ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

OVERVIEW

Final-year undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to apply for Alumni Scholarship Awards to aid the completion of final projects: thesis, portfolio, or components of final projects. These cash awards are intended to cover project expenses. Applications are reviewed and rated by an alumni jury whose recommendations are approved by the SVA Alumni Society Board of Directors. Award details and eligibility requirements are outlined below. In 2026, 92 projects were funded a total of $62,500.

Complete information and guidelines will be available on this page in late September 2026.

WHO CAN APPLY?

  • Students must be in their final year at SVA, planning to graduate in the winter, spring, or summer of 2027.

  • Students must be matriculated (BFA, MFA, MPS, MA, or MAT candidates) in any major.

  • Students must complete their final projects by the end of the winter, spring, or summer 2027 semester.

  • Students must be in good academic standing with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

  • These scholarships are available to international and domestic students.

  • Students may not apply multiple times while completing the same degree, even if their graduation year changes.

WHAT PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING?

  • Funding supports the direct costs of completing required final projects (thesis, portfolio, or components of final projects). 

  • Questions about project eligibility can be directed to alumnisociety@sva.edu.

  • All projects must be completed by the end of the winter, spring, or summer 2027 semester.

WHAT AWARDS ARE AVAILABLE?

  • Awards are funded by the general Alumni Scholarship Fund or by select named scholarship funds as determined by the scholarship review jury. (See a list of funds here, under “Alumni Scholarship Awards Funds.”)

  • Awards range from $500 to $2,000, not to exceed the total final project budget.

  • Exception: BFA Film students working on narrative films of any length—not documentary or animated films—are eligible to apply for the William C. Arkell Memorial Award and can request up to $5,000, not to exceed the total film budget.

SCHEDULE AND REQUIREMENTS

  • The SlideRoom application portal opens on Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

  • Application deadline: Wednesday, December 2, 2026, 11:59pm ET.

  • Late, ineligible, and/or incomplete applications will not be reviewed or considered.

  • Applicants will receive notification of award status by email, and recipients will be announced in SVA Today in February 2027.

  • Award payments will be distributed in late February 2027.

  • Recipients must submit payment information to receive the award payment in a timely manner.

  • Award recipients’ artwork images will be retained for promotional purposes, and all award winners will be required to submit print-quality images of their completed projects, evidencing project completion.

  • Award recipients must notify the SVA Alumni Society if their project changes.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Miranda Pierce
alumnisociety@sva.edu
212.592.2305

Updated 8.28.26

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SVA Alumni Society, 209 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010 | alumnisociety@sva.edu | 212.592.2305