Thanks to the generosity of an international group of committed donors, the Courtauld is pleased to be able to provide scholarship opportunities to postgraduate students. In addition, there is information about external scholarships and funding opportunities detailed below which students are able to apply to independently.
Introduction
The eligibility criteria for different scholarships vary across the institute. Many are restricted by particular characteristics, for example by degree subject or financial need. Please read the Eligibility Criteria and Application Instructions for each scholarship carefully.
You may be eligible to hold more than one scholarship simultaneously, and you are strongly encouraged to apply to all scholarships for which you fulfil the eligibility criteria.
Please keep in mind that funding for postgraduate study is limited. Most students will need to use different funding sources to cover all the costs of studying.
Besides all the internal scholarships, other funding opportunities to reduce the cost can be found on this page, including Alumni Loyalty Scheme, government loan options, and external funding opportunities.
Scholarship Schemes
We offer two principal postgraduate scholarship schemes: the Taught Postgraduate Studies Scholarships and the PhD Scholarships. For comprehensive and up-to-date information on currently available awards, please consult the dedicated pages below.
Other Funding Opportunities
Alumni Loyalty Scheme
The Courtauld Institute offers an alumni loyalty scheme, open to any graduate of the Courtauld Institute of Art admitted to a taught postgraduate programme of study.
Recipients will receive a 10% loyalty discount off their MA tuition fee for the duration of the course.
Loan Schemes
External Funding Opportunities
All the Courtauld scholarships are limited in number and are highly competitive in nature. Students are thus advised to apply for all sources of funding for which they fulfil the criteria, including external sources of funding. Some potential sources of such funding are listed below; however, this list is not comprehensive and students should explore all sources which may be open to them.
- Klesch Collection Scholarships
The Klesch Collection offers scholarships towards the yearly cost of university fees to graduate students who have been accepted into a full-time Art History MA course of study worldwide, beginning the next academic year.
Applications will be considered from students who will focus their studies on European and British painting of the Renaissance and Baroque periods (c. 1400–1700).
The Klesch Collection scholarship includes:
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- Payment towards the yearly cost of university fees.
- A paid internship at the collection for a minimum of 1 month.
Further information and application forms can be found through the page: Klesch Collection Scholarships.
- Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (Quest)
Awards ranging from £2,000 to £15,000 are available for craftsmen and women of all ages to help them further their careers. Students on the MA in Conservation of Wall Painting and Postgraduate Diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings are eligible for this award. Further information can be found trough the page: QEST Grants.
- Anna Plowden Trust Bursaries
Students on full-time conservation courses can apply independently to the Anna Plowden Trust for up to £3,500 towards their fees. More information can be found on this page: Plowden Scholarships.
- London Goodenough Association of Canada
The LGAC offers scholarships payable to wards accommodation and living expenses to any postgraduate student who is a national of Canada. More information on the criteria and value of scholarships can be found on the page: London Goodenough Association of Canada.
- British Council
The British Council offers a number of scholarships for non-UK postgraduate students. More information on the criteria and value of scholarships can be found on the page: Scholarships and funding.
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright Program offers a range of grants and scholarships for postgraduate students who are nationals of the United States of America. More information can be found on this page: Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
- The Snowdon Master’s Scholarships 2027/8
The Snowdon Trust Master’s Scholarship programme is aimed to accelerate the most exceptional disabled students through their master’s studies and into leadership in all its forms.
The Snowdown Trust offers scholarships worth up to £30,000. Successful applicants will receive up to £15,000 towards their tuition fees and up to £15,000 maintenance payments to support their master’s studies. They will also be invited to join the Disabled Leaders Network, a supportive community of emerging disabled leaders.
You can find out more information about the scholarships on offer, further information about the eligibility criteria and how to apply via this page: Snowdon Master’s Scholarships. Please note this scholarship is open to candidates with UK Home fee status.
- Leverhulme Trust
The Leverhulme Trust is an independent charity that seeks to fund blue skies research and scholarship which has the potential to generate new ideas and research breakthroughs that benefit society. The Trust also aims to support a diverse range of scholars in their educational endeavours. It focuses its efforts mainly in the UK, which has a world-class higher education research sector. The Trust has been funding research for almost 100 years. The Trust offers a number of Postgraduate awards. Further information about the Leverhulme Trust awards.
Turn 2 Us Grants Search database contains information on over 3,000 charitable funds offering welfare and educational grants, as well as other support and services.
The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding Online is a portal for alternative sources of funding – especially charities – which can make awards (fees, maintenance, research costs) to any student regardless of subject or nationality. Some governments provide loans or inancial support to students at PhD level, so it is worth checking with your home government whether there is any support available.
- Fulbright U.S. Student Program
The Fulbright Program offers a range of grants and scholarships for postgraduate students who are nationals of the United States of America. Further information on the Fulbright Program.
- British Council
The British Council offers a number of scholarships for non-UK postgraduate students. Further information on British Council scholarships.
Courtauld Scholarship Supporters
Scholarships enable talented and deserving students to access education at the Courtauld regardless of their financial circumstances and are made possible through the generosity and dedication of our scholarship supporters. We are deeply grateful to the following supporters, and those who wish to remain anonymous, for their commitment to supporting the next generation of arts scholars.
Our supporters have made the achievement of our founder’s vision of “Art for All” a possibility. If you would like to discuss how you could help the Courtauld in its mission to become the world’s most ambitious, dynamic, and innovative centre for the visual arts, please contact our Advancement department.
- Sir Geoffrey Agnew Memorial Fund
- The American Foundation for The Courtauld Institute of Art
- The Arbuthnott Bequest
- Hugh and Jane Bedford
- John Treacy Beyer and J.L.T. Beyer
- The Estate of Eve Borsook
- Veronica M Bulgari
- Chelsea Arts Club Trust
- The John S Cohen Foundation
- The Convocation Trust
- The Juliette and John Edwards Fund
- Rosalind Falvey
- Nicholas and Jane Ferguson
- Professor Peter J. Fergusson
- The Friends of the Courtauld Institute
- The J Paul Getty Trust Fund for Education in the Conservation of Wall Paintings
- The Guilford Foundation
- The Headley Trust
- The Gerry Hedley Memorial Fund
- Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation
- James Hughes-Hallett Memorial Fund
- Estate of Marianne Kewan
- The Kilfinan Trust
- The Leon Kossoff Artistic Estate
- Samuel H. Kress Foundation
- Evelyn and Stanislawa Kryszek
- Joseph and Esther Lichtenstein
- Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation
- Manton Foundation
- The Anna Plowden Trust
- The Radcliffe Trust
- Charles and Barbara Robertson
- Graham Robertson Fund
- Rothschild Scholarship Fund
- The David Skipsey Memorial Fund
- The South Square Trust
- The Andrew Sutton Trust
- The Sophie Trevelyan Thomas Fund
- Trinity Bridge
- The University of London Scholars Programme
- Vaseppi Trust
- Richard Wallstein Foundation
- Garfield Weston Foundation
- The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers
- With additional thanks to our valued supporters who wish to remain anonymous.