Graduate Fellowships, Teaching and Research Assistantships
Applicants for admission to the program must indicate their wish to be considered for financial aid with their application. Continuing students in the program must indicate their request for financial aid in the coming year by February 1st. All graduate fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships offered by the Department are accompanied by a grant of the full cost of tuition and include a stipend. Tuition scholarships carry no stipend. For more information about our financial support policy, see the Graduate Program's Rules and Regulations.
Global Dissertation Development Grants
Global Dissertation Development Grants are primarily intended for students who have completed their Ph.D. exams and language requirements and are beginning to develop their dissertation proposal. It may also support students already researching and writing their dissertations. The grants are awarded on a competitive basis, with a maximum of one award per student during their career in the Department. The maximum grant is $4,000, which may be used as a stipend or to offset travel expenses anywhere in the world: Europe, Africa, Asia or in the Americas, including the United States.
Summer Internship Program at the Biggs Museum of American Art
Thanks to a generous challenge grant from the Choptank Foundation, UD Art History and Art Conservation students now have the unique opportunity to gain hands-on museum experience in any of three major areas: education, collections management and curation. The program is open both to undergraduate and graduate students and can be fulfilled at the Biggs Museum of American Art in Dover, Delaware, and at other arts organizations throughout the state. Student interns work with curators, registrars and education specialists to create interpretive materials, develop curricula following national standards, work with children, families and the general public to enhance visitors’ experience. By doing so, they gain valuable experience to help launch their own careers in many arts-related fields.
McGuigan Summer Internship
With the generous support of the McGuigan Collection, the Department of Art History can offer up to two funded summer internships at a renowned private art collection that will provide hands-on experience in archival research, collections management, conservation or digitization work.
Lynn Herrick Sharp Curatorial Fellowship
This program places a Ph.D. student from the University of Delaware in the Curatorial Department of the Delaware Art Museum (DelArt) for approximately 20 hours per week during the academic year. The stipend for the Fellowship is $25,000 per academic year for two consecutive academic years. Details and application instructions are circulated every two years in the spring semester.
Dissertation Writing Support
Students in their final year of dissertation writing may also apply to the Sewell C. Biggs Dissertation Writing Award in Art History and Preservation Studies. A call for applications is circulated in the spring semester.
Research and Conference Travel Grants
Our Department also provide some support for graduate students who are presenting papers at scholarly conferences, or conducting dissertation research with primary materials away from the University campus. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but must be submitted at least one month prior to the beginning of travel. Applications are competitive and should be made using the forms provided by the Department office. For more information about departmental travel grants regulations, see the Graduate Program's Rules and Regulations. To apply go to our Forms for Graduate Students. We also encourage students to seek other travel support opportunities, through the Graduate College or other external agencies.