The Charles Wallace India Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £330,719 (2023-24)
• Grant Range: £700 - £14,000+ (depending on program)
• Geographic Focus: Indian nationals living in India
• Subject Focus: Arts, heritage conservation, humanities
• Annual Awards: Approximately 30-35 grants/fellowships
• Established: 1981

Contact Details

Website: https://www.charleswallaceindiatrust.com/

Email: info@charleswallaceindiatrust.com (general), cwit@btinternet.com (research grants)

Phone: 020 3990 5955

Charity Number: 283338

Application Support: British Council India works in partnership with CWIT to administer long-term grant applications: https://www.britishcouncil.in/study-uk/scholarships/charles-wallace-india-trust-scholarships

Overview

The Charles Wallace India Trust (CWIT) was established in 1981 as a UK registered charity using funds from the estate of Charles Wallace, a Victorian merchant who believed wealth “should return to the people.” Over four decades, CWIT has awarded approximately 3,300 grants to Indian nationals for study, research, and professional development in the UK. The Trust focuses exclusively on supporting Indians in the early to mid-career stages working in the arts (visual and performing), heritage conservation, and humanities disciplines including history, literature, archaeology, and museum studies. With total expenditure of over £330,000 annually, CWIT operates through four trustees and a secretary, with no staff receiving remuneration. The Trust recently demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by commissioning a carbon audit and moving investments to a Sustainable Multi-Asset Fund.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Long-Term Awards (2 per year)

• Amount: Accommodation, living costs, fees, plus £600-£700 towards international travel
• Duration: 10 months (typically)
• For: Artists across all disciplines
• Application: Through British Council India
• Deadline: January 31

Visiting Fellowships (10+ per year)

• Amount: £1,400 per month for living expenses plus £700 towards travel
• Duration: 2-3 months
• For: Academics (historians, social scientists), writers, and translators
• Application: Determined jointly by host university and CWIT
• Host Institutions: Over 15 UK universities including King's College London, Cambridge, Edinburgh, SOAS, Stirling, Queen's Belfast, and East Anglia

Short Research Grants (approximately 20 per year)

• Amount: £1,750 (sufficient for approximately 3 weeks)
• For: Academic researchers and professionals in arts/heritage conservation
• Application: Email directly to cwit@btinternet.com
• Deadline: February 28
• Note: Does not cover international travel costs

Doctoral Study Grants (a few per year)

• Amount: £700-£1,000
• For: Indian students in penultimate or final year of UK-based doctorates
• Application: Email directly to CWIT London

Partnership Scholarships

• CWIT and University of Oxford jointly fund an MFA scholarship at the Ruskin School of Art (awarded in 2023, 2026, 2028)
• Various curatorial research fellowships at Victoria & Albert Museum and Alkazi Foundation for the Arts

Priority Areas

Arts: Visual arts, performing arts (dance, drama, music, directing), curatorial studies, fine art

Heritage Conservation: Conservation of materials including timber, stone, metal, paintings, photographs

Humanities: History, literature, archaeology, history of art, philosophy, museum studies, postcolonial studies

Key Requirements:

• Indian citizens domiciled in India
• Age 28-38 for long-term awards
• Minimum 5 years professional experience (long-term awards)
• Doctorate required for visiting fellowships (under 45 years)
• 4+ years research experience for short grants

What They Don't Fund

• STEM degrees
• Full-time architecture programs
• Nature conservation (as opposed to heritage conservation)
• Commercial business courses
• Applicants who have received a CWIT grant within the past 5 years
• Indian nationals not currently living in India

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

• Caroline Douglas
• Catherine Stephens OBE
• John Falconer
• Mallica Kumbera Landrus
• Prof. William Gould

Secretary: Shreela Ghosh

Previous Secretaries:

• Richard Alford CMG OBE (2003–2018)
• Frank Taylor CBE (1993–2003)
• Roddy Cavaliero (1981–1993, founding secretary)

No trustees receive remuneration or payments from the charity. The British Council India serves as CWIT's primary partner, providing administrative support and advice for over 40 years.

From CWIT Alumni:

• "My life wouldn't be the same if I had not got the support from CWIT then." – A. Balasubramaniam, Sculptor
• “Charles Wallace India Trust transformed my work practice and transported me from the local to the global.” – Alka Pande, Curator

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Long-Term Awards: Apply through the British Council India office nearest to you by January 31. Applications are submitted online through the British Council portal.

Short Research Grants: Email applications directly to cwit@btinternet.com by February 28.

Doctoral Study Grants: Email applications directly to CWIT London.

Visiting Fellowships: Fellows are selected jointly by the host university and CWIT. Individual universities may have their own application processes and deadlines (e.g., King's College London deadline: May 7, with interviews in June).

