The James Marrow Research Travel Fund

Overview

This fund has been established in celebration of Professor James H. Marrow, Honorary Keeper of Northern Illuminated Manuscripts at the Fitzwilliam Museum and Professor Emeritus of the Northern Renaissance at Princeton University. Its purpose is to provide financial assistance for students and independent scholars who need to travel to the Fitzwilliam Museum in order to undertake short-term research on illuminated manuscripts of any region or period preserved in its collections.

The award can be used to cover or contribute to travel to and from Cambridge and/or accommodation in Cambridge.

Level of award

Up to three awards will be made in 2026. Each award will be for up to £800.

Eligibility

1. Applicants must be independent scholars or graduate students (undertaking a Masters, PhD or equivalent) who have a demonstrable need to access the collections in support of their research. Applicants who do not have access to other sources of funding for their research are particularly encouraged to apply.
2. Applicants of any nationality, pursuing research in any country may apply. Applicants need to ensure that they have all documents necessary for their travel. The Fitzwilliam Museum is unable to assist with or advise on the acquisition of travel documents.
3. Successful applicants may apply again after two years.

Conditions of award

1. All claims for reimbursement must be in line with the University of Cambridge travel and subsistence policy and must be received as soon as possible after the visit, and certainly within 3 months. 
2. Successful applicants will be required to produce a brief report with the specific results of their research within three months of completing their visit. Funds may not be released until we have received this report.
3. Successful applicants will be expected to send copies of publications or unpublished dissertations which have benefited from their research visit.
4. Successful applicants will be expected to acknowledge their award from the Fitzwilliam Museum’s James Marrow Research Travel Fund in publications, dissertations, conference papers and any other results which have benefited from their research visit.

How to apply 

The completed and signed application form should be submitted together with a CV to james-marrow-fund@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk. Your reference must also be submitted by your referee to the above email address by the deadline.

Deadline

Applications must be received by midnight on 15 February 2026.  Successful applicants will be informed by 22 February. The research visits will need to take place before 31 December 2026.

Testimonial

The scholarship was awarded in 2024-2025 to Fergus Bovill, now in his first year of doctoral study at Oxford, funded by the Oxford-Open-Cambridge AHRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Fergus writes:

"The Marrow Scholarship provided an invaluable opportunity for a week of focused research at the Fitzwilliam. Covering all travel and living expenses, I was able to take a deep dive into 19th-century collages and albums of illuminated cuttings in the Museum’s collection—without the usual time constraints—as well as speak to curators and conservators. It was instrumental in developing my PhD research project, and provided a unique chance to get to know the Museum and explore Cambridge."

How we will use your personal information

We will use your information to allow us to contact you about whether your application has been successful, and if you do receive funding to keep in touch with you to arrange the visit and transfer of funding.

We use your personal information in accordance with our contractual obligations as set out in the scheme guidelines

For more information about how we handle your personal information, and your rights under data protection legislation see the University's overview.