Щоб прочитати вимоги та критерії стипендій українською мовою, натисніть тут.
[To read the fellowship requirements and criteria in Ukrainian, click here.]

Timeline

• UAx Abakanowicz Fellowship launch: 7 April 2025
• Deadline for submissions: 11 May 2025
• Semi-finalists announced: 19 May 2025
• Final results announced: 30 June 2025

Introduction

ELIA, the globally connected European network of higher arts institutions, in collaboration with the Abakanowicz Arts and Culture Charitable Foundation (AACCF), is pleased to announce the 2025 cycle of the UAx Abakanowicz Fellowship programme. This programme is an integral part of the UAx Platform, a transformative initiative that fosters direct support for Ukrainian art students through reciprocal mentoring, knowledge exchange, and capacity building of their institutions. Ukrainian art academies and universities are partnered with art institutions across Europe, creating a powerful Sister School network.

Objective of the UAx Abakanowicz Fellowship

The primary objective of the UAx Abakanowicz Fellowship programme is to provide comprehensive support to art students from five Ukrainian Sister Schools participating in the project in 2025. The UAx Abakanowicz Fellowship programme comprises three components: UAx Bursaries, UAx Mentoring, and UAx Student Community.

1. UAx Bursaries
30 selected Ukrainian students (six per school), known as Abakanowicz Fellows, receive emergency bursaries of up to €2,000 per student for one academic year. These funds address their urgent financial needs and enable them to continue their studies in Ukrainian higher arts education degree programmes.

2. UAx Mentoring
The UAx Mentoring programme offers an opportunity for 30 selected Abakanowicz Fellows to be matched with over 10 international mentors from non-Ukrainian Sister Schools across Europe and beyond. On average, six Abakanowicz Fellows per Ukrainian Sister School receive mentoring from on average two mentors from their non-Ukrainian Sister School during one academic year. The mentors and students participate in reciprocal mentoring, fostering mutual learning and enabling the exchange of insights, knowledge, skills, and perspectives.

Mentors for 2025 Sister School institutions:

Mykhailo Boychuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative and Applied Art and Design

Kharkiv State Academy of Culture

National Academy of Culture and Arts Management

Faculty of Design of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design

Luhansk State Academy of Culture and Arts

3. UAx Student Community
The UAx Student Community comprises 30 selected Abakanowicz Fellows, all representing diverse art disciplines from five Ukrainian Sister Schools. The UAx Bureau organises online events and webinars on topics of interest to the student community. The students are represented by five UAx Abakanowicz Fellows, one from each of the five participating Ukrainian Sister Schools, who form the UAx Representative Student Group. These five students take on the responsibility of organising a student event, bringing together 30 Abakanowicz Fellows.

Criteria and Requirements

Eligibility

• The UAx Abakanowicz Fellowship is open to all students currently residing in Ukraine and enrolled in the following Ukrainian higher art education institutions participating in the UAx Platform:

Mykhailo Boychuk Kyiv State Academy of Decorative Applied Arts and Design;

Faculty of Design of Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design;

Luhansk State Academy of Culture and Arts;

National Academy of Culture and Arts Management;

Kharkiv State Academy of Culture.

• In total 30 students (6 per institution) will be selected as UAx Abakanowicz Fellows for the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Applicants must be starting their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of bachelor studies in September 2025 to be eligible for the award.
• Applicants must demonstrate at least an intermediate level of English language proficiency (B level).
• Applicants at risk of dropping out due to financial challenges are also encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements and Selection Process

• Applicants must submit an application for the Abakanowicz Fellowship by 11 May 2025 including the motivation, recommendation, and portfolio.
• The Application Form must be submitted in English.
• Applications will be reviewed by a Selection Committee consisting of representatives from the UAx Bureau, the UAx Steering Group and the UAx Mentors.
• Successful candidates will be invited to the second round, which includes a 20-minute interview in English.
• The final selection results will be announced by 30 June 2025.

Application Components

Motivation

The application should include a motivation video (maximum 6 minutes) in English. Important: Please upload your video to YouTube or Vimeo as unlisted and share with us a hyperlink in a Word file!

Please address the following aspects:

• Tell us about yourself, including what you are currently studying and why you are passionate about your field of study (maximum 3 minutes).
• Explain how this fellowship would add value to you, addressing the following three points (maximum 3 minutes):

- How would the UAx Bursary programme address your financial needs? (1 minute)

- How would you benefit from international mentoring? Please explain why you would like to work with a specific mentor (1 minute). Review the list of mentors above.

- How would you benefit from and contribute to participation in the UAx Community? (1 minute)

Recommendation

Students are required to provide the contact information (name, email, phone number, and relationship) of one academic instructor/supervisor from their home institution. Instructors/supervisors will only be contacted by phone or email regarding the students who are selected for the second round.

Portfolio presentation

Students are required to submit a short portfolio of their artwork in any format (video, document, presentation, images, etc.). It must be uploaded in the Application Form. Important: If your portfolio consists of video or heavy files, please upload your videos or files to YouTube, Vimeo or Google Drive and share with us a hyperlink in a Word file!

You can fill in the form below to submit your application. For any questions, please contact UAx Platform Manager, Uliana Furiv.