University of Oxford - Stuart Morgan Prize for Art History

Stuart Morgan Prize for Art History

You will receive a one-off cash prize of about 120 EUR (100 GBP) for writing the best final-year dissertation in the subject of Art History and Art Theory. The prize is awarded by the Ruskin School of Art at the University of Oxford, the University’s Department of Fine Art. It is named after Stuart Morgan, an art critic who taught at the school in the 1990s. The value of the prize may vary from year to year; this figure is taken from an older published source.

Who can apply

• Course: You are studying for a Bachelor of Fine Art (BFA) at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford. This is a three-year, practice-based degree programme that combines artistic practice with art history and art theory.
• Study year: You are in your third and final year of school and are sitting your final exams.
• The essay: You will submit a long final dissertation of approximately 6,000 words on the subject of modern or contemporary art and visual culture. This will count towards your final mark.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they are enrolled on the BFA programme.

How to apply

You do not need to apply. The examiners who mark the final exams will select the best essay and award the prize automatically. All you need to do is write the essay for your final exam, which you will submit at the start of your third year of study.

How realistic are your chances?

You don’t apply for this in the same way as you would for a scholarship. The prize is awarded each year to the best essay, and only around 30 students take part in the programme. The pool of applicants is tiny, but only one person wins – so it all comes down to producing an outstanding piece of writing. Focus entirely on the essay itself; that’s all you can do.