Getty Scholars Program at the Villa - FAQs

Does the program provide housing?

Yes. Visit the Getty Scholar Housing page for further details.

If I receive a residential grant, can I bring my family along?

Yes. Families are welcome.

May I bring my pet to Scholar Housing?

Yes. A limited number of units in Scholar Housing have been designated for residents with pets.

Does Getty offer remote fellowships for those who are unable to relocate to Los Angeles?

No. All appointed fellows are required to be in residence throughout the duration of their appointment.

Is transportation provided to the Getty Center and Getty Villa?

A shuttle runs between Scholar Housing and the Getty Center (not on weekends or holidays). There is no dedicated transportation available for the Getty Villa, although parking is available.

Should I apply as a Predoctoral Fellow or a Postdoctoral Fellow?

Predoctoral Fellowship applicants should expect to complete their doctoral dissertation during the fellowship period. Postdoctoral Fellowship applicants must hold degrees that were conferred no more than five years before the start of the fellowship appointment. Degree conferral should be calculated based on the applicant’s status at the start of the fellowship period, or September 1, rather than the application date.

I am a predoctoral student and would like to apply for the Getty Villa Scholars Program. Am I eligible?

No. The Getty Villa Scholars Program offers only Postdoctoral Fellowships. Applicants for a Villa Postdoctoral Fellowship must have successfully completed all requirements for the degree, including the dissertation defense, by July 1, before the start of the fellowship appointment.

I have previously held a Scholars Program grant or fellowship. Am I eligible to reapply?

Yes. After a waiting period of six years, previous Scholar Grant recipients and Predoctoral and Postdoctoral fellows are eligible to reapply to the Scholars Program.

May I apply as an Artist in Residence?

Artist in Residence appointments are usually made to established researchers and professionals by invitation. However, promising artist candidates who apply through the standard selection process may be placed in the pool for consideration.

May I apply for more than one grant that is offered by Getty in a given year?

Yes. You may apply for multiple grants for the same term. However, two Getty grants cannot be held at the same time.

When will the new scholar theme be posted?

The scholar theme is announced in the spring and the online application materials become available in the summer.

When is the deadline for applications?

The application deadline is at the beginning of October.

How do I apply for a grant?

For information about grants for established researchers and professionals who have held PhDs for at least 5 years and/or possess strong records of publication and professional activity, consult the Getty Scholars Program and Getty Scholars Program at the Villa pages. For information about fellowships for PhD candidates and recently granted PhDs, consult the Pre- and Postdoctoral Fellowships page.

Do I need letters of reference?

Two letters of reference are required for predoctoral and postdoctoral applicants. Applicants for the Getty Scholars Program are not required to submit letters of reference.

May I use Interfolio to submit reference letters?

Yes.

Who will review my application?

Applications undergo a rigorous screening process with two separate selection committees. The committees include past Getty scholars, current Getty staff members, and other experts with backgrounds in art history and adjacent fields of study from outside Getty.

On what basis are applications evaluated?

Applications are evaluated based on the following criteria: 1) how the proposed project responds to the annual theme*; 2) the overall quality of the application; and 3) the applicant's capacity to carry out the project successfully. Projects that propose to use the resources at the Getty Research Institute (GRI), including its library and collections, are encouraged. However, proposed projects are not required to be relevant to the holdings of the GRI.

*Applicants for the AAAHI Fellowship are not required to address the annual theme. Rather, they should describe how their projects will generate new knowledge in the field of African American art history.

When will I receive a notification about the status of my application?

Applicants will be notified of their application outcome by March or April.

My application was not selected. Can I receive feedback?

Due to the large volume of applications, the Scholars Program is unable to provide comments on individual applications.

I have read through all of the FAQs, and I still have questions about my application. Whom may I contact?

Inquiries should be sent by email to researchgrants@getty.edu.

How do I apply for a job at Getty?

Visit our job opportunities page for information about job positions at Getty.