The Rome Scholarship in Sculpture was an annual scholarship established in 1912, with the approval of the regulations by the Council of the BSR Faculty of Sculpture. The financial contribution came by the Royal Commission of 1851 Exhibition, which provided its support until 1986. The withdrawal of the Royal Commission prompted the BSR to seek new income possibilities, which it found in the Department of Education and Science. The British Academy persuaded the Department to increase funding to the BSR. As of 1986, important changes were envisaged in the administrative organisation of the BSR, leading to the unification of the four different Faculties (Painting, Sculpture, Engraving/Printmaking and Architecture). As of the academic year 1994-1995, the Rome Scholarship in Sculpture was offered together with the other Art scholarships, and artists and architects competed for the Rome Scholarships in the Fine Arts.

Applicants for the Scholarship had to participate to the so-called Competition, consisting of two different phases. The Faculty of Sculpture evaluated the works submitted for the Open Examination, selecting four applicants for the Final Competition and, later, the winner of the scholarship. From 1988-1989 to 1992-1993 a variable number of the Final Competition artists were assigned a Rome Award, tenable for three months.