application process is the most effective way to plan.

This post sets out the main routes available to prospective students, from scholarships and bursaries to payment plans and industry funding, so that cost does not become a barrier to accessing the standard of training the industry recognises and respects.

The BAFTA Scholarship Programme

Students applying for the 30-week Advanced Certificate in Makeup and Hair Artistry are eligible to apply for the BAFTA Scholarship Scheme. The BAFTA Scholarship Programme selects a small number of individuals each year across all creative disciplines, assessed on the basis of talent, commitment, and financial need. The selection process is independently assessed, and the fact that The Iver Makeup Academy is the only makeup school whose students have been awarded multiple BAFTA Scholarships for training on the Advanced Course is a meaningful signal of the calibre of student the academy attracts and supports.

Beyond the financial contribution towards tuition, BAFTA Scholarships include access to mentoring from industry professionals and career development support that extends well beyond the training period. For a student who qualifies, the scholarship provides both practical funding and an externally recognised credential that carries genuine weight with employers in the film and television industries.

The Iver Makeup Academy Bursary

The Iver Makeup Academy offers its own bursary programme for students enrolling on professional makeup and hair courses. The bursary of up to a maximum of £10,000 is available to eligible students who have been offered a place on the Advanced Certificate in Makeup and Hair Artistry. Applications for the January 2027 course intake reopen in November 2026.

Bursary applications are assessed on the basis of artistic talent, portfolio quality, demonstrated financial need, commitment to a career in the makeup and hair industry, and the strength of the applicant’s long-term professional goals. The bursary is designed to ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent talented individuals from accessing high-quality professional training, and the assessment process reflects that intention. Prospective students who believe they may qualify are encouraged to enquire with the admissions team as early as possible in the application process.

ScreenSkills Bursaries

The Iver Makeup Academy Advanced Certificate holds ScreenSkills Select accreditation, which means that eligible students can apply for bursary funding through ScreenSkills, the industry-led skills body for the UK’s screen-based industries. ScreenSkills bursary support is targeted at students from lower-income households, those facing financial hardship, and individuals from groups that are underrepresented within the film and television industries. The programme is designed to encourage greater diversity within the screen industry workforce, and the funding can contribute meaningfully towards course-related costs.

Eligibility criteria and award amounts vary and are assessed by ScreenSkills directly. Prospective students who think they may qualify should explore the ScreenSkills website for current bursary availability and apply as early as possible, as awards are competitive and funding cycles are fixed.

Flexible Payment Plans

Not every student is in a position to meet tuition fees in a single payment, and The Iver Makeup Academy offers interest-free payment plans that allow students to spread the cost of their course across the training period. This arrangement makes professional makeup training accessible at different financial stages without the student needing to delay their start date while accumulating the full fee in advance.

Payment plan arrangements are discussed as part of the admissions process, and the academy’s team is available to talk through the most appropriate structure for individual circumstances. Students who are considering this option are encouraged to raise it early in their application so that planning can be built into the timeline from the outset.

External Grants and Wider Funding

A number of external funding organisations support individuals pursuing careers in the creative industries, and it is worth researching these alongside the options available directly through the academy. The Film and TV Charity administers the Sir Horace Ove Grant, which provides grants of up to £500 to support Black and Global Majority film, TV, and cinema workers in accessing opportunities and navigating barriers to career progression. For eligible students, this is a meaningful contribution towards course-related costs and one of the more directly relevant external funding routes available.

Arts Council England provides funding for creative practitioners across training, mentoring, and professional development. Students based in Northern Ireland may be entitled to additional financial support through regional programmes. The Prince’s Trust offers funding of up to £500 for eligible applicants, which can contribute towards course materials, kit, or travel costs.

The academy admissions team is available to advise on which external programmes may be relevant to a student’s situation and can point applicants towards current funding opportunities at the time of enquiry.

Planning Your Application

The most effective approach to funding professional training is to begin researching options as early as possible. Scholarship and bursary application deadlines are fixed and linked to course intake dates, so leaving the funding conversation until after a place has been offered can mean missing the windows that matter most. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the admissions team at the point of initial enquiry to understand the full picture of what is available and how to apply.

If you would like to discuss funding options, course costs, or the application process, the team at The Iver Makeup Academy is available to help. Contact us directly or visit us at an Open Day, where you can speak to the team in person, see the facilities at Pinewood Studios, and ask questions about the training, the career outcomes, and the financial routes that can make it achievable.