MA Funding & Scholarships

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Scholarships

Thanks to the generosity of an international group of committed donors, The Courtauld is pleased to be able to provide financial assistance to postgraduate students in the form of a number of scholarships, external scholarships and loan schemes that are detailed below.

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 Criteria and Application Instructions for each scholarship carefully.

You may be eligible to hold more than one scholarship simultaneously, and you are encouraged to apply to all scholarships for which you fulfil the eligibility criteria.

The first round of offers for M.A. “Art for All” and Conservation Scholarships will be made by 1 April 2025. The first round of offers for Manton Scholarships will be made by 8 April 2025. The first round of offers for The Courtauld Postgraduate Studies Scholarships will be made during the fourth week of May 2025.

The Courtauld "Art for all" MA Scholarship

Closing date for applications: Monday 20 January 2025, 17:00 GMT

The first round of offers for M.A. “Art for All” Scholarships will be made from the second week of March 2025 onward.

The Courtauld is committed to becoming a model of inclusion, accessibility and openness within the higher education sector, that lives up to the vision of our founder, Samuel Courtauld, of an Institute which would be “a missionary centre from which the idea of the value of Art would be spread through many diverse channels” founded on the primary ideal of “art for all”.

These scholarships work towards our aim of developing a diverse student body that is representative of the city in which we are located, and of the society in which we operate. These scholarships help us to promote Art History to a wider range of students, as a subject of intellectual enquiry and as a means of acquiring skills that lead to success in the contemporary jobs market.

The scholarships are principally aimed at encouraging academically strong students who come from under-represented groups in higher education in undertaking a full-time Master’s Degree at The Courtauld.

Up to ten Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarships will be awarded in the sum of £15,500.
The Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship is open to students on any full-time taught MA Programme across the institute, including MA History of Art; MA Curation; MA Conservation; MA Contemporary Art and the Moving Image; and MA Art and Business.
The Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship is open to both Home and Overseas Students.

Applications for The Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship must be submitted using the Scholarship Application Form for The Courtauld Postgraduate Taught Programmes (below) by Monday 20 January 2025, 17:00 GMT.

Please note that all applicants for The Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship will be automatically considered for The Courtauld Postgraduate Studies Scholarships should they be unsuccessful in obtaining a Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship. Applicants should submit only one application form to be considered for both scholarships, indicating in the personal statement section how they fulfil the criteria which meet the requirements of one or more of The Courtauld Postgraduate Studies Scholarships available in their year of application, in addition to the criteria necessary for consideration for The Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship (see below).

N.B. The Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship cannot be awarded in conjunction with any other Courtauld Scholarships or Bursaries awarded internally by The Courtauld. Students may, however, be in simultaneous receipt of funding from any institution external to The Courtauld.

We would like to thank the following supporters for their generous contributions towards The Courtauld “Art for all” MA Scholarship fund:

The Arbuthnott Bequest – Sir Geoffrey Agnew Memorial Fund – The Estate of Eve Borsook – Chipeta Trading Company – The John S Cohen Foundation – Rosalind Falvey – The Friends of The Courtauld Institute – The Guilford Foundation – Heller Family – The Estate of Marianne Kewan – Michael Kitson Scholarship Fund – Joseph and Esther Lichtenstein – Charles and Barbara Robertson – Graham Robertson Fund – Rothschild Scholarship Fund – The Edmond J. Safra Scholarship

Applications for The Courtauld “Art for All” MA Scholarship will be scored on the criteria set out on the application form in accordance with the strategic aims of The Courtauld. The criteria are scored at differing levels. Any student who fulfils any one or more of these criteria is eligible to apply for an “Art for All” Scholarship, namely:

Students from ethnic groups currently underrepresented at The Courtauld, including Black and Asian students, students from mixed and multiple ethnic backgrounds, and students from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities;
Students whose parents have not attended university;
Students who attended non-fee-paying schools;
Students who were, during their secondary education, in receipt of free school meals;
Students who were, during their undergraduate programme, in receipt of an undergraduate bursary designated as being for students from lower income families, including The Courtauld Bursary and/or James Hughes-Hallett Scholarship;
Students who were, during their undergraduate programme, in receipt of a student loan calculated at the maximum amount;
Students in receipt of Disability Support Allowance;
Students who are Care Leavers;
Students who themselves are the principal carer for a third party;
Students who are nationals of and who are currently ordinarily resident in a state designated within the least developed, low income or lower middle-income categories in the most recent list of ODA recipient states: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/oda-eligibility-and-conditions/dac-list-of-oda-recipients.html;
Students who had experienced forced displacement and/or who hold refugee status and/or are qualified persons with Humanitarian Protection Status.

