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Scholarships

A seat at the bench, saved for you.

Money shouldn’t be the thing that keeps you out of the shop. Our scholarships are paid for by donors and managed by our nonprofit board, so more of Austin can learn to build furniture by hand, whatever your skill level or background.

Apply for a scholarship Fund a seat
An empty wooden stool pulled up to a workbench in the school's shop, hand tools laid out and waiting

your seatkept open for you

every level welcome

How it works

Three steps from here to the bench.

The application takes a few minutes. Tell us which class you’d like to take and a little about yourself. That’s it: no essays, no references.

  1. 1Pick a class

    Choose what you’d like to build.

    Any class on our calendar. Our beginner courses have no prerequisites, and we recommend starting with Fundamentals of Woodworking or any of our Community Classes.

  2. 2Tell us about you

    Who you are, and why this class.

    A few honest sentences is plenty. Where you’re starting from, what you’d love to make, and what a seat would mean to you.

  3. 3We read every one

    Our scholarship committee reviews it.

    If you’re given a seat, we reach out to set up your free or discounted seat.

The application

Apply for a scholarship.

Your application comes straight to the school, and only the people who review scholarships read it.

A first-time student smiling at a workbench, holding a small wooden box they just made
made by hand
Scholarship applicationAustin School of Furniture

Which class would you like to take?

First, the class

Which class would you like to take?

Pick one. You can change your mind later if you’re given a seat.

Community Classes

Beginner classes

Something else

Who pays for the seat

Every scholarship seat is paid for by a neighbor.

Donations to the Austin School of Furniture Foundation are managed by our nonprofit Board of Directors. They fund scholarships, lower class costs, living wages for teachers and staff, community events, and the effort to buy a permanent property for the school.

501(c)⁠(3) nonprofit · Tax ID 92-2744783

Give to the Scholarship FundA permanent homeHelp the school find a lasting place in Austin

Good to know

Questions before you apply.

Anything else? Call us at 361-857-9228 or send a message.

What classes should I start with?

At the beginning of course! Our beginner courses do not have any prerequisites and require limited tools to get started. We recommend starting with Fundamentals of Woodworking or any of our Community Classes.

What is a Community Class?

Community Classes are beginner classes taught by volunteers. They are small class sizes, have limited number of tools used, and easy projects.

Can I get a discount?

We occasionally will offer a discount as part of a specific holiday or event. If you need help with tuition, a scholarship is the way to go: apply above.

Do you accept the GI Bill?

Not currently. Now that we are a non-profit we will reassess and reapply.

Do you have classes for kids?

No, not at this time.

If I cancel, can I get a refund?

Please see our Refund Policy.