Brian May Scholarship

The Brian May Scholarship was established under the Will of the late Brian May, Australia's leading film composer, who passed away on April 25, 1997. Brian May was passionate about supporting and promoting the art of film composition in Australia.

The Scholarship assists promising Australian film composers (ordinarily resident in Australia) to study film scoring at an overseas educational institution. The Trustees have been given the power to choose an education programme which fulfils Brian May's stated wishes in his Will.

The Trust offers a scholarship to study for a two year Master of Music in Composition - Scoring for Film and Multimedia Degree at NYU Steinhardt in New York City.

This Master of Music Degree is based in the Music Composition Program and provides a broad based curriculum and intensive professional training in film scoring.

It is intended that the Brian May Scholarship will be awarded every two years subject to economic conditions and demand.

The Scholarship value and method of payment are determined by the Trustees in their absolute discretion under the Will of Brian May.

The Trustees have determined that the value of the 2016-18 Scholarship will be AUD$90,000.00 and will be paid as a contribution to the cost of the successful candidate undertaking the Master of Music in Composition - Scoring for Film and Multimedia Degree at NYU Steinhardt, over a two year period.

It must be stressed that the Scholarship will not fully cover the total cost of attending and completing the course. The Trustees expect that the Scholarship amount will fully cover tuition fees at NYU Steinhardt but this will depend on a number of variables such as future fee levels and exchange rates.

Living in New York City can be expensive. Potential applicants must investigate and familiarise themselves with the likely cost of travel, tuition, equipment, books and materials, accommodation and living expenses for the two year duration of the course of study at NYU Steinhardt.

The Trustees have determined that, for the purposes of the Scholarship, an applicant will be deemed to be ordinarily resident in Australia if:

(1) The applicant has his or her permanent home in Australia; or

(2) Australia is the country of his or her permanent home not withstanding that he or she is temporarily absent from Australia.

To be considered to be ordinarily resident, applicants must show an overriding element of permanent residence in Australia, to be contrasted with a place where he or she stays only casually or intermittently.

The applicant will be deemed not to be ordinarily resident in Australia if they reside in Australia for a special or non-permanent purpose only.

Australian or foreign citizenship is not necessarily a determining factor.

The Trustees will decide in their absolute discretion whether applicants are deemed to be ordinarily resident in Australia based upon evidence provided by them.

2. Applicants must satisfy the requirements of NYU Steinhardt for admission. This will normally require a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition or equivalent.

Applicants must satisfy themselves about entry requirements by visiting the relevant website http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/music/scoring and the following pages. Enquiries can be sent to Dr Ron Sadoff, Director of Film Scoring, at ron.sadoff@nyu.edu.

3. The successful applicant will also need a valid passport, an F-1 student visa to the United States and a completed non-immigrant visa application

4. International students on student visas must be registered as full time students with NYU Steinhardt. Applicants must make those arrangements directly with the Office for International Students and Scholars. This is an important resource for international students and prospective applicants should visit the website at http://www.nyu.edu/global/visa-and-immigration/.

5. Visa, entry and ETSA (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/) requirements for the USA are stringent and time consuming. Applicants must ensure they are fully conversant with them and are eligible to enter the USA for this course of study.

1. Applicants must complete

(1) a Brian May Scholarship Application, and

(2) a separate application to be sent directly to NYU Steinhardt.

2. It is emphasised that applicants cannot be considered unless they have completed and lodged both applications.

3. The Brian May Scholarship Application Form for the 2018-2020 Scholarship will be made available during September 2017.

4. Applicants must comply with the separate application criteria prescribed by the Brian May Scholarship and NYU Steinhardt.

5. Application for admission to NYU Steinhardt must be made directly to NYU Steinhardt and applicants are responsible for meeting all of the relevant requirements.

6. The Brian May Scholarship Application must be made directly to the Trustees and applicants must attach a copy (not the original) of the NYU Steinhardt Application (not accompanying materials).

7. Applicants must attach to their NYU Steinhardt Application a Letter of Authority, which is set out at the end of the Brian May Scholarship Application form.

8. The Trustees are not in a position to assist or advise on any of the requirements of NYU Steinhardt for this course.

This application will be reviewed by the Trustees to ensure that the applicant understands, meets and commits to the wishes and intentions of Brian May in establishing the Scholarship under his Will.

The following matters will be considered:

appropriate academic qualifications;
background in and commitment to film scoring, particularly as part of the Australian film and music scene;
interests and ambitions: how would the Scholarship contribute to the Applicant’s aspirations?;
knowledge of the benefactor, Brian May, and his works; and
Australian residential qualifications.

A copy of the NYU Steinhardt application (not accompanying materials) must be lodged with the Brian May Scholarship Application.

All properly completed NYU Steinhardt applications will be reviewed by the University in accordance with its normal procedures.

3. Selection

The University will choose and recommend to the Trustees its preferred candidate. Provided the Trustees are satisfied that the nominee meets all of the requirements of the Scholarship, they will confirm the selection and notify the successful candidate.

[Note: candidates will not be notified by NYU].

2. On notification of the Scholarship award, the awardee must then provide the Trustees with written acceptance of the Scholarship within fourteen (14) days of being notified of their selection.

3. Written acceptance will be in a form prepared by the Trustees and forwarded to the awardee.

4. Once the Trustees have received the awardee's written acceptance, the Trustees will notify NYU Steinhardt that the Scholarship has been awarded. The University will then confirm the placement offer directly to the awardee who must complete all of the University's acceptance procedures and requirements.

5. The awardee must also complete all immigration and security requirements through the US Consulate in Sydney. This may require the awardee to personally attend the Consulate.

6. The Trustees at all times reserve the right to withdraw the Scholarship from an awardee in their absolute discretion should the awardee:

   (1) not enrol in the NYU Steinhardt programme;

   (2) fail to achieve satisfactory results in the course of study;

   (3) commit an offence under Australian, US or other laws which the Trustees consider to be detrimental to the Trust; or

   (4) behave in any other way that the Trustees consider to be detrimental to the Trust.