Where the number of students meeting the minimum criteria score for the making of an award exceeds the number of scholarships available, the selection committee will carry out a second sift of tied applications, having regard in this second scoring to academic ability.

Academic ability will be established through a demonstration – set out in the personal statement appended to the Scholarship application – of:

Outstanding past academic achievements within the context of the learning environment specific to each student;
Demonstrable, quantifiable and continued engagement in activities relevant to the course and its outcomes; and
A demonstration of substantial ambition in relation to course outcomes and future career/study prospects.

N.B. The Courtauld MA “Art for All” Scholarship cannot be awarded in conjunction with any other Courtauld Scholarships or Bursaries awarded internally by The Courtauld. Students may, however, be in simultaneous receipt of funding from any institution external to The Courtauld.

The Courtauld Postgraduate Studies Scholarships

Closing date for MA Postgraduate Studies Scholarship applications: Monday 20 January 2025, 17:00 GMT.

The first round of offers for The Courtauld Postgraduate Studies Scholarships will be made during the fourth week of May 2025.

The Courtauld Postgraduate Studies Scholarships are awarded to students who fulfil certain criteria with regard to background or area of study. These awards vary in amount, duration and criteria from year to year. Some of these scholarships are open to both M.A. and Ph.D. students.

Applications for students commencing postgraduate study within the Academic Year 2025-26 are currently being accepted for the following Scholarships:

American Foundation for The Courtauld Scholarship for Postgraduate Students (Any M.A. or Ph.D.)

A number of scholarships – generously funded by the American Foundation for The Courtauld Institute of Art (AFCIA) – are available to postgraduate students who are US citizens or permanent US residents and who are from a background which is underrepresented within higher education. These scholarships typically comprise a payment of £10,000.

The Nicholas and Jane Ferguson Scholarship Fund for Medieval Art (M.A. History of Art or Ph.D)

This scholarship – generously funded by the Nicholas and Jane Ferguson Scholarship Fund Endowment – supports one student per year who is a Ph.D student or enrolled on the M.A. History of Art Programme and who is studying a Special Option centered on the study of Medieval Art. The value of this award averages £6,000 per year.

The Kilfinan Scholarship for Classical, Medieval or Byzantine Art (M.A. History of Art only)

A single scholarship – generously funded by The Kilfinan Trust – will be offered to support a student on the M.A. History of Art Programme who is studying a Special Option centered on the study of Classical, Medieval or Byzantine Art. The value of this award is £2,000.

Samuel Kress Foundation Scholarship for the Art of Western Europe (M.A. History of Art only)

This scholarship is generously supported by the Samuel Kress Foundation Endowment, and supports one student enrolled on the M.A. History of Art Programme who is studying a Special Option centered on the study of the art of Western Europe up to the nineteenth century. The value of this award averages around £4,500.

Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation Scholarship for Overseas Students (M.A. History of Art only)

This scholarship is generously funded by the Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation to support 3 students studying on the M.A. History of Art Programme who are ordinarily resident outside the UK. The value of this award is £5,000 per student.

Sophie Trevelyan Thomas Scholarship for Medieval or Renaissance Art (M.A. History of Art only)

This scholarship is generously funded by The Sophie Trevelyan Thomas Scholarship Endowment and supports two students enrolled on the M.A. History of Art Programme who are studying a Special Option centered on the study of Medieval or Renaissance art. The value of this award averages £8,000.

The University of London Studentship for Postgraduate Students from London (Any M.A. or Ph.D)

A number of University of London Studentships are available to any postgraduate student (M.A. or Ph.D.) whose principal address is situated within Greater London and who is from an underrepresented group in higher education. The value and number of these awards varies depending on financial need.

Garfield Weston Scholarship for Australian or Canadian Students (M.A. History of Art only)

This scholarship, which has been generously funded by the Garfield Weston Scholarship Endowment, supports a number of students enrolled on the M.A. History of Art Programme, with a preference for students who are Australian or Canadian nationals. The value of the award is at least £10,000 per student.

Applications for one or more of The Courtauld Postgraduate Studies Scholarships are made using a single Scholarship Application Form for The Courtauld Postgraduate Taught Programmes (below) by Monday 20 January 2025, 17:00 GMT.

Please note that where any applicant for the Postgraduate Studies scholarship fulfils any of the criteria listed in the specific scholarships above, they should indicate how they meet those criteria in the personal statement section of the form. Applications will be considered for the Postgraduate Studies Scholarship where any of the above criteria is met, even if the student does not meet any of the widening participation criteria on the form.

Scholarship Application Form for Postgraduate Taught Programmes

The Manton Scholarships for M.A. Studies in British Art and Architecture

Closing date for applications: Monday 7 April 2025, 12:00 NOON GMT

The first round of offers for Manton Scholarships will be made from the first week of April 2025 onward.

