Prizes in art history
MA courses
Our MA courses offer in-depth study across a range of specialisms in art history from the renaissance to the present, including curating and Latin
American art, and are an excellent preparation for PhD study and careers in the art world.
We offer a variety of postgraduate prizes and bursaries for academic performance, to support you during your studies and to encourage research and travel abroad related to art history.
Our application deadline for each prize is normally in March each year, an exact date will be posted here in the autumn term.
Sir Andrew Carnwath prize
The Sir Andrew Carnwath prize of £500 is awarded annually to a current PhD student for the best proposal for travel and research related to their thesis.
An application of 1,000 words maximum should outline the proposed research including a summary of travel plans and anticipated costs, as well as the name of a
referee with whom you have discussed your proposal.
Applications should be sent to our Graduate Administrator, Wendy Williams, and will be considered by a
committee made up of our Head of School, and our Postgraduate Taught and Postgraduate Research Directors. The committee may decide to divide the prize money to make more than one award.
The award is normally tenable during the Easter or summer vacations, and the winner is required to submit a brief report on their travel and research to our Head of School.
Thomas Puttfarken research prize
The Thomas Puttfarken research prize was established in memory of Professor Thomas Puttfarken (1943-2006), an international specialist in renaissance and barqoue art,
and former lecturer in our School of Philosophy and Art History. The prize is generously supported by Professor Puttfarken’s friends and former colleagues.
The prize is for MPhil and PhD students requiring funds to support essential research visits to libraries, museums, archives and artists’ studios related to their theses,
or to present conference papers or attend important conferences. The funds may also be available to support publication costs, or assist with costs associated with the
completion of your thesis.
Awards are typically around £300, although requests for larger amounts will be considered. Applications of 1,000 words maximum including a summary of your proposed
project and anticipated costs should be sent to our Graduate Administrator, Wendy Williams.
Tim Laughton travel fund
The Tim Laughton travel fund was established in memory of Dr Tim Laughton, a lecturer in our School of Philosophy and Art History specialising in mesoamerican art and architecture,
who died in February 2009. Generous donations, especially from Dr Laughton’s family and the artist Michael Aakhus, enable us to offer a bursary of approximately £500 annually.
The fund is awarded to the undergraduate or postgraduate art history student who submits the best proposal for travel to Latin America, for research related to their BA, MA or PhD dissertation.
An application of 1,000 words maximum should outline the proposed research including a summary of travel plans and anticipated costs, as well as the name of a referee with whom you have discussed your proposal.
Applications should be submitted to our Deputy School Administrator, Hannah Whiting, and are considered by a committee made up of our Head of School and our Directors of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies.
The award is normally tenable during the summer vacation and the winner is required to submit a brief report on their travel and research to our Head of School.