Scholarships

Two main categories of scholarships are available: those awarded by Rare Book School and those conducted through partner organizations. Applications for the next cycle of RBS-awarded scholarships will open in Fall 2024. Scholarship awards will be announced in January or February. Participation in the scholarship program implies acceptance of the scholarship Terms and Conditions.

RBS-Awarded Scholarships

There are several types of scholarships awarded by RBS each fall, all of which are conducted through a single application process. Applications for the next cycle of RBS-awarded scholarships will open in Fall 2024. Scholarships are awarded without reference to admission to any particular course. Applications for first-time and returning RBS students will be read by separate committees.

Once a student is admitted to an RBS course, the scholarship award may be redeemed for in-person or online courses. A single scholarship or fellowship award may be redeemed for one in-person course, one 22-hour online course, or two 12-hour online courses within the same year, or three 6-hour courses, or a combination of one 12-hour and two 6-hour courses (partial awards may not be carried over to the second year). For more information, please contact rbs_scholarships@virginia.edu.

To begin the application process, please log into your myRBS account (or create a new myRBS account). On the home screen, scroll to “Scholarships and Fellowship Applications” and select the “click here” link. If you have trouble with myRBS, see the FAQ page or email rbs_scholarships@virginia.edu. Participation in the scholarship program implies acceptance of the scholarship/fellowship Terms and Conditions. If you have questions about the scholarship application process, please email rbs_scholarships@virginia.edu.

Scholarship recipients will be announced in January or February. Scholarship recipients must claim their award within two years (e.g., scholarships awarded in January 2024 must be claimed by 31 December 2025). For more details about the scholarship program, see the Frequently Asked Questions page.

The following scholarships are awarded by RBS Scholarship Committees:

Directors’ Scholarship

  • Awarded to students and professionals in all fields that intersect with RBS course content
  • Preference given to applicants early in their careers who have not previously attended RBS
  • Approximately 20 awards given each year

William T. Buice III Scholarship

  • Awarded to returning RBS students with demonstrable financial need, including those who have received RBS scholarships in the past
  • Preference given to applicants from smaller institutions and those serving underrepresented populations
  • Approximately ten awards given each year

ABAA Southeast Chapter Scholarship

  • Awarded to an early career bookseller doing business within the chapter's coverage area
  • One award given each year

ASECS Scholarship

  • Awarded to current ASECS members who have not previously attended RBS
  • One award given each year

Cathleen A. Baker Scholarship

  • Awarded to an applicant who self-identifies as a full-time independent scholar or researcher
  • One award given each year

Bibliographical Society of America Scholarship

  • Awarded to students and professionals working on a bibliographical project that intersects with and could be informed by RBS course content
  • Preference given to applicants early in their careers
  • One award given each year

Bibliographical Society of the University of Virginia (BSUVA) Scholarship

  • Awarded to students and professionals in all fields that intersect with RBS course content
  • Approximately five awards given each year

Book Club of Washington Scholarship

  • Awarded to students and professionals who demonstrate a strong interest in the history of books, bibliography, or book arts
  • Eligible applicants should reside in Washington state or work at a Washington-based institution
  • One award given each year

T. Kimball Brooker/Caxton Club Scholarship

  • Awarded to an individual living in the Midwest with professional interests in bibliography, book history, or the book arts who has not previously attended RBS
  • Preference given to applicants early in their careers who are ineligible for funding or financial aid through their places of employment
  • One award given each year

Geiss-Hsu Foundation Scholarship

  • Funds professionals whose work focuses primarily on the study or care of cultural artifacts from East Asia, as well as non-specialists who wish to develop an interest in this area
  • Covers full-tuition for one of Rare Book School’s courses on Asian books
  • Ten scholarships awarded in 2022

James Davis Scholarship

  • Awarded to an applicant who displays an especially strong record of good citizenship and stewardship in the bibliographical community, and who has not previously attended RBS
  • Two awards given each year

Jeremy Norman Scholarship

  • Awarded to applicants from all fields whose work or interests focus on the study of the physical book
  • One award given each year

Kenneth Karmiole Scholarship

  • Awarded to applicants from all fields whose work or interests focus on the study of the physical book
  • One award given each year

Kress Foundation Art of the Book in Europe Scholarship

  • Awarded to applicants working in art history or museum studies, with a focus on the arts in Europe from antiquity through the early nineteenth century
  • Two awards given annually, 2021–23

NEH–GBHI Scholarship

  • Awarded to members of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, or those working in organizations that primarily serve such communities
  • Eligible applicants may be students or professionals in any field that intersects with RBS course content
  • Successful applicants will demonstrate how they intend to share the knowledge learned from RBS course content with their colleagues and peers

Claudia Skelton Scholarship

  • Awarded to applicants from all fields whose work or interests focus on the study of the physical book
  • One award given each year

Washington Rare Book Group Scholarship

  • Awarded to an individual living in the Washington, D.C., area with interests in bibliography, book history, book arts, or other aspects of rare-book scholarship
  • One award given each year

RBS Scholarship Committees

The 2025 Scholarship Committee comprises Maria Lin (Assistant, Rulon-Miller Books); Kate Siebert Medicus (Special Collections Cataloger and Associate Professor, Kent State University); and Laura Perrings (Director of Programs & Education, Rare Book School). The members of the 2025 Buice Scholarship Committee are Rachel Budge (Assistant Program Manager, Rare Book School); Agnieszka Czeblakow (Head of Research Services, Tulane University Libraries); and Sam Lemley (Curator of Special Collections, Carnegie Mellon University).

Outside Scholarship Opportunities

Several other bibliographical organizations generously offer scholarships towards RBS course tuition. Each organization has its own criteria and selection process; however, eligibility may be contingent on admission to an RBS course. Applicants will need to refer to the providing organization's website for full details.

ABAA Scholarship

The Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America's (ABAA) Elisabeth Woodburn Fund offers annual scholarships for RBS course tuition. ABAA scholarship funds are open to full and associate members of the ABAA, as well as employees of members. For more information, contact ABAA Headquarters.

IOBA Scholarship

The Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA) awards two annual scholarships to IOBA members that may be used for Rare Book School, California Rare Book School (Los Angeles), or London Rare Books School. These awards do not require pre-acceptance to a specific course and are valid until December 31 of the year following the one in which the scholarship is awarded. For more information, including application instructions, visit the IOBA scholarship page.

NCC/ABAA George Robert Kane Scholarship

The Northern California Chapter of the ABAA (NCC/ABAA) accepts applications for the George Robert Kane Scholarship, which will provide funding to attend courses offered by Rare Book School,  CABS—Minnesota, or California Rare Book School (Los Angeles). These scholarships honor the memory of longtime NCC/ABAA member George Robert Kane (6 October 1913–28 November 2009) and are designed to promote professionalism and education relevant to the book trade. Please email NCC Secretary Kim Herrick at books@thebooklair.com to obtain an application.

Tavistock Books Educational Scholarship

The Tavistock Books Educational Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship opportunity that is available to all antiquarian booksellers admitted to Joel Silver’s course, Reference Sources for Researching Rare Books (L-25). One Tavistock Scholarship will be awarded each year this course is offered. Preference will be given to individuals in the early stages of their careers and to those who would not otherwise be able to attend RBS without scholarship assistance. See the scholarship page for additional details.