Maggs Bros. Ltd.

Initiated in 2023, the Maggs Scholarship has evolved from the longstanding relationship between our firm and the Institute of English Studies at the University of London. As we look to the future of the rare book trade, we are proud to support this award which offers full funding for a student on the MA/MRes History of the Book programme at the School of Advanced Studies.

Providing students with a broad overview of book history from the medieval period to the present day, this course provides the kind of specialised training that we feel offers the ideal groundwork for a young person seeking a career in our industry. As such, we hope it will help open pathways for individuals eager to learn this trade.

Furthermore, we have had the great pleasure of hosting interns from the IES book history programme for some years now, and developed this scholarship with the hope that the recipient would consider taking up this placement within the pre-existing internship scheme.

Diversity enriches our industry, and we actively encourage applicants from background underrepresented in the rare book trade, and whose circumstances might make it difficult to access the programme otherwise. To ensure the greatest degree of fairness is exercised in the selection process, the recipient of the award will be chosen by the admissions department of the university.

If you would like to learn more about the award, you can visit the IES website, or see below.

Visit the IES website

The Institute of English Studies (IES) at the School of Advanced Study (SAS) will award a funded studentship for one place on its MA/MRes History of the Book programme 2025/26. The award covers fees in full at the Home/EU rate. The studentship is funded by Maggs Bros. Ltd., one of the world’s largest and oldest antiquarian booksellers.

The Maggs Scholarship seeks especially to support an excellent student who wishes to study on the MA in the History of the Book, but whose circumstances might make it difficult to access the programme. Preference will be given to applicants who are residents of the United Kingdom with an ethnic minority background. Scholarship recipients will also be invited for an internship at Maggs Bros. Ltd. as part of the internship scheme pre-existing for the History of the Book programme.

Applicants for the Maggs Scholarship must:

1. have been interviewed by two members of academic staff at the Institute and have received an offer of registration for the MA/MRes History of the Book for the relevant upcoming academic session;

2. demonstrate excellent academic merit or potential in the field of study, evidenced particularly by past achievements; and

3. normally be in a position where undertaking the MA/MRes History of the Book would be difficult due to financial/personal circumstances.

If studying part-time, fees will be waived for both years of the programme.

Overseas candidates may apply, but are not eligible for the funding of the full overseas tuition fee. The equivalent of one Home/EU student fee would be deducted from the total cost of tuition fees for an overseas recipient of the award. In 2025/26 the overseas fees are £17,779 (full time) and £8,890 (part time).

The Maggs Scholarship will be awarded In 2025/26, to a student intending to commence studies in the September intake of the MA/MRes History of the Book. Relevant dates for the 2025/26 award are as follows:

Deadline for registration on MA programme (for those wishing to apply for the studentship)
31 July 2025

Deadline for studentship applications
20 June 2025

Notification of outcome to all applicants
18 July 2025

MA programme commences
September 2025

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their application for admission to the programme is submitted in time to also be able to meet the scholarship application deadline.

Each scholarship is offered for a particular academic session and cannot be carried over to a later intake or a future year.