Getty Scholars Program at the Villa 2027–2028 | Research Funding in Los Angeles

Some academic opportunities are easy to find. Others are so specialised that they rarely appear on the usual scholarship lists.

The Getty Scholars Program at the Villa is one of those opportunities.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, Getty is inviting applications from scholars whose research connects with the arts, history and cultural heritage of the ancient Mediterranean and the continuing influence of antiquity. Successful applicants spend a period in residence at the Getty Villa in Los Angeles, using Getty’s collections, library and research resources to advance their work.

About the Getty Villa Scholars Program

The Getty Villa Scholars Program is part of the wider Getty Scholars Program, which has hosted researchers from countries around the world since 1985.

The Villa programme focuses specifically on research connected to the ancient Mediterranean and the afterlife of antiquity. Recent projects have explored subjects involving art, history, archaeology, cultural heritage and related areas.

For 2027–2028, the programme will continue to support residential research under its annual theme, giving selected scholars access to the Getty’s specialist collections and research environment in Los Angeles.

What Does the Grant Provide?

The Getty provides residential support for selected Villa Scholars.

The wider Getty residential scholar programme includes financial support, housing and research resources, while the exact terms for the Villa grants are provided through the current programme information and application process.

Selected scholars benefit from:

• A residential research period in Los Angeles
• Access to Getty research collections and resources
• A dedicated workspace
• Research support
• Opportunities to interact with other scholars
• Participation in lectures and scholarly activities
• A highly specialised international research environment

The Getty’s residential programmes bring scholars together within the same academic community, creating opportunities for exchange between researchers working across different disciplines and periods.

Who Is This For?

This is not a general undergraduate or Master’s scholarship.

The Villa Scholar Grant is intended for established scholars and researchers whose qualifications and professional work fit the programme’s research focus.

Applicants are assessed on the quality of their proposed research, their previous achievements and their ability to carry out the proposed project. The Getty also evaluates how the project would contribute to the applicant’s field and how effectively the researcher would use Getty’s resources.

This makes the opportunity particularly relevant to researchers working in areas such as:

• Art history
• Archaeology
• Ancient history
• Classical studies
• Cultural heritage
• Museum studies
• Material culture
• Literature and related humanities fields

The research must have a meaningful connection to the programme’s annual theme and the resources available at the Getty Villa.

What Makes This Opportunity Rare?

The Getty Villa programme is considerably more specialised than the scholarships that usually dominate international scholarship websites.

It is designed for researchers whose work connects with antiquity, the ancient Mediterranean and its continuing cultural influence.

Getty says its various scholar programmes receive hundreds of applications each year, while the Villa programme awards grants to approximately a dozen applicants annually.

That makes this a highly competitive opportunity, but also one that many researchers outside the usual art-history and humanities networks may never encounter.

What Do You Need to Apply?

Applicants must prepare a research proposal of no more than five pages, typed and double-spaced.

The proposal should explain:

• The research project
• How it addresses the annual theme
• How it contributes to the applicant’s field
• The proposed research and study plan
• How the project would benefit from Getty’s resources

Applicants must also submit a CV detailing their professional activities.

A writing sample of up to 20 double-spaced pages is optional. Unlike some academic fellowships, letters of reference are not required for the Villa Scholar Grant application.

You may also be interested in:

• Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 | Fully Funded Graduate Study at Stanford University
• Yenching Academy Scholarship 2027 | Fully Funded Master’s at Peking University in China

How to Apply

Applications for the 2027–2028 Getty Villa Residential Fellowships are currently open.

Deadline: 1 October 2026

Applicants should carefully review the annual theme, eligibility requirements and proposal guidelines before beginning their application.

Conclusion

The Getty Scholars Program at the Villa is not the typical scholarship opportunity.

It is highly specialised, research-focused and competitive, but for the right scholar it offers something difficult to replicate: time to concentrate on an important research project while working within one of the world’s major cultural and research institutions.

For researchers working on antiquity, the ancient Mediterranean, cultural heritage or related areas, this is a scholarship worth knowing about.

TheOpHub Tip

Do not apply simply because the Getty name sounds impressive. Your research must genuinely fit the programme’s theme and make meaningful use of the Getty Villa’s collections and resources. Before submitting, spend time explaining exactly why your project belongs at the Getty and what you will be able to accomplish there that you could not do as effectively elsewhere.

If it’s rare, hidden, or slept-on, TheOpHub finds it.