Art students in Barcelona, Spain (image by Librarygroover, used under CC license)

Funding is a crucial concern for most people who are planning to study abroad, and the best kind of resource is scholarships. Many fear that scholarships are harder to come by in creative fields than in, say, the sciences or engineering. If you plan to study art, don’t be discouraged – seek and you will find! Here is a starter list of international scholarships that aspiring art students are eligible for.

1. Andrew Grant Postgraduate Scholarships at the University of Edinburgh: The Edinburgh College of Arts offers these for each of its five schools, including the School of Art, School of Design, and School of History of Art. The application deadlines are between February and April, and all applicants are informed about the outcome by May.
    
2. DAAD scholarships for foreign graduates in the fields of Fine Art, Design/Visual Communication and Film: These are offered by the German Academic Exchange Service. They are meant for international students from developing countries. The study programs covered include Master’s or postgraduate degrees leading to a final qualification, or a complementary course that does not lead to a final qualification, at a state or state-recognised German university of your choice. The deadline is generally in October.
    
3. Studio Art and Art History Scholarships at the University of Iowa: The university’s School of Art and Art History offers more than 10 scholarships for International graduate students planning to enrol in the Art History and Studio Art programs. The university was the first to offer a Master of Fine Arts degree. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is generally in February.
    
4. Courtauld Scholarship offered by the Courtauld Institute of Art. This scholarship is available to aspiring postgraduate students based on academic merit and financial need. It is available for MA in the History of Art, Curating the Art Museum, Conservation of Wall Paintings, and Buddhist Art, as well as for the Postgraduate Diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings. The deadline to apply for the scholarships is usually in March.
    
5. Inlaks Scholarships. These are for study at universities in several countries including the US and UK. They are offered by the New Delhi-based Inlaks Foundation. The scholarships are awarded to Indian students who want to study abroad and show exceptional talent in the fields of architecture, fine arts and applied arts. The deadline is usually in April.
   
   So if you dream about studying art abroad, but are daunted by the cost, there’s hope. Polish up that portfolio and apply!