Required Materials (typical):

• Detailed statement of purpose clearly describing intended research/study and expected outcomes
• Academic qualifications and transcripts
• Comprehensive CV/portfolio highlighting relevant work
• References
• Proof of UK institution acceptance or mentor agreement (where applicable)
• Evidence of other funding sources (particularly for research grants)
• IELTS certificate (for long-term awards)

Decision Timeline

Long-Term Awards:

• Deadline: January 31
• Shortlisted candidates invited for online interviews
• Results announced before end of May
• Typical timeline: 4-5 months

Visiting Fellowships (King's College London example):

• Deadline: May 7
• Interviews: June
• Decisions communicated via email shortly after
• Typical timeline: 1-2 months

Short Research Grants: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year

Success Rates

Competition is “stiff” particularly for long-term scholarships. With only 2 long-term awards, 10 fellowships, and approximately 20 research grants awarded annually (total ~35 grants), and over 3,300 grants awarded across 40+ years (average 82-83 per year historically), current annual awards represent a significant decrease in volume, indicating increased selectivity. Exact application numbers are not published, and the Trust does not provide feedback on unsuccessful applications due to high volumes.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants: May reapply in subsequent years with no waiting period

Previous grant recipients: Must wait 5 years before reapplying for any CWIT grant

Note: The Trust cannot offer feedback on applications due to the large number received.

Application Success Factors

Based on CWIT's published guidance and requirements, successful applications demonstrate:

Quality UK Collaborations: CWIT specifically looks for “quality collaborations with credible UK institutions or mentors.” Applications must clearly identify UK academic or professional contacts who have agreed to meet or work with the applicant.

Clear, Precise Project Plans: State “clearly and precisely what they plan to achieve in the UK” including which historical records, archives, or resources will be consulted. Vague or overly ambitious proposals are less competitive.

Commitment to India: CWIT emphasizes that applicants must “show commitment to working in India after the scholarship – your impact back home matters.” Applications must explain how the UK experience will benefit the applicant's community, workplace, or field in India upon return.

Evidence of Co-Funding: Particularly for smaller research grants, applicants “will need to show evidence of funding/income from other sources.” CWIT sees their grants as complementary rather than sole funding.

Strong Professional Track Record: With minimum 5-year experience requirements for many programs, emphasis is on mid-career professionals with demonstrated achievements. “Highlight the work you have done in the past in detail. Mention the projects you have worked on and give contact numbers regarding your past works.”

Complete, Early Applications: “Apply early and triple-check your documents – incomplete applications are a common reason for rejection.”

Recent Funded Projects (examples of CWIT fellowship recipients):

• Dr. Vivek V. Narayan (Ashoka University): “Stolen Fire: Caste Scripts and Anti-Caste Politics in South India, 1806-1941”
• Dr. Anurima Chanda (University of North Bengal): “In Search of the Indian Child: Decolonising Childhood Studies Through a Study of Indian Periodicals”
• Dr. Rukshana Zaman: Queen's University Belfast fellowship
• Amarnath Praful: Curatorial Research Fellowship (2025)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Focus on impact in India: CWIT invests in people who will return to India and apply their learning there. Your application must demonstrate clear benefits for Indian arts, heritage, or academia.

• Secure UK partnerships first: Before applying, establish contact with UK institutions, mentors, or archives. Applications stating you have “agreed to meet” contacts are more competitive than speculative proposals.

• Be precise, not ambitious: Better to propose a focused, achievable 3-week research project than an overly broad agenda. State exactly which archives, collections, or collaborators you will engage.

• Competition is fierce for long-term awards: With only 2 long-term scholarships awarded annually, these are exceptionally competitive. Consider starting with a short research grant to build relationship with CWIT.

• Show co-funding: Particularly for research grants, demonstrate you have secured partial funding elsewhere. CWIT wants to enable projects, not necessarily fund them entirely.

• Five-year rule is strict: If you've received any CWIT grant before, you cannot apply again for 5 years. Plan your applications strategically.

• No feedback means learn from funded examples: Since CWIT doesn't provide application feedback, study the profiles and projects of recent fellows (available on university partner websites) to understand competitive applications.

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Paul Hamlyn Foundation
• Chalke Valley History Trust
• KUSUMA TRUST UK
• The Trust for Educational and/or Medical Assistance for Persons of Indian Origin
• The Idlewild Trust
• THE HELEN HAMLYN TRUST
• The ROSL Foundation
• The Leche Trust
• Gilchrist Educational Trust
• The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical Philosophical and Philological Studies

References

• Charles Wallace India Trust official website. “About CWIT.” https://www.charleswallaceindiatrust.com/about-cwit
• Charles Wallace India Trust official website. “Scholarships.” https://www.charleswallaceindiatrust.com/scholarships
• Charles Wallace India Trust official website. “Visiting Fellowships.” https://www.charleswallaceindiatrust.com/visiting-fellowships
• Charles Wallace India Trust official website. “Research.” https://www.charleswallaceindiatrust.com/research
• British Council India. “Charles Wallace India Trust Scholarships.” https://www.britishcouncil.in/study-uk/scholarships/charles-wallace-india-trust-scholarships
• UK Charity Commission. “The Charles Wallace India Trust - Charity 283338.” https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?subid=0&regid=283338
• Wallace Trusts. “The Charles Wallace India Trust.” https://wallace-trusts.org.uk/cwt_india.html
• Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, University of Edinburgh. “The Charles Wallace India Trust Fellowship.” https://www.iash.ed.ac.uk/charles-wallace-india-trust-fellowship
• Various scholarship information websites including CollegeDunia, GyanDhan, and Leverage Edu providing aggregated information about CWIT programs