University of Essex

Art History at Essex

Funding opportunities

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Funding

The University has AHRC funding for a large number of postgraduate courses, including three years of PhD study. Please contact the Postgraduate Taught Administrator, Libby Armstrong, for further information.

Studentships available 2012-13

The University of Essex has AHRC studentships available for 2012/13 across the following subject areas:

 Am I eligible for a studentship?

Students from the UK and EU (often referred to as Home/EU students) can apply for an AHRC studentships. International students are not eligible for AHRC funding. 

How do I apply for an AHRC studentship?

  1. Once you have decided on your chosen course, you need to discuss this with us and apply to study at our University through the Graduate Admissions Office.
  2. Apply for AHRC funding by completing the application form, which is available from either the Graduate Admissions Office or from the Postgraduate Administrator in the School of Philosophy and Art History. You will need to submit a reference with your application form demonstrating why you are a very strong candidate for the funding.  Return your completed form to the Postgraduate Administrator by 23 March 2012.

Please note the final allocation of the studentship is dependent on obtaining a place at our university.

The deadline for 2012 applications is 23 March 2012.

The Drake-Lewis Graduate Scholarships

Thanks to a recent legacy, the Department is in a position to offer several scholarships of £5,000 each in order to fund new MA students in Art History. These scholarships are available to all students (Home/EU and overseas).The legacy fulfils the wishes of the late Eleanor Mary Drake-Lewis, a resident of West Mersea, near Colchester, who received her PhD from Penn State University and who was a life-long educator and a dedicated artist. We will be offering a maximum of up to three MA awards, providing that suitable candidates present themselves. The awards are each worth £5000 for the academic year 2012-13. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship you must first have applied and been accepted for a place by the Department by the end of April 2012. Please contact the Postgraduate Taught Administrator, Libby Armstrong, for further information.

University of Essex Scholarships

These grants are administered by the School of Philosophy and Art History and are open to applications from prospective MA and PhD students and from MA students currently on course who want to continue to do a PhD. If you wish to be considered for a scholarship you must first have applied and been accepted for a place by the School by the end of March 2012. Eligible students are also required to apply for an AHRC award if they wish to be considered for a scholarship. Preference may be given to candidates from outside the European Union (overseas applicants).
Further information on scholarships

The University of Essex Silberrad Scholarships

The scholarships are awarded to enable University of Essex graduates to pursue PhD study. You are eligible if you have a BA or MA from the University or are in the final term of completing your MA and qualify for Home/EU fees. The award covers the fees and some living expenses.

Further information on Silberrad scholarships

Details about all these awards will be available on this website in the New Year. In the meantime, make your application to the School by contacting the Postgraduate Taught Administrator.

University of Essex Travel Grants

Full details of the University of Essex Travel Grants are available on the Graduate School website.

Sir Andrew Carnwath Prize for students already on course 2011-12

This prize of approximately £500 is awarded annually to a graduate student at PhD level for the best proposal for travel and research related to his/her thesis. Applicants must submit to the Head of School a proposal of not more than 1000 words outlining a summary of anticipated costs and the name of a referee who is familiar with their work with whom they have discussed their proposal. Applications will be considered by a committee consisting of the Head of School, the Director of Postgraduate Research Studies and the Director of Postgraduate Taught Studies. The committee will consider the student's achievements to date as well as the academic promise contained in the proposal. It may decide to make more than one award. The deadline for applications is Friday of week 24 of the spring term (Friday 16 March 2012) and the award will be tenable either during the Easter or the Summer vacations. The winner will be required to submit a brief report on his/her travel and research to the Head of School.

The Thomas Puttfarken Research Prize

This annual prize fund is generously supported by friends and colleagues of Professor Thomas Puttfarken (1943-2006).  The prize is for MPhil and PhD students who require funds to support essential research visits to libraries, museums, archives and artist's studios in fulfilment of the specific needs of their projects, or to present conference papers or attend important conferences.  Some of the fund may also be available in some cases to support publications costs, or to assist students with costs associated with the completion of their thesis.  Awards to students will typically be around £300, though requests for larger amounts will be considered.  The deadline for applications is Friday of week 24 of the spring term (Friday 16 March 2012).

The Tim Laughton Travel Fund

A fund has been established in memory of Dr Tim Laughton, a lecturer in the Department of Art History and Theory until his death in February 2009, who specialised in pre-Columbian art and architecture.  Generous donations, especially from his family and from the artist Michael Aakhus, have enabled us to offer a bursary of approximately £500 annually.  This will be awarded to the undergraduate or postgraduate student in the department who submits the best proposal for travel to Latin America for research related to her or his BA, MA or PhD dissertation.  Applicants must submit to the Head of School an application of not more than 1000 words outlining the proposed research.  This should include a summary of travel plans and anticipated costs, and the name of a referee with whom they have discussed their proposal.  Applications will be considered by a committee consisting of the Head of School, the Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies and Professor Valerie Fraser.  The deadline for applications is the end of Week 24 of the spring term (Friday 16 March 2012).  The award will normally be tenable during the summer vacation.  The winner will be required to submit a brief report on his/her travel and research to the Head of School.

Other Possible Sources of Funding

Funding for postgraduate courses is available from a number of sources. You may find some of the following websites useful:

Last updated: 02 March 2012.