The Courtauld is delighted to be able to offer a number of M.A. scholarships through the Manton Centre for the Study of British Art, which is based within The Courtauld.

The Centre, named after British art collectors and philanthropists, Sir Edwin and Florence, Lady Manton, will help secure The Courtauld’s ambition of becoming a world leader in the field of British art and architecture, and marks the continued and generous commitment of the Manton family to arts education.

As part of The Courtauld’s drive towards becoming a model of inclusion, accessibility and openness within the higher education sector – which runs parallel to the aims of the Manton Centre – we are very pleased to be able to offer two Manton Scholarships for entrants in the 2025-6 cohort.

The Manton Scholarships are principally aimed at encouraging academically strong students who come from under-represented groups in higher education in undertaking a full-time Master’s Degree at The Courtauld which is centred on the study of British Art and/or Architecture.

Two Manton M.A. Scholarships will be awarded in 2025-6, one to a ‘UK Fees’ Student and one to an ‘Overseas Fees’ Student‘.
The Manton Scholarship will consist of an award of Full Fees plus a sum of £16,000.00 to be used towards living costs (term-time accommodation, food, household bills and course books).
Awards will be made on the basis of a number of scored Widening Participation criteria as set out below. Any applicant who fulfils any one or more of these scored criteria may apply for a Manton Scholarship.

For 2025-6 Entry, only those applicants who, at the time of the closing date, currently hold an Offer from one of the following M.A. Special Options are eligible to apply for a Manton Scholarship:

Art, Oceans, and the British Empire, c.1750–1900
Black British Art, 1945 to Now
Victorian Art and Its Afterlives

Applications for Manton M.A. Scholarships must be submitted using the Scholarship Application Form for Manton Scholarships (below) by MONDAY 7 APRIL 2025 AT 12:00 NOON GMT

N.B. Manton Scholarships cannot be awarded in conjunction with any other Courtauld Scholarships or Bursaries awarded internally by The Courtauld. Students may, however, be in simultaneous receipt of funding from any institution external to The Courtauld.

Applications for Manton Scholarships will be scored on the criteria set out on the application form in accordance with the strategic aims of The Courtauld. The criteria are scored at differing levels. Any student applying to a Special Option centred on the study of British Art or Architecture (see listing above for the relevant Special Options in this applications cycle) who additionally fulfils any one or more of these criteria is eligible to apply for a Manton Scholarship, namely:

Students from ethnic groups currently underrepresented at The Courtauld, including Black and Asian students, students from mixed and multiple ethnic backgrounds, and students from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities;
Students whose parents have not attended university;
Students who attended non-fee-paying schools;
Students who were, during their secondary education, in receipt of free school meals;
Students who were, during their undergraduate programme, in receipt of an undergraduate bursary designated as being for students from lower income families, including The Courtauld Bursary and/or James Hughes-Hallett Scholarship;
Students who were, during their undergraduate programme, in receipt of a student loan calculated at the maximum amount;
Students in receipt of Disability Support Allowance;
Students who are Care Leavers;
Students who themselves are the principal carer for a third party;
Students who are nationals of and who are currently ordinarily resident in a state designated within the least developed, low income or lower middle-income categories in the most recent list of ODA recipient states: https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/sub-issues/oda-eligibility-and-conditions/dac-list-of-oda-recipients.html;
Students who had experienced forced displacement and/or who hold refugee status and/or are qualified persons with Humanitarian Protection Status.

Academic ability will be established through a demonstration – set out in the personal statement appended to the Scholarship application – of:

Outstanding past academic achievements within the context of the learning environment specific to each student;
Demonstrable, quantifiable and continued engagement in activities relevant to the course and its outcomes; and
A demonstration of substantial ambition in relation to course outcomes and future career/study prospects.

Scholarship Application form for Manton Scholarships

Programme Specific Scholarships - Conservation

Closing date for applications: Monday 20 January 2025, 17:00 GMT

The first round of offers for Programme Specific Scholarships – Conservation will be made from the second week of March 2025 onward.

Close Brothers Asset Management Scholarship for MA Conservation (Walls Or Easels)

A single scholarship is generously funded by Close Brothers Asset Management to support a student taking either MA Conservation of Easel Paintings or MA Conservation of Wall Paintings. This scholarship is awarded for each of the three years of the programme, at £15,000 per year. This scholarship is currently awarded until 2026/27.

David Skipsey Memorial Fund Scholarship for MA Conservation of Easel Paintings

This scholarship is generously funded by The David Skipsey Memorial Fund and supports one student per year who is studying MA Conservation of Easel Paintings. The scholarship supports the same student for the three years of their study. The value of this award averages £5000 per year. This scholarship is currently awarded until 2025/26.

