A student from Queen Margaret University (QMU), Edinburgh has become the first in Scotland to win a $15,000 scholarship to attend the prestigious National Theater Institute in Connecticut, USA.

Emma Harley, 21, graduated with a first class BA (Hons) Drama & Performance from QMU earlier this summer, and now hopes to take her career in theatre to new heights.

With support from QMU, Emma has also secured a £5,000 grant from the Dewar Arts Awards and £1,400 from the Santander Universities to help fund her studies in America. She is continuing to search for additional funding sources to cover the full programme costs.

Emma is now planning to move to Connecticut in September, when she will begin the four-month intensive programme. She will work under professional theatre practitioners honing her skills in directing; contemporary, screen and Shakespearean acting; design; playwriting; voice-work; singing, movement, stage combat and dance.

Commenting on her scholarship award and experience as a QMU student, Emma said: “I’m really proud to be the first Scottish student to secured a place and scholarship with the National Theatre Institute. It’s an incredible achievement and opportunity that will boost my practical skillset and academic knowledge of contemporary performance, as well as my potential to create and produce performances around the world.

“As the first ever Scottish student to study at the Institute, I will act as an ambassador for the QMU Drama and Performance degree, and introduce the course to other international students. Hopefully this will also form a bridge between the two institutes to establish a strong and lasting partnership.”