2026 Pay-It-Forward Award Application

A limited number of awards are open to eligible candidates who demonstrate need for a registration fee waiver through the Pay-It-Forward Candidate Award.

Candidates interested in applying for the Pay-It-Forward Award should first complete their URTA application on Acceptd up to the point of payment, but should NOT submit payment.

The URTA application can be found at https://app.getacceptd.com/urta

Candidates should next complete this Pay-It-Forward Award application, submitting a short personal essay outlining their need for the support, and why they are seeking a graduate degree at this time, as well as providing a letter of recommendation from a colleague, mentor, employer, or teacher, speaking to the candidate’s need and deservedness of the award.

All Pay-It-Forward applications must be received by November 2, 2025. After this date, applications will close and the URTA Awards Committee will begin reviewing all applications. Recipients of the Pay-It-Forward Award will be notified by URTA on November 19, 2025. They will then have 3 days to redeem their award and submit their URTA application on Acceptd. Those that do not complete their registration in this time will forfeit their award.

We are unable to accept any Pay-It-Forward Award applications after the November 2 deadline. Applications received after 11:59 pm (Eastern) on November 2, 2025 will NOT be considered.

To be considered for the Pay-It-Forward Award, you must have completed Stage 1 or your URTA application on Acceptd, up to but stopping at the point of payment. If you have not, please visit: https://app.getacceptd.com/urta 

Note: Candidates applying in the area of Arts Leadership are eligible for the Arts Leadership Candidate Award, which waives your registration fee automatically in your Acceptd application.

Upload a short personal essay outlining your professional/career goals and how graduate school will help you achieve them. Describe any particular hardships you are currently facing and how this award will help make the URTAs more accessible to you. (Please limit submissions to approx. 500 words)

Please provide a letter of recommendation from someone familiar with your artistic work and/or study, such as a colleague, mentor, employer or teacher. This letter should speak to your achievement and potential, as well as your need for the award support.