Sitwell Scholarship

A legacy of support for the Arts and Literature

The Sitwell Scholarship was established through the generosity of the Sitwell Family of Renishaw Hall Charitable Trust to support postgraduate students in the Arts and English Literature. Originally founded by Sir Reresby Sitwell, the trust has a long-standing commitment to encouraging students in these fields.  

Today, Sir Sitwell’s daughter, Mrs Alexandra Hayward, continues this legacy, with a particular focus on supporting students from North-East Derbyshire. 

In partnership with Foundation Derbyshire, who manage and distribute the grant, the University of Derby developed The Sitwell Scholarship to ensure it continues to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives. 

Investing in aspiring postgraduate students

The Sitwell Scholarship supports students transitioning from undergraduate programmes within the College of Arts, Humanities and Education onto postgraduate study. Each year, a £1,600 scholarship is awarded to a student based on their personal journey, passion and commitment to their discipline, placing emphasis on their potential rather than purely academic achievement.  

Making a difference

Thanks to the Sitwell Family of Renishaw Hall Charitable Trust generously extending their support for the academic year 2024/25, we are delighted to be able to award two scholarships. This year’s recipients are: 

Bethany Charlton (MA Fine Arts)  

"I would like to say a massive thank you to the donor for supporting me through this scholarship and I feel honoured to have been selected. It will allow me to access materials and opportunities that I otherwise wouldn't be able to and will help me to really focus on my studies and art practice.

I’m passionate about engaging with the community through art and hope to build a strong artist network in my local area in the future, bringing creatives together to collaborate and support each other. After my MA, I’d love to continue my studies further with a PhD, so this funding is helping me take real steps towards that goal."

James Greenwood (MA History) 

"I have worked very hard to get to where I am now but never thought I would be so privileged to receive a scholarship. It will allow me to push my research to a higher level by giving me the means to access sources I might otherwise not been able to."  

Get in touch

If you are interested in supporting scholarships at the University of Derby, please contact the Development team at development@derby.ac.uk.