Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars

Arts Scholars MA Awards from WCAS studentship

The Arts Scholars MA Award will provide three successful applicants with a partial fee waiver of £5,000 and potential mentoring opportunities.

  • Funding: £5,000
  • Academic year: 2023/24
  • Open to: UK (home) students
  • Qualification level: Postgraduate taught
  • Number available: Three
Applications for 2023/24 are closed.

      Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars

The Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars is a Livery Company in the City of London.

Membership is open to those engaged in the study, curation, collection and trade in antiques, antiquities and objects of decorative and applied art. It also welcomes those engaged in the many associated support businesses such as restoration and conservation, insurance, event organisation, tax and legal advice, packing and shipping.

The three Arts Scholars MA Awards offer the successful candidates a substantial fee waiver.

There may also be opportunities for mentoring with an eminent practitioner. Appointees may be given contact with and introductions to professionals and academic experts within the wider art market in London and the UK, and within the Arts Scholars Guild and Sotheby’s Art Institute to support their studies at York and career ambitions. The Arts Scholars’ Company membership’s wide-ranging expertise and knowledge of aspects connected to careers in museums, galleries, heritage management, the art market, journalism, education and art administration gives it an insight into the manifold range of careers and the skills required.

The Arts Scholars MA Awards are an exciting opportunity for anyone who wants to embark on a career in the arts and heritage sector after graduation.

Eligibility

Open to UK (home) students only.

Open to students in the Department of History of Art.

Studentship applications are welcomed from all UK full-time students on the MA in History of Art, or a related pathway degree.

How to apply

Application deadline: Monday 24 July 2023, 11.59pm BST

Please submit your CV and an enthusiastic personal statement of no more than 800 words which explains your interest in, and suitability for, this partnership opportunity. In particular, we will be looking for:

  • your main academic and work-related achievements
  • how you see the award fitting in with and facilitating your career plans
  • an indication of how this financial assistance will be of benefit to you.

Applicants should have good time-management, communication skills and an interest in a career in the arts and heritage sector. You are advised to consult the information on this page, and the Worshipful Company of Arts Scholars’ own website, before you apply. Please email your CV and personal statement to history-of-art@york.ac.uk by the deadline.

Contact details

History of Art Postgraduate Admissions Team

histart-pg-admissions@york.ac.uk

Here are previous recipient Jay Wheeler's thoughts on the Arts Scholars Award:

What do you value most about your experience with the Arts Scholars?

Knowing that someone else believes in your capabilities is one of the most valuable aspects of receiving a scholarship. The confidence I have gained has informed both my studies and my outlook!

How has your association with the Arts Scholars enhanced your studies at York?

The scholarship has given me the confidence and passion to succeed to the best of my ability throughout the degree, and to make the most of an opportunity for education which I honestly believe would not have been possible without the Arts Scholars’ support.

Do you feel it has been helpful with career planning or improved your job prospects, and if yes, how?

Without the Company’s generous investment, I would not have been able to devote so much time to pursuing volunteering roles, work experience placements and attending networking opportunities. These included working with both Historic England and the BBC, experiences which will, of course, benefit me in moving forward in my career.

The insight I gained into the world of broadcasting and event management has served to further my interest in a career combining academia and broadcasting, which has always been an aspiration of mine.

Would you recommend it to future students?

I would definitely encourage future students to apply for the Arts Scholars’ Award. The value of the freedom the scholarship affords students to focus on their studies and other career related opportunities cannot be underestimated!