We believe that the development of talent and ambition should not be the privilege of those who can afford it. Educational and artistic opportunities should be open to all who want to participate. The first Kit de Waal Scholarship was launched in October 2016 at Birkbeck University, and provides fully funded places for students to study for the acclaimed Birkbeck Creative Writing MA. The Scholalrship also includes a generous travel bursary to allow students to travel into London, as well as Masterclasses for runners-up.

The de Waal Scholarship is intended to talented writers who would not otherwise be able to afford to do the course, targeting students from disadvantaged backgrounds (including but not confined to care leavers, ex-prisoners, members of BAME communities, people with a disability and those from socio-economically deprived and marginalized groups).