Student heading to Cambridge’s hallowed halls

Media Release
28 June 2013

Student heading to Cambridge’s hallowed halls

It’s one thing to be accepted into a prestigious University, but to get a full paying scholarship as well was more than Katy Bond could have hoped for.

The University of Auckland Art History student has won a prestigious Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Prince of Wales Scholarship to study at Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.

The 24-year-old will complete a PhD into 16th century costume design over the next three years; her studies will look at how civic and national identities were shaped by the quality and style of clothing people wore.

Katy’s PhD continues the topic of her first class masters thesis titled: "Dressing Kinship and Allegiance in Sixteenth-century European costume books.”

She initially applied to study at Cambridge and was overwhelmed to be told in February she had been accepted. The news she had been awarded the scholarship came in April.

Now she can work towards her goal of becoming an academic.

“I am just absolutely thrilled. You really don’t expect it to happen to you, you just apply because you’ve got to be in it to win it.”

“I think that made me cry, my dream to be a professor could become true.”

Katy credits her success to the support of the Art History Department and HOD Erin Griffey.

“At post-graduate level the Art History Department at Auckland allowed me the freedom and opportunity to explore themes of dress in art. They provided fabulous resources and support without which I could never have come this far. They gave us the opportunity to do presentations and seminars through which I have gained wonderful experience that will stand me in good stead for Cambridge.”

“I owe everything to Erin Griffey, my Auckland supervisor. Her supervision and guidance on both an academic and personal level really gave direction to my studies. She pushed and challenged me to produce the best work I possibly could. The art history department and all of their students is very fortunate to have her.”

Katy flies to the UK in September to start studying in time for the start of the academic year in October.

She will be resident in Newnham College and study in the history department in St Johns College under the supervision of historian Dr Ulinka Rublack, author of one of Katy’s favourite books; Dressing Up: Cultural Identity in Renaissance Europe.

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