Gerry Hedley Memorial Fund Scholarship for MA Conservation of Easel Paintings

This scholarship is generously funded by The Gerry Hedley Memorial Fund and supports one student per year who studies MA Conservation of Easel Paintings. The value of this award averages £3000 per year.

Hugh and Jane Bedford Scholarship for MA Conservation of Easel Paintings

This scholarship is generously funded by Hugh and Jane Bedford and supports a single student on the MA Conservation of Easel Paintings programme for each of the three years of study. The value of this award is £7000 per year.

J. Paul Getty Trust Fund for Education in the Conservation of Wall Paintings Scholarships

Several scholarships are awarded each year to MA Conservation of Wall Paintings students. The value and number of these scholarships is determined by demonstrable financial need, and the scholarship award will be paid annually in each year of the three-year duration of the course.
Please note students on this programme are not eligible for a Master’s Loan by the UK government.

Juliette and John Edwards Scholarship for MA Conservation of Wall Paintings

This scholarship is generously funded by the Juliette and John Edwards Fund and supports students who study MA Conservation of Wall Paintings. The value of this award averages £11,000 per year.

Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Scholarships for MA History and Conservation of Buddhist Heritage

Several scholarships – generously funded by the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Centre at The Courtauld – are available to students studying the MA History and Conservation of Buddhist Heritage.

The Andrew Sutton Scholarship for MA Conservation of Wall Paintings

This scholarship is generously funded by Andrew Sutton to support a single student studying on the MA Conservation of Wall Paintings programme. The value of this award is £500.

The Simon Gillespie Studio Scholarship for MA Conservation of Easel Paintings

This scholarship is intended to support one student enrolled on the MA Conservation of Easel Paintings for the full three-year duration of the course. The Simon Gillespie Studio Scholars will receive a payment of £10,000 each year for the duration of the course.

Woodmansterne Art Conservation Award for MA Conservation (Easels Or Walls)

This scholarship supports a single student on the MA Conservation of Easel Paintings or MA Conservation of Wall Painting programme for one academic year. The value of this award averages £5000 per year.

Applications for one or more of the Programme Specific Conservation Scholarships are made using a single Scholarship Application Form (below) by Monday 20 January 2025, 17:00 GMT.

Please note that students can apply for the Conservation scholarships in addition to the “Art for All” MA scholarship and the Postgraduate Studies Scholarship. Students who wish to be considered for programme-specific Conservation scholarships in addition to MA “Art for All” and general Postgraduate Studies Scholarships should submit one Application Form for Taught Programmes along with one Application Form for Courtauld Conservation Programmes. In the event that any student is offered more than one internal scholarship, they must choose which single scholarship they take up.

Scholarship Application Form for Courtauld Conservation Programmes

Loan Schemes

UK Government Masters Loan
US / Canadian Government Loan

External Scholarships

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 M.A. 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:

Payment towards the yearly cost of university fees.
A paid internship at the collection for a minimum of 1 month.

The deadline to apply is 20th of June 2025.

Further information and application forms can be found here

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 here

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 here

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 here

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 here

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 here

Alumni Loyalty Scheme

The Courtauld 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.

Courtauld Scholarship Supporters

The Courtauld wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the following supporters, who 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.

The American Foundation for The Courtauld Institute of Art
The Anna Plowden Trust
The Arbuthnott Bequest
Hugh and Jane Bedford
John Treacy Beyer and J.L.T. Beyer
The Estate of Eve Borsook
Sir Geoffrey Agnew Memorial Fund
Catherine Lewis Foundation
Chipeta Trading Company
Close Brothers Asset Management
The John S Cohen Foundation
The Juliette and John Edwards Fund
Guiseppe Eskenazi Scholarship
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
Simon Gillespie Studio
The Gerry Hedley Memorial Fund
The Guilford Foundation
Heller Family
Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Global
James Hughes-Hallett Memorial Fund
Evelyn and Stanislawa Kryszek
Estate of Marianne Kewan
The Kilfinan Trust
Michael Kitson Scholarship Fund
Samuel H. Kress Foundation
Joseph and Esther Lichtenstein
Dr. Lee MacCormick Edwards Charitable Foundation
The Manton Foundation
Dr. David Reed
Charles and Barbara Robertson
Graham Robertson Fund
Rothschild Scholarship Fund
The David Skipsey Memorial Fund
The South Square Trust
Andrew Sutton
The Edmond J. Safra Scholarship
Edward Said Scholarship
The Sophie Trevelyan Thomas Fund
The University of London Scholars Programme
Garfield Weston Foundation
Woodmansterne Publications