2025 IIE-Sony Music Group Global Scholars Program

Applications are now open for the 2025 IIE-Sony Music Group Global Scholars Program. This scholarship program is designed to support young, diverse talent in the music industry by providing financial assistance for undergraduate studies in music or music business-related fields.

📖 About the Program

As part of the Global Social Justice Fund, Sony Music Group, in partnership with IIE, has launched this global scholarship program to advance access to post-secondary education in music and music business. The program aims to cultivate future music industry professionals by supporting their academic and professional development.

Key Details

• Date Published: July 9, 2025
• Application Deadline: August 8, 2025
• Category: Bachelors, Undergraduate

🎁 Benefits

The IIE-Sony Music Group Global Scholars Program offers the following benefits:

• Scholarship Amount: Ranges between USD 3,000 and USD 20,000 per academic year for tuition and mandatory fees.
• Scholarships are tailored based on:
  • Location of the college/university
  • Type of institution (state university, private university, etc.)
  • Financial need of the scholar
• Scholarships are intended to assist with tuition and fees but do not cover all educational expenses. Recipients are responsible for additional costs such as books, supplies, living expenses, and transportation.
• Professional Development Opportunities:
  • Unpaid internships or mentorship opportunities with Sony Music Group.
  • Enrichment programming, including structured events and webinars with SMG industry experts.

Payment of Awards

• Scholarship payments will be sent directly to educational institutions on behalf of the students annually.

📜 Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must:

• Plan to enroll as a full-time undergraduate student at an accredited college or university in music or music business-related fields during the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Maintain a U.S. equivalent GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or above.
• Demonstrate academic potential to succeed in their intended music industry field.
• Show financial need.
• Provide proof of full-time enrollment if selected for the scholarship.

📝 Application Process

Required Documents

A complete application must be submitted in English and include:

1. Completed online application form.
2. A personal statement (up to 3,500 characters).
3. An estimate of expected tuition and mandatory fees for the 2025-2026 academic year.
4. Two reference letters from non-family members (e.g., teacher, professor, employer, advisor).
5. High school transcript/grade report (A level, O level, GCSE, or BTEC results are acceptable for applicants from the UK or Commonwealth countries).

Important Notes

• Only applications completed by the deadline will be reviewed.
• Falsifying or plagiarizing any portion of the application will result in disqualification.

Deadlines

• Application Submission: Friday, August 8, 2025
• Recommendation Submission: Wednesday, August 13, 2025

🏆 Selection Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following:

• Achievement and potential in music fields.
• Demonstrated leadership potential and ability.
• Personal character, commitment, and potential in their chosen field of study and future music industry career.
• Clearly expressed financial need to support educational goals.
• Academic achievement.
• Career and academic goals aligned with scholarship objectives.
• Compelling references.

📢 Notification of Results

• All applicants will be notified of their application status (successful or unsuccessful) by the end of September 2025.
• Selected recipients must submit proof of full-time enrollment in an accredited college or university to receive their scholarship awards.
• For U.S. students, financial aid package information will be required to determine the scholarship amount.
• Recipients unable to provide proof of enrollment by the specified date will forfeit the scholarship, and an alternate candidate will be selected.

📅 Application Deadline

• Application Deadline: August 8, 2025
• Recommendation Deadline: August 13, 2025

For more details and to apply, visit the official IIE-Sony Music Group Global Scholars Program page.

• Scholarship amounts will range between USD 3,000 and USD 20,000 per academic year for required tuition and mandatory fees.
• Scholarships are intended to assist students as they pursue undergraduate study and are NOT intended to cover all educational expenses.
• Recipients may be given other opportunities by Sony Music Group for professional development, including unpaid internships or mentorship opportunities.
• Enrichment programming will be provided, including structured events and webinars to connect with SMG industry experts.