What is the expected time commitment for a Winterthur Fellow?
Full-time participation over the course of 22 consecutive months, beginning August 1 and ending May 31st the following year, is expected.
Are there funding opportunities for fellows beyond the stipend?
Thanks to generous donors, both the University and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library have a variety of endowed and gift funds that provide some support for every student’s thesis research. There are also generous supplementary funding opportunities available to Winterthur Fellows; these may also fund thesis research expenses, conference attendance, presentation travel, and educational opportunities outside of the [...]
What is the cost of attendance?
When admitted into the Winterthur Program, students become Lois F. McNeil Fellowship recipients. These Fellowships are made possible by the generosity of the McNeil family. While the Fellowship is subject to change, it is based on the costs of living in the Greater Wilmington Area, and is usually adequate to cover Fellows’ room and board. [...]
I am currently employed. Can I keep my position while working on my M.A. as a Winterthur fellow?
The Winterthur Program is a full-time, 22-month commitment, and under the policies of the University’s Office of Graduate and Professional Education, other full and regular part-time employment is not permitted. With permission, Fellows occasionally undertake minor forms of employment if they clearly contribute to the student’s scholarly or professional training (e.g. extra guiding or working [...]
Do Fellows undertake internships while in the Program?
Fellows may augment the Program curriculum with professional experience through internships. There are two strategies for gaining this experience: the Museum Studies & Public Engagement Program Internship course (MSST 804, 3cr); or other professional experiences generally registered under the Special Topics / Independent Study course (EAMC 666, 3cr). The latter course is directed study that [...]
I prefer living and working in big cities, will I be happy at the Winterthur Program?
Students coming from big cities enjoy their time as Winterthur Fellows immensely. Some choose to live in Philadelphia and maintain connections with New York City and Washington, DC, both easily accessible by bus or train from Wilmington. The Program enables Fellows to study material culture and decorative arts in urban environments during the British Design [...]
Where do fellows usually live?
Fellows usually live close to the Winterthur Museum or the University of Delaware campus in northern Delaware. Some Fellows choose to live in the city of Philadelphia and some of the smaller Pennsylvania towns that border Delaware, like Chadds Ford or Kennett Square. Most Fellows have found either the city of Wilmington or northern suburban [...]
Is the stipend that Winterthur Fellows receive enough to live on?
Yes, in most cases. Fellows find the stipend manageable for their 22 months of study. The stipend value is based on the cost of living in the Greater Wilmington Area, and generally covers room and board. Fellows can maximize their stipend through cost-saving measures, such as living with roommates rather than living alone and carpooling. [...]
What is Summer Institute?
Summer Institute is what Fellows often refer to as “decorative arts boot-camp.” It is held in August of Fellows’ first year and is meant to be an introductory course to Decorative Arts and Material Culture Study. The main goal of the course is to expose Fellows to the resources at both Winterthur and the University [...]
Do I need a car/driver’s license to attend the Program?
Yes. Because Winterthur began as a country estate several miles outside Wilmington, Delaware, students and faculty find it necessary to have a car. Public transportation is not convenient and timely enough for students to use regularly. Most students move to Delaware or the surrounding area shortly before Summer Institute—the introductory core course held in August. [...]