Through the generosity of a number of supporters, the Institute is delighted to offer various scholarships and bursaries to students. Details of how to apply are circulated to students and applicants at the appropriate date.
Whilst scholarships are awarded purely on performance, bursaries also take into account an applicant's financial circumstances.
Open to all students
The AXA Millésimes Scholarship is awarded annually to up to three MW students at any stage of their studies (including Dissertation). It includes; Two to three days at AXA Millésimes’ Bordeaux properties with tours of the Chateaux estates, work in the vineyards and cellars, tastings and blending with the individual winemakers; Two days at either Mas Belles Eaux in Languedoc or Domaine de l’Arlot in Burgundy; a visit to either Quinta do Noval in the Douro or Disznóko in Tokaj. Selection is by essay, written in or translated into English, to a maximum of 1000 words.
The Reh Kendermann Bursaries are available for a maximum of two students. The bursary consists of a trip to Germany as a guest of Reh Kendermann and is to be taken in the year of the award. The costs covered include the flight, hire car and accommodation for 3 nights with a value of up to £750 for each trip.
The Bursaries are awarded on the basis of an essay to a specific title.
The Champagne Trinity Scholarship enables a first year student to gain a unique insight into the Champagne industry from the perspective of three leading, family-owned houses: Bollinger, Pol Roger and Louis Roederer. The winning student will travel to the Champagne region on successive visits, at vintage time and for the blending of the vins clairs in the spring. Please note that travel will be paid within Europe only.
The scholarship is awarded on the basis of an essay to a specific title.
The Alfredo Vidaurre Scholarship is named after Alfredo Vidaurre, who was a founder of Montes and died in February 2008. The award was previously known as the Montes Chilean Scholarship. It consists of a US $10,000 travel bursary to enable the winner to travel to Chile, visit Montes and other premium wine producers in the region and to further his or her knowledge about this diverse and viticulturally exciting country.
The scholarship is awarded on the basis of an essay to a specific title.
Three VDP Bursaries, each worth approximately €1500 per person, is awarded to students from anywhere around the world and at any stage of their MW studies. The winners of these bursaries are selected by essay competition. The application form is downloadable from here, submission deadline is 18th August 2009.
The AWE Bursary, offered by the Association of Wine Educators, is worth £500 and is open to a self-funding student from around the world who is involved in wine education or wine writing / communication. The bursary is awarded on the basis of a letter and interview.
Scholarships With Geographic Limitation
The Chairman’s Scholarship, funded by the Institute, recognises that economic factors restrict the potential of many students who would otherwise be excellent candidates for the Master of Wine Education Programme and Examination. The scholarship is awarded annually at the discretion of the Chairman of the Institute and will provide the successful candidate with three years Education Programme fees, two attempts at the exam and two tasting cases of wine per annum, delivered to the winner’s home.
The Yalumba Scholarship, worth £3,000, is awarded annually to one Europe- or Americas-based, student enrolled in the second year ("exam preparation stream") of the full education programme. The scholarship consists of:
• a return, economy class ticket to the MW seminar in Melbourne from a major city near the winner’s hometown;
• accommodation for the duration of the MW seminar in Melbourne
• a one-week visit to the Yalumba's vineyard, nursery and winery in Adelaide (a return, economy class ticket from Melbourne to Adelaide, accommodation and visits are included)
The winner will be expected to produce a short report about the visit to Yalumba, which will be published on the Institute's website for the benefit of other MW students.
2009 - Yalumba Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded on the basis of an essay to a specific title.
The Wiesbaden Tasting Trophy, worth approx. €1500, is awarded annually to the student, resident in North America or Australasia, who achieves the highest score in the mock tasting exam at the residential seminar in that year.
The Selection Schwander Scholarship is awarded annually to a student who performs exceptionally well in the 'First Year Assessment' and whose first language is not English. The award contributes to the student's translation and examination costs up to a value of £ 3,000.
Scholarships for US students
The André Crispin Commanderie de Bordeaux aux Etats Unis Scholarship is a scholarship of $2500 for an outstanding student, enrolled on the second year North American Education Programme, to fund travel in order to enhance his/her knowledge of Bordeaux. The successful candidate will be notified of the award in February at the North American Seminar.
The Gibson Smith Scholarship, worth $500 annually, will be awarded to an outstanding North American Student who is involved in a consumer-facing role in the wine trade. The person selected will be required to write a letter to the Gibson Family explaining why s/he is pursuing the MW title.
