Celeste Markwell

Desperately Seeking Susan. No. Funding. Desperately Seeking Funding to undertake a MFA in Creative Producing at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. 
  
I'm selling up my Melbourne life (storage is not an option!) and hotfooting it to the other side of the world this September to begin my studies. The MFA takes in 6 people each year and applicants apply from all around the world. Central has been a training ground for many pre-eminent theatre practitioners and performers for more than 100 years. The MFA is a vocational course that provides networks and opportunities not available this side of the pond. It's worth the leap!

Any support you can offer will significantly decrease my stress levels; I'm borrowing money to cover the tuition fees, I've applied for an Embassy scholarship from Central as well as the one and ONLY grant I was eligible for from an Australian body (hello, Ian Potter!). If ALL of these come through there will still be a bucket load of expenses that your contribution can go towards.

On July 25th I will be throwing my Farewell/Oh-my-god-I'm-turning-30/Come-collect-your-spoils party. You are all invited for a drink and a goodbye and a rummage through my belongings to collect your Rewards.  

Below is the break down of costs, personal contribution, potential funding and my new debt (!) for the first year of study.
Your pledge will go towards rent, groceries and course costs like books and theatre tickets. 

ONE YEAR OF STUDY COSTS
Tuition fees $31,076 
Accommodation $11,876
Food and utilities $5,425
Daily travel (Oyster card) $2,466
Course costs - books, theatre tickets etc. $2,000
Personal/leisure $4,439
Travel to UK costs - flight + visa + travel insurance $3,000

TOTAL COST: $60,282

PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION
Upfront $6,000
Part time work whilst studying $7,000

POTENTIAL FUNDING 
Ian Potter Cultural Trust $7,000 
Embassy Scholarship $6,000 

LOAN
Loan $30,000