The RCA Unveils “The Virgil Abloh Scholarship” in Support of Black British Students

The Royal College of Art has announced the launch of "The RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship" in support of talented yet financially constrained Black British students. The scheme will cover both the full tuition and maintenance fees of any postgraduate program in the School of Design, such as fashion, textiles and design products.

Honoring Virgil Abloh's restless advocacy for representation and equality in education, the selected Virgil Abloh scholar will study without financial constraints, helping to break down barriers to education and supporting the next generation of visionary designers and innovators.

Alongside the educational funding, the student will benefit from industry experience and will be supported by A-COLD-WALL*'s creative director, Samuel Ross and fellow creative industries partners. The Virgil Abloh Scholarship has been established with the support of Shannon Abloh, the late designer's wife and a generous gift from an anonymous donor via RCA USA.

Having joined as an Honorary Visiting Professor in 2020, Abloh held a close relationship with the RCA alongside his role as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear and leading his Off-White fashion label. The scholarship recognizes Virgil's support for education and his career-long commitment to driving a cultural shift toward inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment in the industry.

Regarding the scholarship, Shannon Abloh highlighted: "Over the years, the RCA and Virgil formed a beautiful relationship based on a shared appreciation of collaboration, creative vision, and of course, education. We know that the RCA Virgil Abloh scholarship will break down financial barriers to fulfilling creative potential and empower talented young individuals to dream even bigger."

To learn more about the scholarship, visit the Royal College of Art's website.