AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) Studentship

The Courtauld Institute of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum are offering a fully funded PhD studentship under the AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) scheme. This unique opportunity focuses on Paduan Renaissance bronzes from the V&A’s collection, inviting the successful candidate to produce extended research-based catalogue entries and a critical essay that contextualises and interprets these works within the artistic culture of Padua.

The project is jointly supervised by Dr Rachel Boyd and Dr Kira d’Alburquerque at the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Prof. Guido Rebecchini and Dr Felix Jaeger at the Courtauld Institute. The student will benefit from access to both institutions, engaging with their collections, resources, and academic communities, as well as joining the wider cohort of CDP funded students across the UK.

The studentship is open to both home and international applicants and can be studied full-time or part-time (note: international students requiring a Student VISA must study full-time). The position encourages applications from candidates of diverse backgrounds and career stages, aiming to foster inclusivity within the field of art history.

Funding is comprehensive: tuition fees are fully covered for home and international students, and the award includes a tax-free annual stipend of £21,805 (UKRI minimum for 2026/2027), plus a London weighting of £2,000 and a CDP maintenance payment of £600 per year. Additionally, the V&A offers a travel and related expenses grant of up to £1,250 over the course of the project. The studentship can be held for up to 4 years full-time or 8 years part-time, with the requirement that the student resides in the UK until completion.

Applicants should have a strong academic background in art history or a related discipline and meet the eligibility requirements for PhD study at the Courtauld Institute. The application deadline is 24 April 2026. For full project details and application instructions, visit the Courtauld Institute’s PhD funding and scholarships page.

This studentship offers a rare chance to contribute original research to the field of Renaissance art, working closely with leading scholars and curators, and engaging with world-class collections at both the Courtauld and the V&A.