The Yarwood Research Grant

Awarded annually to a student whose final project / dissertation deals with an aspect of the history of dress.

The Costume Society is proud to honour the legacy of dress historian and former Chair of The Society, Doreen Yarwood (1918–1999), with an annual research grant of up to £500 and a one-year membership. This award supports an MA student whose dissertation or final project focuses on the history of dress and/or textiles.

The grant is specifically intended to assist with research-related expenses associated with the completion of your dissertation, such as:

• Travel costs to libraries, archives, or collections
• Subsistence while conducting research away from your institution
• Archive reproduction fees

It is important to note that this grant is not intended to cover general degree costs but to support specific research needs. If you're uncertain about the eligibility of your expenses, please email us after reading the full details below.

Eligibility

Applicants must be enrolled in an MA course at a UK institution.

The applicant's research must focus on the history of dress and/or textiles.

Deadline and Application Procedure

The next deadline for submissions is 31st May 2026. Please submit the following by email putting Yarwood Research Grant Application as the subject line:

1. CV: A short CV (maximum one A4 page).
2. Research Summary: A summary of your research topic (up to 500 words) and how the grant will contribute to achieving your research goals.
3. Budget: A detailed outline budget in GB£ (maximum one A4 page). Please be as specific as possible regarding your planned expenses.
4. Supporting Statement: A supporting statement from your course tutor, which must be sent by email by the same deadline, 31st May 2026.

Criteria for Judging Applications

1. Originality and Rigor of Research: We seek students working on innovative topics or using fresh methodologies, approaches, or sources.
2. Impact of the Grant: How will the grant improve the quality and outcome of your research?
3. Budget Viability: A clear, realistic budget that outlines how the funds will be used.
4. Supporting Statement: The strength of the supporting statement from your course tutor.

Key Dates and Timeline

31st May 2026: Deadline for all applications and supporting statements.

End of June 2026: Notification of award decisions will be sent to successful applicants.

Mid-July 2026: Award funds (in GB£) will be issued to the successful candidate(s).

Dissertation Submission: After completing your dissertation, you will be asked to submit a 500-word summary of how the grant contributed to your research, along with several high-quality, copyright-free images. This summary will be featured in the Costume Society's publications and media.

What happens after submission?

If you are awarded the grant, you will receive a one-year membership to the Costume Society, valid for the year of your application. You will also be asked to share a short report after submitting your dissertation, detailing how the grant contributed to your research. This will be published on our website.

History of the Yarwood Research Grant

Established in 2000 through the generous bequest of Doreen Yarwood, the Yarwood Research Grant originally aimed to support non-professional researchers and retired professionals using UK collections, libraries, and archives. Since its inception, the grant has funded numerous projects, with its focus evolving slightly over time.