Art History postgraduate funding
Applicants to the Postgraduate Research Programmes in the School of Art History may consider applying for any of the relevant scholarship and funding awards listed on these pages.
A more extensive listing of scholarships, including scholarships administered by external organisations, is available in the University’s catalogue of Postgraduate Scholarships.
For further details on scholarships and funding, follow @StAfunding.
To apply for these scholarships, you must already be admitted onto the relevant degree programme.
The following PhD scholarships cover tuition fees and an annual stipend:
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The Paul Mellon Centre funding programme, supporting research into British art history, includes our New Narratives Doctoral Scholarship which is an award of £32,000 per year for three years, designed to cover university fees and living costs of an individual embarking on doctoral studies at a UK based institution.
More information can be found here: Art History PhD Funding | Doctoral Scholarship | Grants & Fellowships | Paul Mellon Centre (paul-mellon-centre.ac.uk).
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In recent years, the School of Art History has enjoyed considerable success in securing Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Studentship Funding for doctoral students. For further information about eligibility and how to apply, please consult the University’s webpages on these awards.
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For postgraduate doctoral applicants who have previously attended a widening participation scheme or received a financial needs-based scholarship at St Andrews for their undergraduate degree. For further details, please consult the University webpages on this award.
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Open to any applicant that meets one of the Home Office categories at fee assessment stage commencing a new course of study: Asylum Seeker, Refugee, Humanitarian Protection, limited or Discretionary leave to remain. For further details, please consult the University webpages on this award.
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The University of St Andrews has a collaborative agreement with the China Scholarship Council to develop research collaborations between the UK and Chinese universities and research institutions. Available to Chinese students wishing to undertake a PhD at the University of St Andrews. For further details, please consult the University webpages on this award.
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For candidates from least developed countries and fragile states in the Commonwealth, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university. For further details, please consult the University webpages on this award.
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For students who are permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country and meet the application criteria. For further details, please consult the University webpages on this award.
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For students from the USA who have applied to a UK university to study in the Arts or Humanities at doctoral level. For further details, please consult the University webpages on this award.
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This scholarship is available to entrant taught or research postgraduate students from Poland. For further details, please consult the University webpages on this award.
The following PhD scholarships cover tuition fees in full:
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The School of Art History is offering 3 scholarships for doctoral research in any field of art history, museum and gallery studies, or history of photography, for starting in September 2024.
These scholarships cover tuition fees for the three years of the PhD programme, and are available to both Home/EU and overseas students.
If you are interested in being considered for one of these awards, you must first complete the University’s application process to the School of Art History PhD programme by 1 April 2024.
Secondly, you must complete an Application form Application form Art History Fee Scholarship (Word) and send it to the School of Art History Postgraduate Administrator, at pgarthist@st-andrews.ac.uk. Application forms must be returned by 15 April 2024.
These are competitive awards, and selections will be made based on your academic record, and the merits of the research proposal.
For all enquiries, please contact the School of Art History Director of Postgraduate Research, arthistdopgr@st-andrews.ac.uk.
The following scholarships for Research Postgraduates provide part cover for tuition fees:
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The School of Art History at the University of St Andrews invites applications for the Wilhelmina Barns-Graham Trust Museum and Gallery Studies (MGS) Award. The award is worth £5000, and is open to those aiming for a future career as a curator of art. A condition for the scholarship is that the applicant's curatorial focus relates closely to art history.
The award will be granted to a student who is commencing their studies in September 2023 on one of the following MGS/MHS postgraduate options:
- Full time MLitt
- MSt(Res)
- MPhil
- PhD in Museum and Gallery Studies.
The funds will in the first instance be used to cover tuition fees. Any outstanding funds may be used to cover research expenses including travel, materials, rights and reproductions, etc.
Applicants must have been offered a place on the MGS/MHS postgraduate programme and have a first degree in Art History or related subject or have other supporting evidence of a commitment to a career as a curator of art.
Applicants will be required to upload a personal statement, academic transcript and a CV.
This award is available for application through the Scholarships and Funding catalogue.
If you have applied for the MLitt, you can access the catalogue by logging into My Application. You should wait until the next working day after submitting your MLitt application before attempting to access My Application.
If you have applied for the MPhil or PhD, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the Scholarships and Funding catalogue.
The application deadline is 3rd April 2023.
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For postgraduate students who have graduated from the University of St Andrews in the last three years. For further details, please consult the University webpages on this award.
The following bursary provides support towards living costs:
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Through a generous bequest of the late Mrs Dinah Coyne, the Richard III Society has made £30,000 available for a bursary fund to support postgraduate students in the study of medieval art from 1350 to 1500.
The Bursary is administered through the St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies (SAIMS) and the School of Art History.
The Bursary is intended to support eligible students of outstanding promise. It will be awarded in sums not exceeding £10,000 (to students beginning a PhD, where no other funding, or only partial funding, has been obtained from another source) or up to £5000 (to PhD students who need financial help to finish a PhD after their funding has expired). The phasing of the payments will be discussed with successful applicants.
MPhil students may also be considered eligible for support if their work is of truly exceptional promise. In this case smaller sums may be judged appropriate by the St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies and recommended accordingly.
The Bursary is intended to support research in the eligible areas, including fees, maintenance or other expenses that contribute to the successful completion of a recipient’s degree. It may not be used for other purposes, including research unrelated to the degree.
Application is by the attached form (below) and must be accompanied by a reference from the applicant’s supervisor or else a respected medievalist who knows the applicant’s work. Applications will not be considered on a rolling basis but only within specified periods advertised on the website of the St Andrews Institute of Mediaeval Studies.
Eligibility
Applicants must be studying for a research postgraduate degree (normally PhD) at the University of St Andrews.
Applicants must be resident in the UK.
In accordance with Dinah Coyne’s intentions, and the interests of the Richard III Society, an applicant’s degree must have a complete or substantial focus on art history of the period c.1350-c.1500. ‘Art’ as used here is not necessarily the same as ‘material culture’. Anyone requiring advice on the eligibility of their research will be encouraged to ask Professor Julian Luxford (School of Art History) about it before completing an application form.
Financial circumstances will be considered in relation to applications.
Requirements of successful applicants
By accepting a Bursary, an applicant agrees to acknowledge support from the Richard III Society-Dinah Coyne Bursary in their thesis and any publication directly deriving from it.
Recipients of the Bursary will be required to write a short report (at least 1,000 words) on the use made of the Bursary for publication in the Richard III Society magazine, The Ricardian Bulletin (or, if appropriate, produce an article for publication in The Ricardian journal).
The application period for 2023 is 1 November – 15 December.
Queries should be directed to under the Director of SAIMS, Prof. Margaret Connolly (mc29@st-andrews.ac.uk), or Prof. Julian Luxford (jml5@st-andrews.ac.uk).
Applicants are advised that no member of staff will be involved in assessing the application of anyone he/she/they are currently supervising.
Submitted applications are considered final and resubmissions cannot be accepted.
The Richard III Society - Dinah Coyne Bursary Application form (Word)
On completion, please submit this form to Margaret Connolly (mc29@st-andrews.ac.uk) and Julian Luxford (jml5@st-andrews.ac.uk).
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This scholarship can be used in either private or University accommodation. Prospective students can apply for financial support towards their accommodation costs.